i dont think painted rotors are safe...if so enlighten me!
My new rotors are really rusty
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
My new rotors are really rusty
When I ordered these Zimmermanns, they had an option to coat the rears but not the fronts. So I ordered coated rears and the only type of fronts they had (non-coated as you can see).
Well now after some 2 months, my rears still look silvery and great, but the fronts are looking like crap. What can I do? Rinse with WD-40 and then apply some kind of coating?
Well now after some 2 months, my rears still look silvery and great, but the fronts are looking like crap. What can I do? Rinse with WD-40 and then apply some kind of coating?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Thats exactly wht you do. I had the same issue..
sand the rust a little apply primer, then pain whatever color you want. I had a can of ceramic Red open at the time as I was doing my calipers so mine got red.FWIW black of gray/silver is better.
mine looked the same as your after a few weeks I couldn't stand it anymore. but its much cheaper to paint them yourself than to order precoated. I did my rears also.
sand the rust a little apply primer, then pain whatever color you want. I had a can of ceramic Red open at the time as I was doing my calipers so mine got red.FWIW black of gray/silver is better.
mine looked the same as your after a few weeks I couldn't stand it anymore. but its much cheaper to paint them yourself than to order precoated. I did my rears also.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,284
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From: North Carolina
2003 S500 - Toyota Corolla (in the rain)
I'm with THR2008. Something about painting rotors just doesn't sound right. Also the thought of spraying WD-40 scares the hell out of me. I can see the pads having nothing to grip on after being coated with WD-40. Scary. 
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
folks, for the love of god.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,986
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From: Toronto
V12TT
folks, for the love of god.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
This is how I did it, Just pop off wheel and using caliper paint (silver) I painted my calipers on the spot and the rotor hub. Obviously paint got on the rotor but after it dries up (30 min) take your car around the block and do some 'hard' braking. Everything will clear up.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 341
From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
folks, for the love of god.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
You don't paint the friction surface, you just paint the hub. Not to mention, the brakes will burn off any paint left on the actual friction surface anyway.
So heres what you do.
Wrap newspaper around the friction surface and secure it with tape. Put some newspaper on the fender, and secure it.
Now, clean up the surface rust with some sandpaper.
Buy some primer (the rustoleum brand actually is pretty good), and then silver engine enamel (duplicolor works and will withstand the heat).
Prime the hub
Paint the hub
Allow to dry
Clear coat if you want.
do the other side.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 7
04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 445
Likes: 26
From: USA
2018 S63, lowered
I've never even used primer...and never coverd up the surface area on the rotor itself. I simply shot the hats on the rotor with silver high temp engine paint and was done. The over spray on the rotor (which is minimal if your careful) is off by the time you brake at the end of your street for the stop sign. Very simple to do- and a MUST IMO.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 379
Likes: 3
From: Southcoast England
CL500 216
do not know what paints you have over there but we have one called Hammerite, and you can paint it on rust,, the other way is to lightly sand the rotor clean and use an exhaust high temp paint.. Do not go near it with WD40
The one in the pic is high temp paint been on 2 years now, when you spray it you can wipe it off the rotor face with petrol / thinners
The one in the pic is high temp paint been on 2 years now, when you spray it you can wipe it off the rotor face with petrol / thinners
