Painting drum brakes?

[wallyuwl]

I just got new rear brakes, drums and shoes, on the Vibe (Raybestos parts). The drums have rusted like crazy in only a couple weeks. I was thinking about taking off the drum covers and painting them.

My questions: Is this a good idea? What procedure and products should I use (just a simple automotive primer and paint spray paint)? Would I want to clean the drum covers since they are already roughed up due to being rusted?

The front calipers have the same issue. Is it possible to paint the calipers without removing the brake line and without getting paint all over the surrounding areas? If so what procedure would you use?

Car is white, not sure what color I'd want to paint them. Maybe silver.

Thanks.

 

[bullwinkle]

Sandblast & use high temperature engine paint.

 

[oggb]

Paint them neon green.

 

[Colt45ws]

I painted the drums on my old Cavalier black. I just used some regular flat black rustolem on an unprepped surface. I had the wheels off and just decided to hit them with it. It never did flake off. They were still black when it was sold 25k miles later.

 

[Mr Nice]

^^^^
Yep. and if the car also has wheel covers I like to paint the wheels flat black so they don't rust and look ugly.

 

[wallyuwl]

I don't have access to a sandblaster. So how else can/should I prepare the surface?

How about this for a primer:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Engine-Enamel-with-Ceramic&153;---Grey-Engine-Primer-Duplicolor_7140665-P_N3275_T%7CGRP2050_____

And this for paint:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Engine-Enamel-with-Ceramic---Cast-Coat-Aluminum-Duplicolor_7140893-P_N3268_T%7CGRP2050_____

Or would I be better off with something like this?:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Rust-Tough&174-Krylon_7140901-P_N3273_T%7CGRP2050_____


Any thoughts on doing the calipers?

 

[morris]

unless you are going road racing paint would be ok, but why?

 

[PW01]

WHAT I've always done...

1) Remove drums and clean thoroughly with a wire wheel on a drill
2) Wipe down the prepped drum with acetone and let dry
3) Prime (2 coats) with Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer and allow to dry for a couple of hours
4) Top coat (3-4 coats) with Rustoleum Spray paint - I prefer Satin Black

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: morris
unless you are going road racing paint would be ok, but why?


It's a way of showing pride in one's vehicle. And, to help components last longer in a salt-rich environment.

 

[wallyuwl]

That seems like a good plan PW01.

So is the concensus that Rustoleum is more important than a high temp. paint? Could I do Rustoleum primer and high temp paint?

Should I even mess with the front calipers considering it might change the worn-in pattern on the rotors? Or is there a good way I can do it carefully (with without taking off the caliper, or maybe with taking off the caliper, but keeping in the brake pads - presumably the caliper would match up the same when reinstalled and things would be fine with pad-rotor alignment so long as the pads didn't change position) without getting pain everywhere?

 

[sciphi]

Spray the paint into a cup, then brush it on.

Otherwise, take the caliper off (without detaching the brake line) and slap the pads back on. It'll adjust itself back to where it was if you need to compress the piston back in.

 

[InvalidUserID]

I painted my drums before installing them a few years ago. Cleaned them off with brake cleaner, then primer and (I think) hi temp paint.

Just a simply machine gray since I didn't like how my old drums would look nasty & rusty. They've held up nicely.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Absolutely, paint them.

I paint rotor hats and edges if they aren't already treated from the factory too. I don't have drum brakes but you bet I'd paint them for protection (not necessarily bling). Over time if rust builds up where the wheel mates to the hub/drum then your wheel might not spin true anymore and you'll get vibration and odd tire wear.

So many people just "put up" with rust and filth when it's so easy to prevent - I don't get it.

 

[kelpie]

I all do is wipe them down with paint thinner (or equivalent) and spray them black. I wouldn't bother going to extremes. It's just a brake drum.

 

[PW01]

I don't think they actually get hot enough to require "high temp" paint - not like they're an engine or a grill. Rustoleum just seem to hold really for the application

 

[IndyIan]

You can even do the front calipers with just rustoleum. Back when I was in highschool we had an Escort GT with 4 wheel discs so Dad and I painted the calipers red, car was silver with red pin stripes so it looked pretty good. I did a bunch of autocrosses with it and the fronts never seemed to have any problems with heat affecting the paint. If you do go with a bright colour you do have to take the wheels off to clean the calipers once in a while.
Just for rust prevention I'd do black or grey.

 

[wallyuwl]

Bought a few things today to do the job. Gotta wait until it warms up a bit to do it, though.

Plan on using a 3" polycarbite wheel to clean the drums and calipers, along with brake cleaner. Then 3 coats of silver caliper paint (didn't know they made it - basically a moderately high temp paint it seems - up to 500 deg F vs. the 2000 with engine paint). Don't think I'll need a primer. The paint directions don't even say to prime, and it sounds like a lot of you guys in this thread have been fine w/o priming. Will take the calipers and pads off but leave attached to the brake line and just tape things the best I can for overspray. Won't be a problem with the drum covers, obviously.

 

[mechtech2]

I always paint my rear drums.
At 7 years on the ZZX2, they look brand new.
Clean off any shipping/preservative grease, and wire brush loose rust.
Then simply spray paint them with spray Rustoleum. Several thin coats are better than one drippy heavy one.

Worried about heat? Naw.... probably improves heat dissipation because there is no rust and I paint mine black.