InTheAir

As many of you saw during my DIY suspension install, my original rotor hats were nasty with rust, etc. So, while the car was up on the jack stands, I decided to paint the rotors like many have done here.

(last weekend I also worked on cleaning the wheel wells, but that's not pictured.)


I started with using a metal brushing tool on my drill to remove the existing rust and scratch the surface to promote paint adherence. I don't have a picture of the brushing tool for this DIY, but here is another picture I took when I was polishing my exhaust tips.


I used a 9' x 12' plastic drop cloth to cover most of the car during the spraying. I could wrap it around the back of the rotors and tape it along the bottom. With another drop cloth under the car (to protect my garage floor) and a plastic bag around the rotors and tape on the surface of the rotor, I was ready to spray.


I used a dark grey engine paint that is safe to 500 degrees F.


After removing all the drop cloths and plastic, the hats were much improved. The paint on the face of the rotors came off during the first drive, but unfortunately I don't have pictures....yet.

Not too bad for such a quick DIY

Scott 1996 993c2

Very cool Jeff. Mine still look pretty darn nice . . . which is good since I have the MY'02 Carrera 5 spokes . . . and you can really see them with those wheels.

Scott

InTheAir

Those MY02 wheels definitely keep you on your toes when it wheel cleaning and rotor hat condition.

Just so you know, your avatar is a constant threat to my decision ~not~ to upgrade my wheels....I look at it and think, "Hhmmm, maybe I should pull the trigger."

Scott 1996 993c2

I sorta had the exact same thoughts last March . . . about a month after I bought my car. It took me until July to find a set that became all mine. The avatar pic is a bit blurry . . . so . . .

viperbob

You are evil Scott.......

Scott 1996 993c2

Yes sir . . . I am.

Scott

viperbob

Now if you just didn't have those bumperettes spoiling the beautiful lines on the front bumper...

InTheAir

Scott, that hurts.

By the way, you should also consider a turbo bumper.

Brave Heart

Jeff

When I see all the masking work you did to paint your rotors I just kept asking myself -- Why did you not brush paint them ??

InTheAir

A lot of masking work?

It took about 3-4 minutes per wheel to mask it. Spraying also resulted in very consistent application with no brush marks. Also, it is very easy to find spray-on, high-heat paint. I didn't run across any high-heat, brush-on paint in grey.

If I had to do it over again, I would still spray it.

Scott 1996 993c2

Yeah . . . well . . . it wasn't me who put 'em there.

OK . . . OK . . . I know . . . "so what . . . it's your job to get rid of them".

Scott

solsrch

As I recall at that point it is only the two phillips holding the rotor on. My thought was why not take them off - easier to do a good spray job and less masking. Of course, your end product looks great and my thought could just be an example of why I'm the slowest DIY guy here!

Scott 1996 993c2

There you go . . . keep pushing me. You know . . . a man can only take so much.

So . . . I guess a "Euro" turbo bumper would satisfy both you and Bob?? "College funds?? What college funds honey?? The kids don't need no stinkin' college funds."


Scott

InTheAir

There is a bit more to it then the two philips screws. That technique would require the calipers to be removed. Additionally, it is generally accepted that anytime you remove those screws, you should replace them. I don't have eight of those screws handy.

Removing the rotors would not obviate the need to mask the rotors, unless you don't mind painting most of the rotor faces. Although any paint that gets on the face will wear off the first time the brakes are applied, I wouldn't want a lot of paint on the faces for fear that it could gum up the brake pads.

I think it ~looks~ more involved than it actually was.

InTheAir

Kids are pretty resilient, Scott. Spend their college fund/inheritance fund while you can enjoy it.