new rotors after rain

proshine2009

New member
i upgraded my brake system for the race track this summer but it seems after 2 weeks of rain my new rotors are starting to show some rusting, how to clean?, without using harsh chemical i don't mind scrubing them.

kal



showphoto.php




showphoto.php
 
You can scrub/brush all you want, the rust will just come back.



Best thing to do (what most of the Bimmer guys do) is take them off, rough them up with some 320 grit (the 3M flexible sanding sponges are awesome for this), mask off the face and paint the hat with a high-temperature light-gray paint. Most people have found that silver paints just don't have what it takes, so light-gray is the color of choice.



I suppose you could do it on the car, too, you'd just have to be way more careful with masking. I personally do it as soon as I buy a new set of rotors before I put them into storage in my workbench -- keeps the hats from rusting due to moisture in the air. I tend to buy my rotors when the particular type I want are on special at my local BMW/Porsche aftermarket shop.
 
I'm gonna ask a dumb question. Which part is the "hat"? Is it the rusty bit in the second photo? The round part with no holes?
 
Taxlady said:
I'm gonna ask a dumb question. Which part is the "hat"? Is it the rusty bit in the second photo? The round part with no holes?



The "Hat" is the center black piece seen in the pic below:



ntnsracing_1728_21122150




Some rotors have or can be cad plated or powder coated to prevent rust from forming on the non-contact surfaces. But longevity of the coating varies and may become an issue.
 
actually the rusting area is part of the rotors not the hub diffrent from the picture but it's called hub.



i called couple places and they offer to zinc wash or nickel plate them for me which will prevent the rotors from rusting but it won't last for a long time.

and any comment ?.



now i wonder why nobody mention this when i bought the rotors

daaam you retailers





kal
 
Yes, zinc plated hats/hubs are supposed to retard the rusting, but I heard it still rusts after a while. Before I have my Brembo's installed, I'm going to try Ben Carufel's tip.
 
Luster does the same trick and posted some very pretty pics of them. A while back. :up He doesn't bother masking the rotors either because he says the paint wears off right away.
 
Why doesn't the pad and caliper cover the entire rotor surface? If I am looking at the picture correctly, it seems odd that the pad is only using half of the rotor surface.
 
4DSC said:
Luster does the same trick and posted some very pretty pics of them. A while back. :up He doesn't bother masking the rotors either because he says the paint wears off right away.



Yes, each time I rotate the tires, I just lightly sand off the rust and shoot a little hi-temp Silver on the rotors.



Makes them look like new again (especially after a long salty winter!)



Light grey is also a nice look!



fc7ee75b.jpg
 
flyby. Ben Carufel was suggesting to sand the rust area and to use higth temp on it and this area, the pad doesn't touch that's why it rust.
 
Kal,



I am not familiar with mustang brakes so I could be completely off base with this question, but...are you sure the shop that sold you the upgrade sold you the proper brakes? I have never seen a caliper/rotor set up where the caliper only covers half of the rotor surface. The picture that Bill posted is always what I have seen where the pad covers all the rotor surface. In this situation the rotor surface will not rust (other than right after washing which the first drive takes care of) however, the hub assembly (part that attaches to the wheel hub) can still, and usually will, rust and that is where some people paint the hubs or buy rotors that come painted from the manufacturer. Just a question. I figure either way I learn something new today.
 
Does seem kind of strange. You'd lose quite a bit of stopping power with such an arrangement. Curious to see if that is the correct setup or not.
 
Now you said "i upgraded my brake system"...by that what do you mean? It looks like you got new rotors and a kit to move your calipers farther out...
 
Hey Kal,



You may have to remove the rotors and paint the part that is rusting....that is typical of an air cooled race rotor the pad only goes over the part with the holes....most people using them are not also looking for beauty....the hi-temp stuff show work, but you dont want paint on any braking surface, so that has to be taped off carefully....good luck
 
bet993 these are the proper braker system you can find them in all mustang cobra's except for the rotors which are not stock. yes it's kind strange but i guess diffrent design then bill's systme.



paco with these 13in rotors you will have more braking leverage and absorbs more heat during braking and the slotswill passes the gases and heat out



Calestus when i said upgrade i meant the whole front brake system which includes calipers, rotors, stainless steel brake lines, pads.



poorboy i think that's my only option. i wish i would know that before installing them. live a learn.



thankx for all the help guys
 
Is it necessary to use high temp primer on the rotor hats before painting them or do you just put the high temp paint directly on the rotor?
 
wilbanks said:
Is it necessary to use high temp primer on the rotor hats before painting them or do you just put the high temp paint directly on the rotor?



I used Hi-Temp engine paint. No primer. If they are extremely rusted, you should sand and primer first.
 
Back
Top