StopTech Rotors - Painting for Rust Ring
 

I have had the front StopTech rotors with Hawk Ceramic pads for a few months and couple thousand miles. Performance is good, but hate the surface rust ring where the pad is not as wide as the machined rotor surface.

So when I got the rear rotors, I decided to paint the slots, holes and the rotor surface not hit by the pads. All three of these areas show the surface rust on my front rotors.

Here is a picture of the rotor before I started any work. For comparison to other rotors, note that the holes have beveled edges and the slots do not come to the edge of the rotor. If you really look closely, you will notice that the pattern of the holes (some 4 per line and some 3 per line) is not consistent all the way around the rotor. Took me a while to figure it out, but it is because StopTech set up the pattern to make sure that none of the holes is drilled through any of the vanes which would weaken the rotor. Not all manufacturers do this.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...1-Original.jpg

Taped up to spray paint the slots. Used Flat Black VHT Hi-Temp paint good to 2000 degrees. UPDATE: A lesson I learned along the way is that you don't have to tape off like this. Just paint them by hand and sand off the extra paint like I did with the holes below.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...SlotsTaped.jpg

Used the same paint, but by brush for all the holes.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...3-Painted2.jpg

Sanded down the surface to get a clean look. Then clear coated the entire surface.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w.../4-Sanded2.jpg

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Update on October 10th.

When I baked the rotors, the instruction called for 30 minutes at 250 degrees, cool for 30 minutes, bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, cool for 30 minutes and then bake at 600 degrees for 30 minutes.

First two baking temps went fine. The 3rd one was done at 550 degrees due to the oven limitation. Well when I pulled it out, it was a beautiful bronze on both sides. It was a very minor surface discoloration on the backside that easily scratched off. On the front the bronze color was UNDER the now hardened clear coat. I was pissed. :mad:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...x/5-Bronze.jpg

No problem where everything was painted black. So changed my mind and decided to paint the rust ring areas black. So I cleaned off the clear coat and bronze color and since I did not want to paint the entire rotor surface, I taped them off again.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...TapedAgain.jpg

Here is a picture after painting. Note that I painted both the outer edge of the rotor (due to the curved nature of the edge this also shows a little rust ring..see post #12 below) and the inner area where the pad does not touch the rotor (OEM rotors have this coated as well). The pads will cut a little of the black off and should give a good clean line. From looking at the pad against the rotor, it appears that the painted inner black ring will go right through the center of the outermost drilled hole.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...x/7-Final1.jpg

Tomorrow I am going to bake them at just the first 2 cycles (250 degrees and 400 degrees). Then install and see how they come out. If good, then I am going to pull off the fronts and do the same thing.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Did the fronts. Came out just as good. Finally got them to look as good as they work. :biggthumpup:

Nice job :)
It'll be interesting how long it lasts

This may sound obvious, but I assume you did sand off the clear from the rotor face?

If you had temp limitation with your oven, you should have stuck them in the grill.

They do look really good.

Yes I cleaned and sanded them before painting the clear, but they have no clear from the manufacturer hence the rust rings.

Can I send u my rotors when I get em hahahaha. Seriously though.

.....I meant sand off the clear from the face after you clear coated.
so that the clear is only on the paint.

Anything left on the rotor face will contaminate the pads.


I have new slotted stoptechs going on next week.... very tempted :biggthumpup:

It is fine, the pads wear. After 2-3 good hard brakes, they will be fine.

No that would defeat the purpose of having clear on the part of the face that the pads do not rub. From what I have read, I would agree with WhosUrBuddie.

Awesome work David! Looking forward to see how they hold up.

Do you have a picture of what the fronts look like now?
Were there any options for coating when you ordered?
How do the fronts look, specifically the drilled holes? Any cracks yet?

I am very torn between ordering the stoptechs and BPs. I am thinking of getting the BP and beveling the holes myself, then painting it all.

Where did you order your stoptechs from?

Picture from tonight posted below.

No options regarding coating. I had exchanged several emails with the StopTech sales manager about the status of the rotors before they were released. After I had the fronts, I wrote them several times about the lack of clear zinc coating after machining, but never got a reply. Several manufacturers say they E-coat or Zinc coat, but if it is not done after machining then will not solve the problem.

No cracks or performance problems with the StopTech so far, but I am not tracking either.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...6-RustRing.jpg

Wow that looks horrible man.

That would work if you got the machining gear, but would void any warranty with BP. I have seen some other rotors coming out, but nothing in this price range.

I got the fronts from Riverside and the rears from US Autotek. Long story as to why and I leveraged an Paypal/eBay coupon I got in the mail one day, so I ended up at $438 shipped for the entire set front and rear. Have not seen them that low anywhere lately that has them in stock.

Yeah hence my aggravated state of mind and all the work today to try and fix it. I would hate to think of that look behind an expensive custom wheel. :mad: