Wheel hub painting

tkbruce · Post by **tkbruce** » Fri 16 Jul, 2010 08:35

It's more noticable now since I have fitted the 18" wheels the wheel hubs are slightly brown in colour (rust). I thought it might be an idea to paint them with dark blue hammerite to match the car colour. Before I do so, does anyone have any advice on the little paint job, paint used or any issues with hand painting the hub?
I was also thinking of tidying up the brake calipers whilst the wheels were off, can I paint them or should I just be cleaning and leaving.

Cheers all.

Keith in Fraserburgh.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Fri 16 Jul, 2010 09:16

You can paint them just try to remove as much of the rust as you can (wire brush etc...) and use a paint that can be painted onto rust eg Hammerite.

You can get special caliper paint in different colours as it needs to handle the heat generated (use can use engine block paint as well

)

Ferdinand · Post by **Ferdinand** » Fri 16 Jul, 2010 09:57

Or use grey zinc-spray as originally used by BMW...

I used to paint the hub black - but after buying the Z.... I'm gonna paint the the hubs on old brit' grey as well.... looks much nicer

Ferdinand - just an idea....

g8jka · Post by **g8jka** » Fri 16 Jul, 2010 14:26

I'm in the process of doing this myself at the moment. Painting the calipers red and I'm going to spray the hubs too but I'm unsure on what colour to do them yet, probably silver as my front ones are already silver. In my opinion it really freshens up the look of the car and is eye catching behind the alloys, plus its the little details that count!!

tkbruce · Post by **tkbruce** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 09:28

Hmm, I'm not the best of sprayers and prefer to use the brush, that way saves me from masking, just a piece of paper on the ground to catch the drips LOL. Special caliper paint eh? I'll have to look around for that as I might have just slapped on the hammerite!

Thanks guys!
Keith.

Boysie · Post by **Boysie** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 10:14

Hi

Does anyone have any pics of the finished paint job

Ray

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 10:35

did mine with caliper paint off eBay

tkbruce · Post by **tkbruce** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 10:58

Hmm dunno if i'll go for the striking orange but excellent photos, thank you. I'll have to take a few after I've done mine.

Tori · Post by **Tori** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 11:13

tkbruce wrote:Hmm, I'm not the best of sprayers and prefer to use the brush, that way saves me from masking, just a piece of paper on the ground to catch the drips LOL. Special caliper paint eh? I'll have to look around for that as I might have just slapped on the hammerite!

Thanks guys!
Keith.

Hammerite will be fine, we've used it on the brakes on quite a few cars now.

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 13:42

Boysie wrote:Hi
Does anyone have any pics of the finished paint job

Take your pick Ray:

Original (un-refurbished wheels) with "brown" hubs

Refurbed Shadow Chrome wheels with silver hubs

Shadow Chrome wheels with black hubs

I prefer the black to the silver as it looks cleaner in the flesh (sorry about the muck 'n dust in the last photo

The silver seemed to look much dirtier especially if any copper grease bled out.

The red calipers were painted with heat resistant engine enamel - 'cos that's what was on my shelf

The silver hubs were silver hammerite and the black ones "smoothrite" to match the garden gate - again it was on the shelf

Hope this helps in your selection

Boysie · Post by **Boysie** » Sat 17 Jul, 2010 19:15

Many thanks
black is best

Cheers Titan

Ray

Dakeyras · Post by **Dakeyras** » Mon 19 Jul, 2010 08:36

Once again a fine thread resulted in a trip to the shops. Got some caliper paint and some paint for the hubs, now if the rain would stop.

This may seem like a stoopid question but do you (or can you) paint the brake discs as well?

tkbruce · Post by **tkbruce** » Mon 19 Jul, 2010 09:12

I wouldn't advise that but you might be able to purchase some anodised disks.....possibly but I'm not an expert.
I would imagine if you painted them then all grip would be lost and you would be going through red lights, bashing into cars and going into brick walls

Keith.

Dakeyras · Post by **Dakeyras** » Mon 19 Jul, 2010 09:19

I thought that might be the case and I'd rather avoid the wall crashing if at all possible

Best to get the stupid questions out of the way though!

tkbruce · Post by **tkbruce** » Mon 19 Jul, 2010 09:25

If you don't ask then you wont know, mind you some of the technical experts may be able to advise you more but I can't see painting the disks as a safe idea.

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Mon 19 Jul, 2010 11:44

Dakeyras wrote:This may seem like a stoopid question but do you (or can you) paint the brake discs as well?

It's not a stupid question if you don't know the answer!

However DO NOT paint the surface of the discs!
The shiny metal surface is designed to generate friction with the brake pads.
Paint would effectively act as a lubricant and result in you not stopping.....

Jays · Post by **Jays** » Fri 23 Jul, 2010 14:34

Never mind the smell of burning paint!

Those Shadow Chrome wheel refurbs look pretty good Titan. Making me think about mine now!

zroadster.net

Wheel hub painting

Wheel hub painting

Brown, Silver or Black?