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YOUR RESEARCHPainted my "Top Hat" today
Leading reported evidence
Check just the spray paint
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The auto stores didn't have brush on when I last checked, just the spray paint.
Leading evidence: 'Check just the spray paint' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'most important, is the masking process' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check just the spray paint' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Here are a couple of pic after the brake pads cleaned the excess paint off the rotors.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I used 2" wide painters tape on the "inside" of the caliper (the side that faces the "hat") and then wrapped the entire caliper with newspaper.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I did mine when I did the caliper replacement but used hi-temp black and so far no problem, but then I have not tracked the car yet.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I also used newspaper to cover most of the rotor by taping it to the rotor.
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most important, is the masking process
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Suspected cause · Original poster
I don't think it would take more than 2 hours to do all four "hats" because the most time consuming part, and probably the most important, is the masking process.
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36 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
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I had a little extra time today so I decided to paint one of the "top hats" today to see how it looks. It turned out rather well, IMO. The paint I used was VHT Brake, Caliper, Drum & Rotor Paint SP - 735 Cast Aluminum, which I got at Autozone for $7.95. While I had the wheel off I also painted the lug bolt heads. Here are a couple of pics. Sorry for the poor quality, I think I unintentionally set it to the lowest resolution and to top it all off, both the camera and photographer are crappy.
Sorry Tim, although I commend your effort, my finicky nature can't overlook the workmanship on the paint job. The paint job where the top-hat meets the rotor is -- shall I say -- less than quality work.
Did you mask, because that looks to be free-hand? A for effort, though.
Ucube - Yes I did mask. However, there is a little "overspray" on the rotor, but actually, that was intentional. I was not worried about that because after driving it, the brake pads would remove the "overspray" and the end result would be a perfectly trimmed paint job on the "top hats." The early pics were taken before I had a chance to drive the car. I wanted to let the paint dry completely overnight.
Euro - here are some pics from farther away. First pic is the rear unpainted "hat" and the second is the front re-painted "hat." The 3rd pic is a close up of the unpainted lug bolts and the 4th pic shows the painted lug bolts.
Tim - Great looking job, the after picture of the lug bolts looks especially awesome. Several times I looked at mine("top hats") and thought about how bad they looked but it never dawned on me to paint them.
Thanks for the idea, now all I need is the spare time.
DreamCarrera & Mitty - thanks for the kind words.
As I said in my first post, I only did one "hat" but that only took about an hour. I don't think it would take more than 2 hours to do all four "hats" because the most time consuming part, and probably the most important, is the masking process. The spray painting goes very quickly. I sprayed 3 light coats on the "hats", waiting about 10 minutes between each coat, per the paint can instructions.
Capt604 - Thank you for the comments.
No, I did not remove the calipers. I used 2" wide painters tape on the "inside" of the caliper (the side that faces the "hat") and then wrapped the entire caliper with newspaper. I also used newspaper to cover most of the rotor by taping it to the rotor. Then I masked off the edge of the rotor close to the "hat." I also masked off the center hub, but wasn't too picky about getting complete tape coverage on the hub.
Gang,
The factory paint on the calipers is very soft. I sanded it all off with 100 or 120 grit in 10 or 15 minutes. Primed it and added a coat of silver. This mod looks REALLY good on the more open wheels such as the Carrera LT. My wheels aren't nearly as open but I couldn't stand the splotchy paint on the hats and spots of rust on the lugs.
Yes, I know I'll have to redo the lugs periodically since the wrench will chip the paint. No biggie...
-Charles
Originally, I painted only one "hat" to see how it would look. Well, today I painted the other three "hats." The paint I used was VHT Brake, Caliper, Drum & Rotor Paint SP - 735 Cast Aluminum, which I got at Autozone for $7.95.
The 1st pic is after removing the EOM paint from the "hat."
The 2nd pic is taping around the hat. You will notice that I kept the tape back from the edge of the "hat" in order to get complete paint coverage on the "hat."
The 3rd pic shows the painted "hat" and how there is a little bit of paint on the rotor. A quick trip around the block and the brake pads will remove the paint from the rotor. The "hats" will be completely covered and you will have a sharp, even edge of paint on the "hats" and no paint on the rotors.
The 4th pic is my bolt "paint booth."
Using a cardboard box eliminates the need to tape the threads.
wow, very nice, especially sinced it is all trimmed and tidy, good job. not bad for four hours work, huh? not that it was really "work"...I've done it to other cars, just not the P-car....I'm curious to see how long it lasts, as there is a tremndous amount of heat generated in that vicinity....hopefully it'll be there a while...
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but curious how this paint is holding up so far. Any deterioration to note? I'm thinking about this as a winter project.
Dean - I just checked all four Top Hats and they all still look good, just like the first day I painted them.
One thing I forgot to mention in my initial post. When you paint your Hats, make sure you cover your car completely with a drop cloth, because the paint over-spray will become airborne and settle on your car if you do not have it covered. A couple of disposable plastic drop cloths will work well.
Nice Tim! I have to do this. But I'm not spraying any paint near my car! I'll use the brush on stuff, and take some shots when I finally get around to doing it.
Nothing better than getting the rust off and seeing clean silver rotor hats through your rims!
Looks good Tim and completes that area.
I did mine when I did the caliper replacement but used hi-temp black and so far no problem, but then I have not tracked the car yet. When I sprayed I placed a huge cover over my entire car to protect it from the spraying.
I agree with Dell, 2-piece rotors next
My Mustang ones:
Yeah I know small caliper on a 13" rotor but it was what I could afford at the time and I am not tracking the car.
