I'm currently doing a frame-off resto and this weekend I got my wheels bare to the backing plates. I have my wheel cylinder rebuild kits and my brake spring kits ready to rebuild all of the brakes. After cleaning the backing plate, there appears to be just a little surface rust. I assume that the backing plate was not painted from the factory (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and that's why there is some rust.

I'd like to hear some opinions as to what I should do to the backing plates before rebuilding the brakes:

1) Do nothing, they lasted 50 years just fine.
2) Wire brush any loose rust and leave bare.
3) Wire brush any loose rust and paint with some high temp rattle can paint.
4) Other?

Thanks

Jeff Nelson

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain