Discolored C6 427 Brake Calipers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 9
From: Fargo ND
Discolored C6 427 Brake Calipers
Has anyone with the grey colored C6 brake calipers had any issues with discoloration? All four of my calipers have lines/stains that look like some sort of fluid ran down and stained dark grey lines on the light grey OME color. I have only used C-Magic rim cleaner on the wheels/rims and I highly doubt that was the cause of the discoloration. I had the car into the local Chevy dealer and they did not know what would have caused it; however, in so many words, without talking to Chevy, they said they were not going to do anything about it because I did it or someone else did it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 9
From: Fargo ND
I have only used C-magic products on my car including the rims. The C-magic product is the same products used by the National Corvette Museum when they prep a car for museum delivery. The product has not affected the chrome on the rims or anything else on the car. That is why I do not think the wheel cleaner caused the staining. It would be nice to see if anyone else with grey or light colored calipers have had stain marks/runs on their calipers. I would also think that using the C-magic every time I wash the rims would have continued to stain the calipers; however, the stains have remained the same.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 9
From: Fargo ND
That is probably a more logical reason for the stains. I have a couple of pictures, but can't figure out how to upload them. Maybe it is because I am on my iPad because I have done it before.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 2
From: Granger Indiana
My local dealer has a brand new 2013 427 CE 60th Anniversary Convertible on his lot. I looked at this car before I bought mine.
I vaguely remember the calipers being discolored when I looked at it. I saw that it was still on the lot this morning so I took a couple pictures of the front and rear calipers. They look like what you are describing on yours. It had just stopped raining and the rims were a little wet, but when I rubbed my fingers across the calipers, they were dry, so the lines/stains that show up in the pictures are definitely not from water or rain.
For comparison, I looked at all 4 calipers on my 427 CE 60th Convertible and the calipers on it show "NO" sign of lines/stains.
Hope this helps.
I vaguely remember the calipers being discolored when I looked at it. I saw that it was still on the lot this morning so I took a couple pictures of the front and rear calipers. They look like what you are describing on yours. It had just stopped raining and the rims were a little wet, but when I rubbed my fingers across the calipers, they were dry, so the lines/stains that show up in the pictures are definitely not from water or rain.
For comparison, I looked at all 4 calipers on my 427 CE 60th Convertible and the calipers on it show "NO" sign of lines/stains.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Brian E; Sep 29, 2013 at 02:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 9
From: Fargo ND
Brian, that is exactely what mine look like. Yesterday I went to another Chevy dealership about 75 miles away from where I live. I have bought a couple of vehicles from them, not any Corvettes, but have had another Corvette (2004) up there for warranty work when the local dealer would not do anything. Neadless to say, that prior time, and this time, they are going to do the work needed under warranty (replace all four calipers) and a couple other items that they saw. The service writer said it looks like there is a laminant over the calipers and the staining is underneath that, so the stains were there before I bought my car and your pictures evidence the same! Thanks buddy!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 2
From: Granger Indiana
Brian, that is exactely what mine look like. Yesterday I went to another Chevy dealership about 75 miles away from where I live. I have bought a couple of vehicles from them, not any Corvettes, but have had another Corvette (2004) up there for warranty work when the local dealer would not do anything. Neadless to say, that prior time, and this time, they are going to do the work needed under warranty (replace all four calipers) and a couple other items that they saw. The service writer said it looks like there is a laminant over the calipers and the staining is underneath that, so the stains were there before I bought my car and your pictures evidence the same! Thanks buddy!
Brian E
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 273
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From: Fallston MD
Has anyone with the grey colored C6 brake calipers had any issues with discoloration? All four of my calipers have lines/stains that look like some sort of fluid ran down and stained dark grey lines on the light grey OME color. I have only used C-Magic rim cleaner on the wheels/rims and I highly doubt that was the cause of the discoloration. I had the car into the local Chevy dealer and they did not know what would have caused it; however, in so many words, without talking to Chevy, they said they were not going to do anything about it because I did it or someone else did it.
I know your thread is a few years old, but this just happened to me. Just picked up a used 427 60th white vert with gray calipers (3,500 miles) in April and one day I'm looking at the calipers and OMG - streaks exactly like what you described. Car is still under warranty. Sounds like the 2nd dealer you went to covered fully. My dealer didn't think so. Any suggestions. Thanks so much.
Joe C
Cell 410-802-0595
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,821
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From: Boca Raton Florida
For all concerned. Wheel cleaners have different formulations for different wheel types so read the warnings very carefully. The chrome wheel cleaners have higher corrosive content that the ones that are clear coat safe for factory painted wheels. If one is using the harsher ones and get it on the calipers, it will damage the finish in them. Not all wheel cleaners are equal. The best, forget all wheel cleaners, after all with repeated usage they are all caustic, use simple green and one if those long wheel spoke brushes. Simple green and high pressure water takes off 90 percent of the brake dust and grime anyhow and perfectly safe on all bare metal surfaces such as aluminum and all finishes. That is the only thing i use on my wheels and occasionally inside the engine.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 442
From: Boca Raton Florida
Addition to my post above. At least on my GS, the pads put out a very sticky and corrosive dust that sticks to anything. Could not stand it and i swapped to carbotechs at 2000 miles. I stored the old padlets in heavy duty freezer plastic bags with thick rubber bands around them and later sold them on the forum here. When time come to take pictures of the pads for the buyer after about 6 months, i was amazed to see that they had eaten through the plastic and the rubber bands were or dried up, shriveled and just crumbled up. I am sure that these pads are also cause of calipers discoloring, unless the car, the wheels and even the calipers are washed and cleaned often.
