Disc brake dust shield color

[Jeff A.]

I'm in the midst of putting my '66 back together and am a bit confused about the color of the disc brake dust shields. I'm not even sure that mine are salvageable , but the Judging Guide indicates that they should be cadmium or zinc plated, which I inferred to be bright zinc (silver). However, the Long Island catalog indicates that the correct finish is zinc dichromate (gold). Can I assume that to be accurate? Has anyone had any experience with the quality/accuracy of the repops should I need to go that route?
Much thanks!
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

I'm in the midst of putting my '66 back together and am a bit confused about the color of the disc brake dust shields. I'm not even sure that mine are salvageable , but the Judging Guide indicates that they should be cadmium or zinc plated, which I inferred to be bright zinc (silver). However, the Long Island catalog indicates that the correct finish is zinc dichromate (gold). Can I assume that to be accurate? Has anyone had any experience with the quality/accuracy of the repops should I need to go that route?
Much thanks!
Jeff

Jeff-----


Assuming you're talking about mid-years, the disc brake backing plates, front and rear, were "silver" and not "goldish" dichromate. Later GM SERVICE shields for both front and rear were dichromate finished and some C3's originally used dichromate-finished shields. No C2's, though.

The fronts were zinc or cadmium plated (i.e. "silver"). The rears were usually galvanized but look pretty much like zinc plating.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

Jeff-----


Assuming you're talking about mid-years, the disc brake backing plates, front and rear, were "silver" and not "goldish" dichromate. Later GM SERVICE shields for both front and rear were dichromate finished and some C3's originally used dichromate-finished shields. No C2's, though.

The fronts were zinc or cadmium plated (i.e. "silver"). The rears were usually galvanized but look pretty much like zinc plating.

Joe,
Exactly the info I was looking for. Much thanks (for ALL of the wisdom you so willingly share)!
Cheers!
Jeff

[Joe R.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

I believe that America's Finest Corvettes now reproduces the dust shields (they advertise in the Driveline). I do not know how well these judge, but most of the AFC reproductions are pretty good.

[Pat M.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

Jeff-----


Assuming you're talking about mid-years, the disc brake backing plates, front and rear, were "silver" and not "goldish" dichromate. Later GM SERVICE shields for both front and rear were dichromate finished and some C3's originally used dichromate-finished shields. No C2's, though.

The fronts were zinc or cadmium plated (i.e. "silver"). The rears were usually galvanized but look pretty much like zinc plating.

Joe - which C3s might have originally used dichromate shields? I've been told that my 70's dichromate shields are incorrect, yet my JG says some where "chromate zinc". Can you expand on your input? Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

I believe that America's Finest Corvettes now reproduces the dust shields (they advertise in the Driveline). I do not know how well these judge, but most of the AFC reproductions are pretty good.

Joe-----

Yes, I believe that AFC is the only source for reproduction FRONT shields for 65-68 which are configured as-original or near as-original. I believe the 69-82 shields have been used for 65-68 for many years since the 65-68 shields were discontinued. However, GM never cataloged the later shields for 65-68. (Actually, the 1968 shields, unique to that year, were different than 65-67, but very similar. I don't think that anyone reproduces the 1968-only shields, but AFC's 65-67 are closer to them than the 69-82 style).

[Joe L.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

Joe - which C3s might have originally used dichromate shields? I've been told that my 70's dichromate shields are incorrect, yet my JG says some where "chromate zinc". Can you expand on your input? Thanks

Pat-----


I believe that the chromate-dipped front shields started appearing in 1970 and, perhaps, as early as very late 1969.

[Terry M.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

All the 1970-1972 bow tie Corvettes I have seen have silver colored brake backing plates.

Pat read the TIM&JG again. Cadmium or zinc is NOT the same as zinc chromate. The first is silver the second is more or less gold.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

Both Joes,
I Googled America's Finest Corvettes and was led to the CorvetteUSA site. I couldn't find any dust shields there. I'll give them a call if it looks like my originals are beyond replating. Thanks to all for your input.
Cheers!
Jeff

[Pat M.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

All the 1970-1972 bow tie Corvettes I have seen have silver colored brake backing plates.

Pat read the TIM&JG again. Cadmium or zinc is NOT the same as zinc chromate. The first is silver the second is more or less gold.

But Terry doesn't your second paragraph make my point? If zinc chromate is gold, and the 70-72 JG says some shields were zinc chromate, then doesn't that mean that some shields were originally gold? Thanks for your help

[Terry M.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

I don't understand how a silver color and a gold color can be mixed up, but if you want to work at defining the meaning of the word "is" we can go at that too. I'll tell you in advance I don't have any cigars even though my hair is turning whiter with each passing day. LoL I can’t do even a passable southern accent either.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

But Terry doesn't your second paragraph make my point? If zinc chromate is gold, and the 70-72 JG says some shields were zinc chromate, then doesn't that mean that some shields were originally gold? Thanks for your help

I can't answer for the JG, but my very late 70 original brake backing plates were silver zinc plated. For some reason, I have always thought the zinc dichromate started in 72, but I defer to Terry's Bowtie observations.

When I first started studying my car in the early 90s, the only replacement brake backing plates you could buy were zinc dichromate...those were probably GM service parts. I thought my silver ones were incorrect...Wrong, it was the vendors that were misinformed regards original finish, or else they weren't telling.

[Terry M.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

I'm pretty sure I bought dichromate dust shields from Chevrolet in the mid-'80s. I believe the SERVICE part was available in that finish for a long time.

My 1970 has silver dust shields, and the 4-mile 1972 has silver, and a 1972 from Michigan has silver as I remember. A couple of 1971s that are stand out cars from my days as team leader come to mind as well. That said we are a long way from having seen ALL the 1970-1972 Corvettes built by Chevrolet. We will never get to that point.

There are a number of detail items on early C3s that are controversial, and I guess we should add the color of the brake dust shields to that list. I don't think there is any controversy, but apparently others do. So be it.

In the bigger scheme of judging the finish of the dust shields aren't worth more than a couple of points, so let's keep it in perspective.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Disc brake dust shield color

Hey...What's that supposed to mean??!!...Me and Dickie resemble that remark!

[Terry M.]