Plating Brake Rotors

727 Views 30 Replies 11 Participants Last post by olivenone, Feb 7, 2006

Damer3

Discussion Starter · Feb 5, 2006

I've got new NAPA rotors waiting to be installed, along with porterfields, and ss lines. I would like to keep the rotors presentable, unlike the ones that are on the car currently. So, I was thinking about getting them zinc plated to prevent rust. Does anyone have experience with this? I know some of the companies that drill/slot rotors do this (iRotors.com comes to mind) but I have no idea of the cost (relative to high temp paint) or where to get it done. Any comments or suggestions would be most appreciated.

-John

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TomsMR2

· #2 · Feb 5, 2006

... weird...

.. just paint them man. if you really want it to stick, use bake-on type paint.

oldster

· #3 · Feb 5, 2006

TomsMR2 said:
... weird...

.. just paint them man. if you really want it to stick, use bake-on type paint.

On a rotor????

TomsMR2

· #4 · Feb 5, 2006

oldster said:
On a rotor????

yes.

you obviously dont want to paint the friction surface.. but you wouldnt want to plate or coat it either. the only thing you can rust protect is the hat (center piece) and outer circumferance.

Damer3

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 5, 2006

Why don't I want to plate it?

oldster

· #6 · Feb 5, 2006 (Edited)

TomsMR2 said:
yes.

you obviously dont want to paint the friction surface.. but you wouldnt want to plate or coat it either. the only thing you can rust protect is the hat (center piece) and outer circumferance.

Mine are cadium plated and I certainly can't tell where there is any difference between the braking surface and the outer edge. It also does not rust anywhere???

TomsMR2

· #7 · Feb 5, 2006 (Edited)

your plated friction surface wore off after the first time you pressed the brakes.

WIWhite87

· #8 · Feb 5, 2006

TomsMR2 said:
yes.

you obviously dont want to paint the friction surface.. but you wouldnt want to plate or coat it either. the only thing you can rust protect is the hat (center piece) and outer circumferance.

I did this to my project '87. I don't know how it'll hold up yet, but i expect it to last a while--it's marine polyurethane.

Everything else was cleaned up and painted in either Epoxy Spray Paint for appliances (glossy) or else POR-15 chassis paint (matte).

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mr2blackna

· #9 · Feb 5, 2006

oldster said:
Mine are cadium plated and I certainly can't tell where there is any difference between the braking surface and the outer edge. It also does not rust anywhere???

cadium is poisonous heavy metal...

Robb

· #10 · Feb 5, 2006

WIWhite87 said:
I did this to my project '87. I don't know how it'll hold up yet, but i expect it to last a while--it's marine polyurethane.

Everything else was cleaned up and painted in either Epoxy Spray Paint for appliances (glossy) or else POR-15 chassis paint (matte).

Cool, kinda looks like Project Mu paint, there brake stuff is expenisve.

oldster

· #11 · Feb 5, 2006

mr2blackna said:
cadium is poisonous heavy metal...

And?

TomsMR2

· #12 · Feb 5, 2006

.. dont eat your brake rotors? :lol2:

Dijital357

· #13 · Feb 5, 2006

cadmium's the same stuff they use in Ni-Cad batteries

Alex W

· #14 · Feb 5, 2006

WIWhite87 said:
I did this to my project '87. I don't know how it'll hold up yet, but i expect it to last a while--it's marine polyurethane.

Everything else was cleaned up and painted in either Epoxy Spray Paint for appliances (glossy) or else POR-15 chassis paint (matte).

Did you mask off the friction surface, or just paint the whole thing and then let the brakes wear the paint off of the friction area? It doesnt seem like there would be any problem with doing this, but I'm not sure.

TomsMR2

· #15 · Feb 5, 2006

people have painted it and just brake'd it off.. it may gum up your pads though.

if you're not gonna mask it off, id at least wipe down the surface with acetone or something afterwards to get most of the paint off..

Damer3

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 5, 2006

I still feel like my question has not been answered. Is zinc plating expensive? I don't want to paint the rotors any bright colors, and have not really been impressed with the silver high temp paints I've seen. I would like to keep that new metallic appearance, and it would seem that plating would be the best way to do this. And yes, I am aware the plating would be removed from the friction surface within the first few stops. That is no concern. Does anyone have pics of silver painted rotors after a few thousand miles of useage? Maybe someone can convince me that painting would be better...

Thanks,

J

G

· #17 · Feb 5, 2006 (Edited)

This thread is funny... Its pretty simple to understand its pointless to paint or plate the contact surface of your rotors.... why is it pointless?? because the moment you apply your brakes the pads will eat away at the paint or the plated surface.... Its that simple. If your going to get anything plated get the parts that WIWhite87 painted his rotors and calipers blue. dont paint or plate the shiny silver surface....

and to answer your question, just get caliper paint. wash the rotors and calipers. Spray on some rust preventer/primer,. spray on 2 or 3 coats of whatever paint YOU choose,. call it a day. I seriously doubt you will have to worry about rust or paint chipping.....

oldster

· #18 · Feb 5, 2006

TomsMR2 said:
.. dont eat your brake rotors? :lol2:

Oh crap, it's too late...........

TomsMR2

· #19 · Feb 6, 2006

I still feel like my question has not been answered. Is zinc plating expensive?

why dont you call some places and find out?

WIWhite87

· #20 · Feb 6, 2006

WyrmMaster said:
Did you mask off the friction surface, or just paint the whole thing and then let the brakes wear the paint off of the friction area? It doesnt seem like there would be any problem with doing this, but I'm not sure.

Neither. I painted it exactly as you see it--no masking, no wearing off. I'm very neat.

I'm a ceramist/potter... I painted it fairly easily using a disposable brush and turning it on a potter's wheel. The inside of the hat is painted as well, except on the face where it meets the hub to save from creating any irregularities in the surfaces that could cause wobble. The same feat could be accomplished if you had a 12" lathe at your disposal. I have a 9" available, but it's just a bit too small for brake rotors to be chucked up.

I would not ever recommend being sloppy and letting it wear off. Like someone pointed out, it'd gum up the pads.

Ryan

This was part of a much greater project I did from June to December.

Step 1) Project rolling chassis + my old crashed daily driven donor car

Step 2) Stripped project chassis + drivetrain & stripped donor

Step 3) paint parts + paint chassis

Step 4) Clean up every part & Reassemble bit by bit by bit

Step 5) Fire it up, and drive to storage without taking pics in the dark 2 days before Chirstmas until it comes back out in April so that my girlfriend gets to drive it.... lots of work! I'll take pictures in spring. It's a nice present for her I think... next year it gets a rebuilt engine -- a slightly modded 4AGZE.

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