Polished or chrome plated rotors?
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
Polished or chrome plated rotors?
Greetings All, I have added new wheels to my 09 Ultra. After adding the new wheels, I notice that the front brake rotors are a big eye sore to otherwise great looking wheels. Naturally, my thought was to make mods to the rotors to improve the overall look.
Which is the best way to go?
I have 10K miles on the original rotors with no scarring or damage.
I don't know if I should take them and have the HUBs polished, or simply buy new ones.
Your thoughts?
Thanks, Dwayne
Which is the best way to go?
I have 10K miles on the original rotors with no scarring or damage.
I don't know if I should take them and have the HUBs polished, or simply buy new ones.
Your thoughts?
Thanks, Dwayne
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 3
From: Southeastern Michigan
Polished stainless does not have the same blue tint as chrome, and will likely be noticeable against your wheels. Also, they will eventually be ground where the pad hits them.
Chromed discs on the other hand, will not hold up to the rigors of hard braking, and will require a soft pad compound to not scratch the crap out of it after just 1 brake application.
That said floating rotors typically chrome the center section (usually aluminum) and leave the stainless outer disc natural. This is an expensive route, but you already paid good dough on your wheels, might as well do it up right!
Chromed discs on the other hand, will not hold up to the rigors of hard braking, and will require a soft pad compound to not scratch the crap out of it after just 1 brake application.
That said floating rotors typically chrome the center section (usually aluminum) and leave the stainless outer disc natural. This is an expensive route, but you already paid good dough on your wheels, might as well do it up right!
Last edited by Scorpion07; Jun 30, 2010 at 02:46 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 20
From: Southeast GA
Call Humberto at http://www.ippworks.name/. These guys sell polished rotors at a good price. You will need to ship back your old rotors after you install the new ones.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Acworth, Ga
Check out the rotors on the front of my ride.. They are affordable - work and look great and I wont tell your wife that you spent the $ on them.
Tim
Tim
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
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From: Riverview, FL
I got an OK deal on the chrome rotors.
Atlanta HD will do chrome rotors for $100 per side with a core exchange.
I have looked elsewhere and see them for about $36.00 more per side, so this deal looks pretty good.
Would love to just have them polished, but I don't have the time, and can't find any reputable vendors in the Atlanta area. I heard of one place that did chrome work in the area from Tim, but learned that they were a victem of the flood and never rebuilt.
Atlanta HD will do chrome rotors for $100 per side with a core exchange.
I have looked elsewhere and see them for about $36.00 more per side, so this deal looks pretty good.
Would love to just have them polished, but I don't have the time, and can't find any reputable vendors in the Atlanta area. I heard of one place that did chrome work in the area from Tim, but learned that they were a victem of the flood and never rebuilt.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
I could be wrong but I have not seen a stainless steel brake rotor(other than the carrier on floating rotors) chromed, ever. I have used cast iron rotors flash chromed, no polishing or nickle underplating, and the pads would wear off the chrome and you would lightly sand the pads to rid them of the plating that was stuck to them. You can hard chrome them but that will reduce the friction. I am fairly sure that no one is show chroming 1 piece ss brake rotors, but if they are I'll bet it doesn't last very long and the first time you'd use the brakes would be an eye opener.