Painting Brake Discs

[Deako]

Has anyone got any experience of painting the surface of the brake disc?

This is a serious question. In spite of it first appearing like a joke. 

Some manufacturers are painting the surface of the brakes, which is then worn off by the pads on first use. This is so that everywhere other than the contact point of the pads is protected against corrosion.

Now, im having my BBK fitted on Saturday, and as yet, i havent gotten round to painting the centers. The pad sweep will miss the very center by around 10mm, so i am left with a quandry. I dont have a circle cutter or anything suitable to mask off the contact patch on the disc for painting.

Has anyone ever adopted the method undertaken by some disc manufacturers now to protect the disc from corrosion by painting the whole surface OR at least as close to the center as possible, leaving the pads to wear off anything else?

[rich83]

I wouldnt put paint anywhere near the disc, wether that be on the surface or just around the edge.

[Deako]

You can buy discs that are painted across the whole of the surface Rich. The paint wears off on first use of the discs. Ill try and find the page.

[rich83]

Im sure you are correct... but i wouldnt.

My disc are painted on the edge and after tanking around the yorkshire dales for 4 hours, my calipers were covered in bits of paint, which were a cock to get off.

[vRS Carl]

You need to stop using the brakes so much then Rich 

Seriosuly though my discs are painted on the edges and the bells and i don't have any issues with it. But it was done by DaveB so it may even be powedercoat

[rich83]

mine were daves too... maybe i was just breaking like a hero   

[vRS Carl]

mine were daves too... maybe i was just braking like a WIMP  

Fixed that for you  

[rich83]

mine were daves too... maybe i was just braking like a WIMP  

Fixed that for you  

 
 

[Deako]

http://www.mtecbrakes.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=15181

That's the link.

[Richn83]

I must admit this was my plan with some semi worn in discs and the nqsbbk I have some high temp silver paint and would cover the whole outer face of the disc bar contact points (where disc meets the hub) then let the pad wear away the contact area to leave everything else protected from corrosion.

[Deako]

I think im going to do it anyway, but just try and keep it as near to the center of the bell as possible. I dont want to try cutting out a piece of cardboard inaccurately, with jagged edges to mask the disc.

[Deako]

Used some Hammerite high temp paint. Tried to minimise the are that will be worn off by the pads. Used a piece of cardboard with circle cut out.

Looks a bit ghetto. Should look ok when it's worn off. Don't know how durable it will be. Excuse to go for some custom 2 piece AP rotors at a later stage. 

[Phil Miller]

Ive just fitted a set of used but good rear GTI discs to mine and before i fitted them i painted the bells black, they stand out like a leeds fan in old trafford but will look good once the colour has faded a little

genuine discs have the paint on the bells and outer rim, most jap stuff has paint on the disc face but after the first mile or so the pedal fades badly then comes back fast, its to do with the pad face not clearing fast enough then once all the paint traces have gone its perfect

[Deako]

Ive just fitted a set of used but good rear GTI discs to mine and before i fitted them i painted the bells black, they stand out like a leeds fan in old trafford but will look good once the colour has faded a little

genuine discs have the paint on the bells and outer rim, most jap stuff has paint on the disc face but after the first mile or so the pedal fades badly then comes back fast, its to do with the pad face not clearing fast enough then once all the paint traces have gone its perfect

 

Mine are matt black. I've oversprayed about 15mm of the disc surface, as Dave informed me that approx 10mm of the surface isn't swept by the pad with the NQSBBK. Should look like a clean edge within a couple miles.

[vRS_Pagey]

I have done bells and edges of the discs on both the vRS and the GT, I think they look much better painted......

Rich, top tip for next time, don't use watercolour paints!!