914World.com [Powered by Invision Power Board]

Posted by: kconway Jan 16 2010, 06:16 PM

Is it a common practice, or even a sane practice to clear coat new rotors to keep iron from rusting? Saw someone do this and I need new rotors so...

Posted by: Dr. Roger Jan 16 2010, 06:36 PM

I'm not sure if it's wise to apply a paint coating on something that needs to dissipate heat in the extreme.

I've seen anodized...

Posted by: URY914 Jan 16 2010, 06:37 PM

WD40 works well.

Posted by: Pat Garvey Jan 16 2010, 08:16 PM

QUOTE(URY914 @ Jan 16 2010, 07:37 PM)

WD40 works well.

Agree!
WD40 works well to protect the finish (applied when cool). Clear coating yellows quickly with heat.
I wouldn't do it.
Pat

Addendum: Jeez, I just realized thet you are talking about rotors, not calipers! Pardon me for my stupidity!

I painted my "top hats" with satin black, the inner edge of the disc (where pads do not touch) with silver, and the outer edges with silver. Seems to have lasted OK (15 years), but I don't superheat the discs from auto-x ing any more. When I said "WD40" is was meant for the calipers. Sorry for the confusion. Someone put me to pasture!

Posted by: tod914 Jan 16 2010, 09:05 PM

Kevin, unless your doing DE events, just hit the hubs with some primer or high temp black paint. Doubt it will be an issue for regular driving. Most I seen were painted.

Posted by: KevinP Jan 16 2010, 09:42 PM

You are talking about the brake disc rotors- correct?

If so, absolutley NOT!!! With what ever you put on them probly won't stay. Any surface rust they accumulate will come off in time. I know it doesn't look pretty. If you use WD-40 it will get on your pads and diminish some initial braking. I would be aware of that, but it wouldn't stoping me from using it. WD-40 started of as military product for Water Desperant (WD)/light lube.

Its to bad someone doesn't make a stainless steel rotor. There is a possibilty that maybe a ceramic coat might stay on.

Maybe someone can chime in on this.

KP

Posted by: tod914 Jan 16 2010, 09:54 PM

Just paint on the top and side of the hub on the rotor. The area that the pad touches.. no paint. Will last a long time and keep them from looking like crap if you prep the surface and use a decent high temp paint. There's an article in my local pca, on tips on how to do it if they are already mounted. Let me know if you need the link. Basically just mask off the area that will have the surface contact with the pads. Easy if they are off.

Posted by: underthetire Jan 16 2010, 09:55 PM

Not a big fan of WD 40 for most things, not a good lubricant at all, and not a good rust preventive. I'll use it to help get stuck fasteners off, but that's about it. Originally, it was a water disbursement agent for rocket fuel, before they went to the jet A fuel. Cast iron will age, it will get to a certain patina then the rust/aging slows. Applying WD will make the aging last longer resulting in even more rust, if not kept up. I've had ex-customers use it to clean machine tools with it just to watch it make a bigger mess a few years later. Regular oil is better, but I painted my rotors with flat black high temp and it stays on fine, but my rotors were already aged. It's not a track car at all though.

Posted by: URY914 Jan 16 2010, 09:59 PM

WD40

Posted by: McMark Jan 16 2010, 09:59 PM

I used flat black paint before having them resurfaced.

Posted by: wobbletop Jan 16 2010, 09:59 PM

I use BBQ paint on the rotors. Flat black. Cheap and last a while.

Posted by: bdstone914 Jan 16 2010, 10:35 PM

QUOTE(wobbletop @ Jan 16 2010, 07:59 PM)

I use BBQ paint on the rotors. Flat black. Cheap and last a while.

I have zinc plated them. I figure the soft zinc will wear off of the pad surface quickly.

Posted by: sww914 Jan 16 2010, 10:37 PM

Wurth silver paint in a quart can brushed on lasts forever. Obviously not on the friction surfaces, that might be too interesting. It doesn't look painted, it just looks silver like it should.

Posted by: Rand Jan 16 2010, 10:49 PM

Painting rotors? How long are you storing them, and under what horrible conditions? Doesn't take much braking to wear off a little surface rust.

Posted by: Gint Jan 16 2010, 11:10 PM

I clear powder coated the rotor tops once. Everything but the pad surface that is. Worked fine and lasted until I sold the car.

Posted by: kconway Jan 16 2010, 11:22 PM

Not the friction surface but everything else as some have commented on, but it does look like some have done it. I'd imagine a high temp type paint, caliper paint might work well for this?

Posted by: kconway Jan 16 2010, 11:28 PM

QUOTE(tod914 @ Jan 16 2010, 07:54 PM)

Just paint on the top and side of the hub on the rotor. The area that the pad touches.. no paint. Will last a long time and keep them from looking like crap if you prep the surface and use a decent high temp paint. There's an article in my local pca, on tips on how to do it if they are already mounted. Let me know if you need the link. Basically just mask off the area that will have the surface contact with the pads. Easy if they are off.

Hi Tod,
I'd like to see that link. I'm doing the 5 lug change over so everything is off the car which would make it alot easier.
Kev

Posted by: Eric_Shea Jan 17 2010, 01:13 AM

QUOTE

I've seen anodized...

Anodizing is only aluminum.

QUOTE

I have zinc plated them. I figure the soft zinc will wear off of the pad surface quickly

Agree... zinc plated is the way to go. Most of the new rotors are coming coated now.

Posted by: buhs914 Jan 17 2010, 01:48 AM

random and OT but does that avatar with the fly in it appear if you have no picture?

Posted by: wobbletop Jan 17 2010, 08:24 AM

QUOTE(Eric_Shea @ Jan 17 2010, 02:13 AM)