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I own a 2015 Z-51 Vert. and want to make improvements to the present rusty conditions at my brake rotors this winter while the car is idle. The fronts look close to new, but the rears are rusting. Any advice on how to make them look like new again would be appreciated....The calipers are all gloss black and still look perfect on all fours...just the rear rotors look bad. I intend also on refinishing my wheels at the same time while dismounting the super sports and having all seasons installed...any recommendations on the type of paint that should be used would also be helpful. Thanks in advance for any help offered...
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Just a guess but I think you are talking about the rotor hats rather than the surface that the pads sweep across. If so, you can use a good high heat paint to get them looking like new again. You could also try some of the caliper painting kits and just you it on the hats.
At last years Bash, at a detailing seminar, we were told always drive your car around the block after washing to dry the rotors via brake heat. The reason being metallic brake pads can rust weld to the rotors. I thought this was bs as I have been washing cars for 40 yrs without problem, UNTIL last year. Three days after washing I go to back out of garage......Vette isnt moving, a liitle more gas, a bang and it moved. Yes, the rotors had bond to the pads. Since then, I always take the trip around tge block!
Just a guess but I think you are talking about the rotor hats rather than the surface that the pads sweep across. If so, you can use a good high heat paint to get them looking like new again. You could also try some of the caliper painting kits and just you it on the hats.
Yes, I was referring to the rotor hats...and not the surface where the pads make contact...sorry for not better describing. I know that I need high heat paint, but cannot find the color that looks like oem...which is a light grey in flat sheen. Here is a pic of the front drivers side and the rear drivers side...I found a flat grey extreme heat primer yesterday at a local auto parts store, but the primer made no claim of resisting further rust and had to be top coated as well. That's when I stopped looking and sought advice here before resuming the project.
Also seeking advice on the use of any sort of special paint when repainting my oem wheels... front rear
With my old rally wheels I'd use aluminum paint and then clear coat it. It looked just like the factory paint. That would probably work for you too. Without the clear the aluminum paint will look horrible.
Yep, wheel off, brush 'em down to remove the loose stuff and then paint with a high temp paint (gloss) or hightemp clear coat and you have a good winter project or down here where I live, I call it mod down time 'cause mine's a daily driver.
I have considered this option and have a good powder coat company local here in N.E. Ga. They have done a lot of work on my Jeep build...I have seen quite a bit of warnings on powder coating the wheels...and some here on this forum as well...due to excessive heat issues in the process and that kind of scared me away for the option of powder coating...your thoughts on the heat issue causing cracks later down the road????
Yes, I was referring to the rotor hats...and not the surface where the pads make contact...sorry for not better describing. I know that I need high heat paint, but cannot find the color that looks like oem...which is a light grey in flat sheen. Here is a pic of the front drivers side and the rear drivers side...I found a flat grey extreme heat primer yesterday at a local auto parts store, but the primer made no claim of resisting further rust and had to be top coated as well. That's when I stopped looking and sought advice here before resuming the project.
Also seeking advice on the use of any sort of special paint when repainting my oem wheels...
front rear
Hmm, have not tried on the brake hats BUT the ~$10 solution I have used on my 2014 Z51 mufflers AND my Grand Sport should work fine. It's NOT paint. It's a watery solution that turns iron oxide into a blueish-black ferric tannate. My experience with exhausts is it's better than paint as it doesn't peal! My 2014 mufflers were 3 1/2 year old when I sold it and looked like when I did it. My Grand Sport now 2 years old. It is not like paint in that it does nothing to none iron oxide! Just put on a few light coats and wait 30 minutes between.
Rustoleum has high heat grey or what appears to be grey. What is wrong with red or black to match your calipers or compliment the calipers? Jerry's idea is good too but doesn't give a color choice.
Unless you track the car almost any paint will do for the rotor hats. I will ad a caution. Don't paint the mating surfaces where the hat contacts the hub and the wheel. Mask them off, let the paint dry and then coat them w/ a light layer of grease. That will keep them from rusting, especially rotor to hub.
Base Car brake rotor material, “General Motors engineers and developed FNC coating for C7 base brake rotors. FNC stands for Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing, a chemical case-hardening process whereby nitrogen and carbon are diffused into the surface of a ferrous meta of the steel. This exclusive, patented process is being applied to the brake rotors of a number of GM vehicles. It not only reduces or eliminates corrosion, it results in a finish that is harder and stronger, thus increasing the life of the rotors. The FNC protection lasts for about 60,000 km / 37,282 miles in highly corrosive environments such as the east coast and up to double that in less severe areas such as the prairies. The initial testing of the new rotors was conducted in Atlantic Canada.
The process involves heating the rotors in special ovens the size of a tour bus at 560 degrees Celsius where they are exposed to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere for 24 hours. The nitrogen atoms bond to the surface of the rotor."
You might want to take a look at Eastwood Auto Restoration Products. I don’t know if they have the specific item you want, but they do specialize in restoration paints.
Base Car brake rotor material, “General Motors engineers and developed FNC coating for C7 base brake rotors. FNC stands for Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing, a chemical case-hardening process whereby nitrogen and carbon are diffused into the surface of a ferrous meta of the steel. This exclusive, patented process is being applied to the brake rotors of a number of GM vehicles. It not only reduces or eliminates corrosion, it results in a finish that is harder and stronger, thus increasing the life of the rotors. The FNC protection lasts for about 60,000 km / 37,282 miles in highly corrosive environments such as the east coast and up to double that in less severe areas such as the prairies. The initial testing of the new rotors was conducted in Atlantic Canada.
The process involves heating the rotors in special ovens the size of a tour bus at 560 degrees Celsius where they are exposed to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere for 24 hours. The nitrogen atoms bond to the surface of the rotor."
He's talking about the hats, not the rotors. Are the hats treated the same as the rotors? I don't think so. I've always had hat rust and the painting makes them look great.
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Jan 5, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
Rustoleum has high heat grey or what appears to be grey. What is wrong with red or black to match your calipers or compliment the calipers? Jerry's idea is good too but doesn't give a color choice.
Thanks Elmer....was at Lowsys (Lowes) yesterday and didn't see it there...will try Home Dump tomorrow to take a look...I am going to be refinishing the wheels in black/carbon flash (most likely) and the calipers are factory gloss black...so I don't want them all to go away when the wheels end up black. Also considering refinishing the wheels in Shark Grey to match the car and then using black on the hats with black lug nuts and black center caps...wish I could see this combo somehow...all of my vents and light trims are body color matched Shark Grey so I thought it would be interesting to paint the wheels the same and use small black accents. My brother in law is a career auto body guy with 30 years in the biz...and he thinks this combo would be a mistake...any thoughts both negative and positive would be appreciated...thanks thus far Elmer...
You might want to take a look at Eastwood Auto Restoration Products. I don’t know if they have the specific item you want, but they do specialize in restoration paints.
You might want to take a look at Eastwood Auto Restoration Products. I don’t know if they have the specific item you want, but they do specialize in restoration paints.
Thanks! Checked the site out and found several possibilities there...
Love 'em! 
Brake rotor rust help
