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I know its been asked and I see there are plenty of "how to's", but I'm debating on if it serves any purpose other than cosmetic? I've recently replaced pads and rotors and painted my calipers, and the car hasn't been driven yet since I've done it. Its actually still up on the jack stands! Would it be better to paint those too, now, while its all still new, and easy to get to since I only need to pull them off?
I have a triple black vert, and have painted the calipers red. I have 2 sets of wheels now. A chrome set of C6 replica's and a black with polished lip set of Speedline replicas. If I paint the rotor hats, would just a clear be best? Gloss black (also with a clear) be good? Another color? I'm afraid if black, it'll look "too black" with the black speedlines. If it's just cleared, it might look too "chrome" with the C6 replicas.
Suggestions please! I have too many thoughts running in my mind.
As you brake carbon build up occurs all over the braking structures; calipers, rotors, wheels, etc. A painted surface can provide some degree of protection against bare surfaces where these carbon particles and build-up can potentially interact in a negative manner. Commonly, the negative interaction leads to nasty looking hat surfaces. Remember that the brakes do not apply against the hat or the circumferences, which means no "dusting" of those surfaces occur; you would have to maintain them through cleaning and/or detail work.
The only immediately negative occurrence I can think of is a painted hat when torqued down with a wheel installed could "stick" or peel portions off if you remove the wheel. It would obviously not be in a visible portion with a wheel installed. I'd recommend more than say one or two layers of paint. Overspray is not necessarily an issue with brake rotors because any paint on the braking surfaces will disappear when you apply brakes for the first few times (brakes will be weird at first, but eventually braking action will remove paint on braking surfaces).
Personally I would go with black. Black not only gives depth but gives the appearance of a custom brake setup. However keep in mind this comes from a person that despises anything chrome with a passion.
As you brake carbon build up occurs all over the braking structures; calipers, rotors, wheels, etc. A painted surface can provide some degree of protection against bare surfaces where these carbon particles and build-up can potentially interact in a negative manner. Commonly, the negative interaction leads to nasty looking hat surfaces. Remember that the brakes do not apply against the hat or the circumferences, which means no "dusting" of those surfaces occur; you would have to maintain them through cleaning and/or detail work.
The only immediately negative occurrence I can think of is a painted hat when torqued down with a wheel installed could "stick" or peel portions off if you remove the wheel. It would obviously not be in a visible portion with a wheel installed. I'd recommend more than say one or two layers of paint. Overspray is not necessarily an issue with brake rotors because any paint on the braking surfaces will disappear when you apply brakes for the first few times (brakes will be weird at first, but eventually braking action will remove paint on braking surfaces).
Personally I would go with black. Black not only gives depth but gives the appearance of a custom brake setup. However keep in mind this comes from a person that despises anything chrome with a passion.
Good stuff, thanks.
I too am leaning towards black. The more pics I look at, the more I like the black hats.
I've found that by painting the rotors when new, it better resists the rust that accumulates in the cooling vanes and the "hats" of the rotors. Many times after washing a vehicle with unpainted (or plated) rotors and paying particular attention to the calipers and rotors, a day or two later, I will find streaks of rust on the inside barrel of the wheels. This is usually from rust on the rotors that runs down on the rim after washing the car.
I've tried to utilize only cad-plated rotors ever since when replacing rotors or cleaning un-plated rotors thoroughly and painting them before installation. Especially so on a vehicle with open wheels such as yours where they are so easily seen.
I installed a set of zinc plated rotors on my 2000 hardtop close to 10 years ago and they have held up very well. Here is a set I painted on my '73 after rebuilding the calipers a few years back.
Painted mine recently in preparation for mounting. I went with 3 coats of VHT (900 deg. F) satin black followed by 3 more coats of satin clear VHT paint. I also painted the vanes and holes.
Painted mine recently in preparation for mounting. I went with 3 coats of VHT (900 deg. F) satin black followed by 3 more coats of satin clear VHT paint. I also painted the vanes and holes.
My rotors are two piece with light weight aluminum centers ( hats ) they are black aluminum nitrated. They dissipate heat, I use soft OEM ACDelco pads to polish my fire paths, I use VHT silver header paint to coat the inside ( Vane area ) and the sinusoidal radius holes..
These rotors have 80,000 miles on them and are 14 years old. No cracks and no heat related discoloration. These rotors have been through 2 different sets of CCW 505 over the last 16 years, replaced for wider wheels.
Ok, I painted the rotor hats. I like it much better. I repainted my calipers too since I wasn't happy with the way they originally came out. I only did one side so far.
I went with Rustoleum high heat (engine) paint. Gloss black. I also used Rustoleum clear. Caliper paint was also Rustoleum (caliper paint). I did a few coats of each. Much, much better!!!
Just so I'm clear here, the "hats" are part of the rotor and the hat covers are separate parts.
One remark about overspray, I once spray painted the spokes of another one of my cars, on the car and thought I protected the braking surface. Ended up with new brakes.
Bill, do you have any thoughts about hat covers? I'm referencing those dust "covers" that were somewhat popular years ago but fell out of favor because of heat build up, etc. they were called Klein Wheels.
My hats are in pretty good shape, better than my Z, which had less miles when I got it. I'm on the fence with color, thinking maybe body color or black, maybe chrome if I get the covers.
01-18-2017, 10:35 AM
To paint rotor hats, or not...
Good stuff, thanks. 
