Best paint for brake disc hubs - protection & aesthetic

[Wilbert350]

Hi all,

I'm looking at coating my hubs to prevent corrosion on my brakes. We've all probably seen the usual Hammerite HT paint etc, but it never looks black and tends to discolour easily.

I'm hoping someone knows of a decent silver paint as I'd prefer that over black, with high heat withstanding properties?

HYCOTE do some decent looking sprays, aluminium up to 500C for example.

Has anyone any experience with those?


Thanks

[Wilbert350]

This finish for example

[Mignon]

Try Rust-oleum

[RedSwede]

Halfords silver high-temp or caliper paint. Does the job as well as anything else, as long as you prep well first (clean/key/clean).

[Wilbert350]

RedSwede said:

Halfords silver high-temp or caliper paint. Does the job as well as anything else, as long as you prep well first (clean/key/clean).

Thanks, so what kind of finish does this leave? Does it discolour with heat over time or is it pretty reliable?

Also what do you mean by cleanKEYclean?

Thanks

[RedSwede]

It leaves a "satin" silver finish. Not totally matte, not glossy.

If you really really work the brakes (track use), I have noticed the centimetre nearest the friction surface to yellow a tiny bit.

clean/key/clean - I mean wipe with thiners/panel wipe type stuff, sand down with a bit of 240 wet&dry (to key into the surface a little), then clean the residue.

I am taking the view that these are disc hats on a normal road car. They will be neat clean and tidy, it won't be like a car body panel...

[Wilbert350]

RedSwede said:

It leaves a "satin" silver finish. Not totally matte, not glossy.

If you really really work the brakes (track use), I have noticed the centimetre nearest the friction surface to yellow a tiny bit.

clean/key/clean - I mean wipe with thiners/panel wipe type stuff, sand down with a bit of 240 wet&dry (to key into the surface a little), then clean the residue.

I am taking the view that these are disc hats on a normal road car. They will be neat clean and tidy, it won't be like a car body panel...

Ok thanks. So essentially: clean the discs with thinner (remove protective greases), sand areas to be painted lightly with wetndry, clean again with thinner to remove dust, and then ready to paint.

I might have a go at this tomorrow... If I can make it to halfords XD

Thanks

[xjay1337]

I'd just go for hammerite direct to metal.
Brush on and dries even

[Darkslider]

Check your wheelnut torque regularly for a good while (6 months) after painting as if you get the paint on the hub mounting face a bit thick it will gradually wear away back to metal again, resulting in a loosening of wheel bolts or nuts.

The loosening will only be very slight (miniscule in most cases) but could potentially have serious consequences if left unchecked.

FWIW I've always used engine enamel with good results, can get it almost anywhere!

[xjay1337]

Do not paint the mating surface.....

[generationx]

xjay1337 said:

Do not paint the mating surface.....

This

[Darkslider]

xjay1337 said:

Do not paint the mating surface.....

Is the simplest answer yep but the picture above has clearly had paint applied all over. So if you've already done similar keep checking !

Chances are after one or two re torques they'll have settled anyway.

[GreenV8S]

xjay1337 said:

Do not paint the mating surface.....

Will the wheel even seat properly with paint on the spigot?

[xjay1337]

GreenV8S said:

xjay1337 said:

Do not paint the mating surface.....

Will the wheel even seat properly with paint on the spigot?

No.

I had a set of wheels refurbished. They painted the inner part of the barrel where the mating surface meets the hub and also in the spigot.. I didn't think to check as the place were supposedly reputable.

Had it not been for a flat battery and having to bump start my car I'd have lost a wheel. Had to dremel the paint away.

[trickywoo]

Quality discs come with a highly corrosion resistant coating from the factory now.

I’ve had Bosch discs on for two winters and no sign of corrosion. The finish on Brembos are nicer still.