How to Polish Rotors?

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Apr 16, 2009 | 02:36 PM

HogFather

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 723

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From: Melbourne, Florida

How to Polish Rotors?

With all this talk about whether to polish rotors or not. Just how are they polished? Is there a right and or wrong way? Is there an easy or hard way? What works? Thanks!

Apr 16, 2009 | 03:24 PM

n8dc

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 2,034

Likes: 45

From: Michigan

Well I just happen to have a couple D/A sanders for body work so I started with 80 grit then moved to 150 then 220 then 320 then i wet sanded with 400 1000 and I think i used some 1500 also.. then i used my auto buffer with regular compound finished with some WENOL.. Mine look pretty good.. If you have a nice commercial Baldor buffer and all the right compounds and rouge you can make em look like chrome .. Like i said im happy..

Apr 16, 2009 | 03:39 PM

ky_ace

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 858

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From: around

I'm guessing you only used the compound on the bolt surface and not the braking surface???

Apr 16, 2009 | 04:17 PM

xxxflhrci

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 10,033

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I used sandpaper on an attachment that goes on an electric drill. I used 320-2000 grit. I did the entire rotor. After mastering not ripping your paper on the sharp edges, you can polish out a rotor side in about 45 minutes.

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How to Polish Rotors?-sized-polished.jpg

Apr 16, 2009 | 04:19 PM

stro1965

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 10,602

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From: Bellevue, NE

Same here. Started at 80 grit and ended with either 1500 or 2000, can't remember. All on a palm sander. Doesn't take long at all and the results will impress you!

Apr 16, 2009 | 04:20 PM

stro1965

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 10,602

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From: Bellevue, NE

Oh yeah...once you do it the stock rotor bolts look bad against the shiny rotors, you'll want new chrome ones

Apr 16, 2009 | 05:12 PM

IslandGlide

Cruiser

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 236

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From: Charlottetown Prince Edward Island

Do the rotors not go back to crappy looking once u use the brakes a few times??

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Apr 16, 2009 | 05:42 PM

n8dc

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 2,034

Likes: 45

From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by IslandGlide

Do the rotors not go back to crappy looking once u use the brakes a few times??

Yes they do on the braking surface .. Yup i polished the whole rotor.. (question was asked also)

Im gonna let you all on a little sumpin on the rotor bolts.. No i used wenol for mine and I chucked up each bolt in the cordless drill and with the Wenol (i used the blue they make a red tube also) i dabbed a little on a rag and ran the drill at hi speed and with a little pressure on the bolt heads it polished the cad plating right up . Dont get crazy or it will take it off.. Mine look sweet and it was as Jesse James says a (FREEBIE)

Now since im out of a job id appreciate a dollar for every bolt you polish up cause the of the free tip and even at a buck a bolt its cheaper than the chrome stuff ? I think

... Oh ya mothers mag polish works too on the rotors and the bolts but the Wenol is the cats azz and I think someone has one of them for sale here also

.. Yup its dead too... I just dont know what you could use to drive it for polishing