Topic: Front disc brake backing plates - painted black originally or bare steel?

[RoyceP]

My R code Cougar (all were built at Dearborn in '68) is getting restored piece by piece. Now I am working on the front suspension and the spindles obviously had no paint originally, but the disc brake sheet metal backing plates appear to have been black. Is this a glossy black or a semi gloss? It is a thin coat of whatever it was. I've seen these restored as if they were bare metal originally too. What's right?

[J_Speegle]

They were painted semi-gloss black. More on the shinny side IMHO originally.

Believe there was some though that they might have been dipped

[RoyceP]

Thanks Jeff!

[Bob Gaines]

My R code Cougar (all were built at Dearborn in '68) is getting restored piece by piece. Now I am working on the front suspension and the spindles obviously had no paint originally, but the disc brake sheet metal backing plates appear to have been black. Is this a glossy black or a semi gloss? It is a thin coat of whatever it was. I've seen these restored as if they were bare metal originally too. What's right?

I have observed some of the early 68 production Metuchen cars to have bare steel front disc brake backing plates. It was a early vs later evolution in that case with most being the semigloss black as Jeff noted. Just wanted to let you know why you saw some restored bare steel. 

[J_Speegle]

I have observed some of the early 68 production Metuchen cars to have bare steel front disc brake backing plates. It was a early vs later evolution in that case with most being the semigloss black as Jeff noted. Just wanted to let you know why you saw some restored bare steel.

Just to clarify your not suggesting that bare steel (unfinished) were used on cars built at other plants during 68 like Dearborn or San Jose.   

[Bob Gaines]

Just to clarify your not suggesting that bare steel (unfinished) were used on cars built at other plants during 68 like Dearborn or San Jose.

I have only observed Metuchen that way as stated . Just wanted to let OP know why he saw some restored bare steel.

[Bossbill]

I was cleaning up and noticed I have a set of 68 3 bolt dust shields with no vents. They were with other 68 disc brake parts.

I see other shields with vents. Was 68 the only year for these non-vented shields?

edit -- year not years.

[J_Speegle]

I see other shields with vents. Was 68 the only years for these non-vented shields?

Yes there were others but they are not interchangeable since they used different calipers