Painting 14bff brake drums

[Mastiff]

Got new brake drums for the 14bff I'm building up. I can't tell if the unfinished cast part has a gray coating on the outside or if it's bare metal. It would be nice if they didn't instantly rust after a few days driving. Anyone know if drums typically come coated? If I hit them with some VHT engine paint, will it last anyway?

 

[rampage]

Most parts come with a protective coating that prevents rust while being stored, but once used it wears/burns off and rusts. You need to clean it first with a solvent before you paint it. I wouldn't use engine paint, VHT has a line of paint for brakes.
http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/caliperpaint/

 

[dremu]

As with all things paint, it's preparation, preparation, preparation.

I used engine paint as it was handy, but did scrub the outer surface with a wirebrush and some Simple Green or something, then hit 'em with the brake cleaner and let them dry overnight. My experience with the high-temp paints is that multiple thin coats gets better adhesion and dribbles less.

The other thing is that in my case I took the drums on and off what seemed liked 37 times, so the paint chipped & flaked a bit from the handling and rolling on the ground. I suppose I could touch 'em up, but even without that it's better than the instant surface rust as you mentioned. If you're not taking them on and off repeatedly, just use a clean rag (no brake fluid -- remember it looooves paint!) when you handle them.

And in my case they look like the hats worn by the seminal 80's New Wave band DEV-O (aka "energy domes" )

-- A

 

[diesel4me]

"Cast-Blast" spray paint holds up pretty well on drums too,despite it not really being a "hi-heat" paint...keeps rust at bay too...