Rusty Brake Rotors

[bnelson]

Anybody have any guidance on how to keep the rotors from rusting and looking like crap? Had a few humid days here and rotors looked like they were years old. Had to take apart and scrub and clean everything. Any tricks to keeping the parts that the disks don't contact free of rust? Especially the outer perimeter edges?

[toadster]

I'd just keep up with cleaning the rotors (https://amzn.to/2PQdRJf)... hard to find a good protectant that won't compromise braking

119038 (https://amzn.to/2PQdRJf)

[bnelson]

Anyone have input on coated brake rotors? I wonder why these are not standard?

[Pat Landymore]

My 2014 GMC Sierra has ‘nitrided’ rotors that seem to be standing up to road salt and life with little evidence of rusting at 5 winters and 60,000 miles. Don’t know how much it cost to have a set nitrided and I suspect the pad composition may be different to conventional rotors.

[chargerbill]

I would recommend a nice layer of marine grease (NOT!). This does wonders and keeps rotors from rusting. Keep in mind that the brakes won't work and that's where the wondering comes in. Wondering what your going to crash into to stop.

I just had my tires replaced at a local tire shop that told me the rotors should be replaced because they are rusting. I was polite but very clear that he shouldn't expect to service my vehicle again.
Rotors rust. It's not a big deal, or a deal at all. Drive that piece of automotive history and the rust will resolve itself.

[johnnybgoode]

I cleaned mine up with a wire brush in a drill motor. Scott

[Cobradavid]

I usually just drive the car and do some braking. That seems to work.
"Honey, I need to go clean up the brake rotors. See you in an hour." :cool:

David

[bnelson]

I usually just drive the car and do some braking. That seems to work.
"Honey, I need to go clean up the brake rotors. See you in an hour." :cool:

David LOL. That will work for the disc surface but not much for the hat or the outer rim. Found these that are totally coated. Hat and disc. Think I'll try them out.


https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/UBPRA86443?searchCategory=c3.s4&searchIndex=Universal

[chargerbill]

I usually just drive the car and do some braking. That seems to work.
"Honey, I need to go clean up the brake rotors. See you in an hour." :cool:

David

I'm with David on this one!

[Fixit]

I masked off the wear surfaces and hub/wheel contact areas and rattle-can'd 'em with engine enamel. (It's lasted 10 years on my Elky)

[NAZ]

Rusty rotors -- seriously?

[bnelson]

Rusty rotors -- seriously?

Yep....seriously. Don't quite understand that response. You spend 40K on kit, motor, trans et. And before I even get it driveable the rotors and calipers look like they are from a junk yard. Your trying to build a semi show quality rod. So yea. I was looking for a solution to keep the brakes looking nice. Any positive suggestions appreciated.

[vckiter]

I usually just drive the car and do some braking. That seems to work.
"Honey, I need to go clean up the brake rotors. See you in an hour." :cool:

David

+1
This

[AJT '33]

I ended up cleaning and prepping mine, along with the calipers, as I wanted them to match the accent color of the details on the car, that included the outer edges.
119180
Same amount of time as trying to research, buy and pickup ones that others done and ended up being less expensive. Everyone has their way of setting up and doing this.

[Papa]

Until I saw the detail in the above post, I would have said that short of replacing the rotors with new coated ones, there isn't much you can do about the edges. For the hub/hat portions, I've used high heat engine paint to keep them looking good. I'm not sure I'd spend the time to bother with the edges on a car that is intended to be driven.

[rponfick]

I think different rotor compositions rust differently. On my 2014 Vette, the first time I washed it in the garage, the pads froze to the rotors. I took a bit of gas feeding to break them loose. Now, I just drive the car a bit after washing and problem solved.
I suspect you live in a moist area in Texas where surface rusting is a problem, not related to car washing, but driving is a solution. Does not help cosmetic issues on hat and rotor edge, but that is up to each individual.
Ralph