Painting Rotor Hats
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 219
Painting Rotor Hats
I am going to paint brake rotor hats and calipers along with installing new pads. Is it ok to paint the entire rotor including braking surface and allowing brake pads to remove the paint from the braking surface while driving?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,352
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
I would say no!!! Mask the rotor surface and have at it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-no-spray.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-no-spray.html
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 73
Likes: 20
From: Tucson AZ
So just from my experience and opinion. I was going to paint the hats on my rotors. (My calipers are already painted). Did one and it looked absolutely awful.
Got some grinding wheels that go on drills and I spent the time grinding all the rust and shined those rotors up. Looked fantastic! Especially compared to the painted hats. Paint one and look at it to see if that is really the route you want. To me it looks really bad.
Got some grinding wheels that go on drills and I spent the time grinding all the rust and shined those rotors up. Looked fantastic! Especially compared to the painted hats. Paint one and look at it to see if that is really the route you want. To me it looks really bad.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 219
So just from my experience and opinion. I was going to paint the hats on my rotors. (My calipers are already painted). Did one and it looked absolutely awful.
Got some grinding wheels that go on drills and I spent the time grinding all the rust and shined those rotors up. Looked fantastic! Especially compared to the painted hats. Paint one and look at it to see if that is really the route you want. To me it looks really bad.
Got some grinding wheels that go on drills and I spent the time grinding all the rust and shined those rotors up. Looked fantastic! Especially compared to the painted hats. Paint one and look at it to see if that is really the route you want. To me it looks really bad.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 920
From: Baie-D'Urfe, Quebec
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
After I wash the car, i just use a leaf blower to dry the brakes off so they don't rust
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 73
Likes: 20
From: Tucson AZ
If need be I will just wire brush it from time to time. I was amazed the difference. Need to start taking photos of my work better but was able to zoom into a few pics. I was changing to new wheels and tires. Here is a few pics.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 432
From: Ruskin, FL
DO NOT paint the surface of the rotor. The paint will ruin your brake pads. Sure, the pads will remove the paint with normal braking, but it will stick to the pad.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 432
From: Ruskin, FL
Use this stuff. Paints over rust. Permanent coating. Any color. Easy to apply and control where it goes, unlike spray. Keep it off the rotor surface.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 161
Likes: 57
From: Washington, IL
Cleaned hat
Painted everything because I was having the rotors cut.
Final product after having the rotors cut. Very happy with end results.
Last edited by DykstraMotorsports; Dec 3, 2023 at 11:53 AM. Reason: Added final pic
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,969
Likes: 710
From: WI
Good job! Looks exactly like letting the pads cut the paint. For many years I used spray paint (tracks rotors life is very short) but this last time I used por 15 glossy black and it's really nice.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 37
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 161
Likes: 57
From: Washington, IL
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,676
Likes: 1,856
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
I painted my rotor hats with some black Rustoelum rust converter paint a while back. You should definitely mast off the rotor surface. The paint will rub off on the pads and contaminate them.
Fully painting them and then having them turned looks to be a great way to do it as well.
Fully painting them and then having them turned looks to be a great way to do it as well.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 417
Likes: 170
From: KS
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,969
Likes: 710
From: WI
I painted my rotor hats with some black Rustoelum rust converter paint a while back. You should definitely mast off the rotor surface. The paint will rub off on the pads and contaminate them.
Fully painting them and then having them turned looks to be a great way to do it as well.
Fully painting them and then having them turned looks to be a great way to do it as well.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 161
Likes: 57
From: Washington, IL
