Plating/coating Rotors
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 1
From: Aptos CA
I had zinc plated Z51 rotors installed today. I also had ceramic pads installed. I've only driven the car about 35 miles, but there seems to be an inordinate amount of dark gray dust all over the wheels. Is it safe to assume this is the zinc plating wearing off of the contact surfaces? I hope that's what it is since the primary reason for installing ceramic pads was to minimize brake dust
Mine did the same thing, give it another 100-125 miles or so. Then the pad dust will be reduced and a light grey powder. Every plated set of rotors I've had have been the same, regardless of the pads.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 77
From: Northville MI
I used the Yellow Pages to find a plater in my area. Why pay to ship them? Since we're talking about brake rotors I wasn't as fussy as I would be for body work. Keep in mind that most of the rotor is not visible or serves as the contact area for your brake pads. As long as the plater properly cleans and preps them, you should be OK. The key is to prevent rust on areas that would otherwise oxidize very quickly if exposed to water or moisture .
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 77
From: Northville MI
Are you checking the Yellow Pages under "platers" or "plating"? I had to call a few before I found one that did zinc plating, but it wasn't that difficult - at least not in the Detroit area.
Last edited by 10mikeymike; Jan 16, 2007 at 02:51 PM.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nickel is by far the most durable - and can be chrome like. However it's so hard that it doesn't wear off the friction surface so easily but eventually will.
Zinc is thinner/softer but doesn' tlast as long as Cadmium
Cadmium is evil toxic stuff
Cadmium melts at 4-500F or so iirc - so a track day miught make it vaporize and go away.
The nickel ones I had got surface rust right away - and it was fugly. I couldn't tell if it was rusted brake dust on the surface of the rotor or rust coming up through some pits in the nickel - (i believe he said 'hardline failure)
Zinc is thinner/softer but doesn' tlast as long as Cadmium
Cadmium is evil toxic stuff
Cadmium melts at 4-500F or so iirc - so a track day miught make it vaporize and go away.
The nickel ones I had got surface rust right away - and it was fugly. I couldn't tell if it was rusted brake dust on the surface of the rotor or rust coming up through some pits in the nickel - (i believe he said 'hardline failure)
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
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From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
http://www.prodigyperformancecoatings.com/home.html
Ask for Joe, he's in the process of becoming a forum vendor, will give a forum discount. He does fantastic work...Does alot for Orange County Choppers. He's in Westcheter County.
Ask for Joe, he's in the process of becoming a forum vendor, will give a forum discount. He does fantastic work...Does alot for Orange County Choppers. He's in Westcheter County.
