AndyK

Well, I'm an idiot. When I bought new Zimmerman rotors a few months back, I didn't paint the hats before I had them installed. Now, guess what...RUST! I read that the OE Porsche/Zimmerman rotors are zinc coated to prevent this rust. Not worth double the price though.

Question is, if I decide to sand off the rust, and paint the hats, what am I in for? I remember Damian said rust returned to his 968's rotors after he painted them. Is there a trick, or will rust win out eventually?

I was thinking of using a clear coat of some kind, to keep the nice metallic shine visable between my rim spokes, but a silver would be OKtoo. Anything but the nasty rust that I see every time I look at my nice clean rims!

Thoughts?

Andy

User 41221

Hit them with a spray on rust neutralizer, and then a shot of hi-temp paint ( I used silver on mine). Its worked well for me on previous cars, including my 968.

Regards,

M758

I sanded and painted with barbeque grill paint. I figured flat black look right in there.

Not very hard.

pete944

Duplicolor hi temp gray here. My factory hats were rusty looking. I painted them in April or May and they still look perfect.

Z-man

That's not the only difference between the OE Porsche/Zimmerman's and the aftermarket Zimmer's. I suppose the OE Porsche rotors are made to a higher standard.

Truthfully, I've only had Porsche OEM rotors on my car, but they performed admirably even when they were thinner than the factory recommended wear! (And no cracking or fading either!)

And I don't have to worry about the rotor hats rusting.

Just my $0.42,
-Z.

AndyK

Do I sand, then prime with some rust inhibitor, then use the high-temp silver/clear, etc?? Or do I spray the anti rust paint on over the rust? Do they make a clear that is high-temp?

KuHL 951

I used good old Rustoleum enamel for brush application. I sanded the hat area and vents, solvent wiped, and applied paint with a good brush, no primer. They've remained glossy over 3 years with no bleed through yet. On an all-year driver I'm sure would be harder to keep them rust free, especially back East. BTW paint applied over most of the "rust converters" is not very effective. Good surface prep is the key to longevity.

AndyK

Painting with a brush is easier as far as being neater...did you use a CLEAR paint, or silver color? No brush strokes visible?

KuHL 951

I used a chromium yellow in the small 4 oz. cans. The Rustoleum canned enamels have very good flow charcteristics, are surprisinly surface tolerant, and lay down smoother than you would think. Mine stayed glossy for years and the brake dust would still wipe right off. Use a good soft natural bristle brush and the brush strokes will not be noticeable unless you're going for concours quality. I would not suggest a clearcoat, the heat will probably cause it to yellow very badly. Again, 95% of coating failures are due to improper surface prep, be sure and get it clean and oil free. If I had my touch-up HVLP gun back then I would have sprayed them probably.

89magic98

Are you going to paint the rotor vents as well? (Not the braking surface, maybe I'm choosing the wrong word in describing what I mean.)

AndyK

I wouldn't paint the vented part...too much hastle, especially with a spray paint (if I were to go that route).

A clear coat would turn yellow...good call! I figure I'll go with a silver high-temp engine paint or something like that. Or the Rustoleum silver.

slowazzporsche

i used a "caliper" paint in a nice aluminum color, I painted EVERYTHING behind the rim but the spring, the shock, and the actual rotor itself and it's held up for 4 months so far and looks sharp IMO

Damian in NJ

One time I didn't put enough coats on, and got a little rust. If I kept the car I could've just sanded it and resprayed.

Lousailor

Spray caliper paint tends to be a little more resistant to solvents. I tried regular high temp paint, and brake cleaner ate right through it.

IMB951

I was just talking to someone today about this after I washed my car. I really need to get off my butt and paint my hats, they look terrible.