Do Black Brake Discs Stay Black?

This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

When you work in the auto shop and see the black brake disc hanging on the wall, what is your first thought about them? Certainly, for most, their impression of the black brake disc is about how good it will look on their car and not about how long the color will stay on.

So. Do black brake discs stay black? The only way to expect the black brake disc to stay black is to have the car parked or to find a way to drive the car without applying the brake!

Now jokes apart, it is important to note that black brake discs are designed this way to attract the customer. It is a marketing strategy based on the understanding that most car owners are constantly searching for products that will help improve the looks of their cars.

When compared to the plain metal disc, the black disc adds to the looks of your car and makes the car come out looking amazing. In the same way, a person’s footwear is used to judge the quality of their dressing and how well they appear, the outlook of the car’s tire plays a similar role.

Of the brake parts, the disc is one of the brake parts that can be seen through the rim. Its color and outlook are generally on the outlook of the wheel and that of the car. So, many persons fall for the black brake disc including those who suspect this is designed to be nothing more than a marketing strategy.

Trending Searches

Table Of Contents

How long will the black brake disc stay black?

Desperate to have your car look sleek or unique from other cars, it is understandable why you may be considering installing the black brake disc on your car. However, it will help if you took some time to go through the experience of those who have used the black brake disc.

There is varying duration among those who have installed the black brake disc on their vehicles in the past. Reports are indicating that for some, the black only lasted for about 20 to 50 miles before wearing off.

Generally, most of the black brake discs will become bare after driving for about 100 miles. This is not surprising at all. While I understand why some may fall for this marketing strategy, I am shocked at the surprise of those who expected the black to stay on forever and are genuinely surprised when they realize they do not.

I mean, what do you expect, any part of the car which is constantly in contact with another solid surface is bound to express friction and consequently get worn out. The painted surface of the brake disc is in contact with the pad and therefore must experience the friction necessary to slow down the car.

Those who install the black brake disc will after some time return to the same status as those who installed the plane brake disc. Whatever advantage the black disc was promised to offer is lost after the black paint wears off.

One will argue as a result of this that it is unnecessary to spend your money on the black brake disc as their looks are used primarily to get you attracted and to spend your money on them for a temporary appealing look which will soon fade away.

What is disturbing about the black disc is that not only will the black wear off after a few miles, the wearing does not usually occur uniformly. so, the part in contact with the pad wears off, sparing the edge and center area of the disc.

The ridges or holes in the contact area also retain their black paint. This makes the brake disc appear unappealing after the black color wears off unevenly.

What are the advantages of a black brake disc?

The first advantage and one of the primary reasons why a lot of persons go for the black brake disc and other painted brake discs are for the aesthetic looks they give the car. So, this is the first advantage of a black brake disc. There is something about the black color on the wheel that makes the car look more elegant.

Aside from looks, there is temporary protection from rust and corrosion offered by the black brake disc. The disc is protected from rust as well as corrosion even when driven into rainwater.

As mentioned earlier, this protection however does not last long enough. Unless the car is parked in the garage without being driven ever or the driver has invented a new method of slowing the car down without applying the brakes, the paint will over time fade off and leave the brake disc bare.

Are black brake discs worth the extra cost?

The worth of the black brake disc is questionable. It is doubtful that anyone will remain happy after realizing that the black brake disc they paid extra for faded and became exactly like the bare metal disc or less appealing after a few miles of the drive.

If you have ever talked to anyone who has used the painted brake disc in the past, their response would be for you to avoid buying this or for you to reconsider other options or similar advice.

There is advice regarding power coating the disc or spraying with paint or the use of ceramic discs. What some fail to understand is that none of this will remain helpful after a while.

Regarding the powder coating and spray painting, this has been explained earlier, the residua of pant particles will cause wear of the disc and its eventual replacement as well as brake failure.

The idea of using ceramic coated discs is also not advisable if the car does not have matching brake pads. Cars for which this type of brake disc is originally designed to have the right brake pads which work with the brake disc.

Learn to embark on thorough research about the profile of any product you wish to install on your car. The brand reputation, especially in terms of durability should be efficiently explored. Ask other users about their experience before making the final stand.

Auto chat forums are helpful resources that can be used for such investigations. however, be careful about believing everything you hear from other users. For some, their experience with their brake disc is not entirely a result of poor product quality, rather, it is mostly about their driving style and, maintenance practices as well as the road condition such as water lodged off roads.

Are painted discs the same as coated discs?

Not many persons can afford the coated disc, particularly ceramic discs. most of the time, discs are not readily available and are designed for expensive luxurious cars such as the Lamborghini and other sports cars.

To protect the disc from rust and corrosion, they are painted, mostly with black color. However, unlike the coated disc, paints only provide temporary protection and will soon wear off, leaving the contact surface of the disc bare.

When this happens, some are tempted to have the disc repainted using spray paint. This will involve un-mounting the brake disc and using spray paint to have it redecorated. This practice however is unadvisable as the new paint particles upon wearing off entrapped between the pad and the disc, increasing the frictional force between the two surfaces.

So, your quest for aesthetic looks may constitute the reason why your pads may not live up to their expected lifespan. This may also cause the brake system to become inefficient and produce annoying noise whenever the brakes are applied.

What other ways can you improve the lifespan of your brake disc?

There are many other ways to improve the lifespan of your brake disc. One of the reasons for rust and corrosion of the brake disc is frequent exposure to rainwater. The car should not be parked in the open where it is constantly drenched in rain.

Potholes and a visible collection of rainwater should be avoided and the disc should be cleaned after driving through such road conditions. The disc can be resurfaced after a while, this is much cheaper than having it replaced.

If you can afford the more expensive types of brake disc, such as the type seen on the sports cars like Lamborghinis, go ahead and pay for those as they are worth it.

As part of maintenance practices for the brake disc ensure to avoid the unapproved practices mentioned above in the earlier section of this article. Power coating or the use of spray paint may look like a good idea at the time, however, later on, this will turn out to be a big mistake on your part.