Rusty Rotors

[Frank K.]

What can you do to prevent the rust and is there a compound to retard this rust? How would you clean them ?

[Leif A.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

Frank,
Nothing will prevent rust from forming on the surface of a rotor. The minute water hits the surface, oxidation begins. The best way to prevent serious rusting of the surfaces is to drive the car on a regular basis. I don't know the current condition of the rotors you're asking about, but if this is for a project car that has been sitting for an extremely long period of time with severe rust, a light cut on a lathe should remove the heavy rust. There is no chemical treatment that I am aware of that will stop rotors from rusting.

[Michael W.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

C2/C3 rotors must never be separated from their spindles/hubs for machining. Doing so invites the possibility of lateral runout.

There are no coatings or sprays to reduce the corrosion as these would contaminate the brake pads.

[Leif A.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

C2/C3 rotors must never be separated from thier spindles/hubs for machining. Doing so invites the possibility of lateral runout.

There are no coatings or sprays to reduce the corrosion as these would contaminate the brake pads.

Michael,
I concur. That's why I said "I didn't know the current condition" of the car. It could be in baskets for all I know.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

What can you do to prevent the rust and is there a compound to retard this rust? How would you clean them ?

Frank------


Assuming that you're talking about the brake pad contact surface of the rotors, light rust need not be cleaned----the brake pads will clean them in very short order when the car is driven.

For more severe rusting, 3M offers a brake rotor reconditioning kit. The kit consists of special abrasive pads with mandrels that are used with an electric drill. These will remove the rust from the rotor and impart a non-directional finish. They work VERY well. You would need to obtain this kit from an automotive supplier.

If rotors are severely rusted with pitting I would recommend replacing them.

[Frank K.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

They are rotors new that are rusty in a box. I will check for pitting and the three m kit. Thanks Frank

[Joe L.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

They are rotors new that are rusty in a box. I will check for pitting and the three m kit. Thanks Frank

Frank------


For new-in-the-box rotors, unless they've been stored in a very wet environment there should only be surface rust. In that case, the 3M kit should work perfectly.

[Michael W.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

For more severe rusting, 3M offers a brake rotor reconditioning kit. The kit consists of special abrasive pads with mandrels that are used with an electric drill. These will remove the rust from the rotor and impart a non-directional finish. They work VERY well. You would need to obtain this kit from an automotive supplier.

The 3M kit works very well for this and is available at the retail level. Walmart or Amazon.

3M part number 01410

[Gene M.]

Re: Rusty Rotors

Easy solution is drive the car often..........