Has any of you guys notice that your brake rotor is rusty. Especially after a rain storm, the rust drips down the rotor and onto the inner wheel? Is this not normal?

------------------
Those who know, don't talk.

 

I have no idea why, but I also noticed that and am also kinda curious

 

My rotors are rusty too...and it hasnt even seen rain yet, just car washes now and then.

------------------
2002 3.2 TL Type S with Navigation
Exterior: Aegean Blue Pearl
At 3% over invoice, who can complain?

 

Perfectly normal - the metals used in rotors vary a bit in content from mfr. to mfr, but under the right combination of temp, water condition, etc, I have seen rotors rust over in a matter of minutes.

Stop looking for piddly stuff....enjoy the car!!!

Jeez!

 

Yup, it gets rusty. Check out the pic of the wheel that I took in my website. It shows hecka rust on the brakes.

------------------
Y2K SiLVeR TL, non-navi
SLVR TL Homepage Last updated 6/9/01

 

The bare rotor surface is untreated steel, and in the right atmospheric conditions, it will rust within 24 hours. That's why sometimes when you first start your car and back up or go forward very slowly you hear a slight grinding noise from the discs. The sound you hear is the pads "cleaning" or grinding the rust off the rotor surface (since they always touch the swept area of the rotor). This is completely normal and somewhat unavoidable as this is an inherent property of virgin untreated steel. Some high performace rotors have a steel/ceramic composite which significantly reduces the rust factor. Because it usually takes about 24 hours for the surface rust to appear, if you don't let your car sit longer than 24 hours, you won't normally see this. Granted, in some conditions it may happen faster than this, but it *is* normal. Go look at the rotors on brand new cars sitting on dealer lots and you'll really see this in action. Many manufacturers ship cars from the factory with a protective coating on the discs that prevent oxidization from happening. Once the car is driven more than several hundred feet (i.e. first real test drive) the coating is worn off. The coating is only cosmetic so people won't see ugly rust on a brand new car. Cars that haven't been test driven yet usually look pretty good.

Matt

 

Thanks, at least I know it is not a problem or defect.

------------------
Those who know, don't talk.

 

How long have you people owned cars? I haven't owned a car that didn't have the rotors rust after a wash or rain.

 

I'm glad someone started a forum about this because I was wondering if the rust was normal. Seems like the rotors have more rust on the front wheels. It's just really noticeable with the type of wheels we have on the car and it looks gross! Will coninue to use the brillo pad to get the rust off.

 

You are Brillo'ing???!!!! Let me picture this- you reach through the wheel spokes to do this?

Actually, I would recommend you stop. The pads and the rotors have a surface pairing that optimizes braking friction.

In fact, we part-time wrenches (and all pros) actually use a tool to prepare the surface of a new rotor - failure to do so can actually score the rotor and reduce braking efficacy.

 

Thanks for the advice...will throw out the steel wool pad. And yes, I was actually reaching through the wheel spokes - - but never again!

 

I noticed rust on brake discs even when my car was still wrapped in plastic/wrapper/what not...

Dealer said it's normal!!?? But I was very concern about it as all the cars I owned have never had so much rust on the brake discs(Ya, and that includes my 1988 Suzuki Forsa(Swift) Turbo).

Andy Kuo

------------------
'92 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
Pearl Grey/Black

'02 Acura TL-S
Satin Silver/Ebony, w/out NAV

 

Every car is different - even the Hinda S2000 has the rotor rust - just a Honda thing, like flaking black paint on Camry exhausts.

 

Hey, we've got that too. Then on the eighth day, got created Comptech.