preventing rusty rotors
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
preventing rusty rotors
My car will sit a lot. Probably only driven 6 months out of the year, maybe 1000 miles a year.
I was wondering if there are options to keep the rotors from rusting over? I know it probably doesn't hurt anything but If I can prevent it at a reasonable cost then why not.
I was wondering if there are options to keep the rotors from rusting over? I know it probably doesn't hurt anything but If I can prevent it at a reasonable cost then why not.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No. Anything you do to prevent rust would be bad for the brake pads. You could spray a light oil on the rotors...but your pads would pick that up when you apply them. If the car is inside [out of the weather], don't worry about it; one apply and the rotors will clean up where the pad operates. The other areas will rust anyway. The only other way to "prevent" rotor rust is to buy rotors that won't rust (some stainless additives to the steel)...or plate the non-used rotor areas with chrome or nickel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Keep your vehicle in a climate controlled environment. Pretty much need to keep the car in a separate garage with temp/humidity control. 
Not to realistic for most of us. The amount of corrosion on the rotors is really not a factor. I get corrosion overnight on my daily driver!
Not to realistic for most of us. The amount of corrosion on the rotors is really not a factor. I get corrosion overnight on my daily driver!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
My car sits on a lift in the garage for 8 months at a time. I've never seen any rust on the rotors - they stay clean and rust free with no maintenance. Unless they're getting wet, why would they rust...?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
The advantage of living here is shovelling snow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
No. Anything you do to prevent rust would be bad for the brake pads. You could spray a light oil on the rotors...but your pads would pick that up when you apply them. If the car is inside [out of the weather], don't worry about it; one apply and the rotors will clean up where the pad operates. The other areas will rust anyway. The only other way to "prevent" rotor rust is to buy rotors that won't rust (some stainless additives to the steel)...or plate the non-used rotor areas with chrome or nickel.
Once around the block and they are clean.
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