CRG517

I am interested in cleaning the rust off the inner rotor portion and then attempting to keep water away from it or recleaning it as necessary a couple times a year... has anyone had a any success doing this, I'm really not ready to replace or go to the expense to have them zinc coated... yet! Thanks in advance.

HoleInOne

Take the wheel off and paint it black.

slomarsh

I have used two different can sprays with great results.
Light gray primer and spray on zinc are both very good color matches to the original factory gray. The zinc is more widely available now at ACE hardware,etc. Otherwise any welding supply house will carry it. The zinc will, of course, prevent new rust from forming. The primer seems to hold up pretty well too. If you wash often or drive much in the rain zinc might be the better choice. A spray can of zinc cost about $7.
Oh, and application is easy. Just tape off the calipers and spray away.
Overspray on the rotor will be gone the first time the brakes are applied.

ben dover

Or spray galvanizing.

Comfortably Numb

Should you use a self etching primer?

slomarsh

Yes, spray galvanizing and spray zinc are the same thing.
I have not used self etching primer though it would probably adhere even better than normal automotive primer.

shopdog

Use a stainless steel wire wheel to remove the rust (don't use an ordinary steel wire wheel, the little carbon steel bits it'll leave embedded will rapidly rust and form new pits), then paint the offending areas with Zinc-It or POR-15. Even barbeque grill paint will hold up on the rotor hats.