I've had my 2019 GS for about a month now and the brakes are already terribly rusty. Yes, I keep the car outdoors and yes, it has rained for a few days - but what can I do to avoid rust? I ceramic coated my wheels and calipers, but pretty sure you can't seal your brakes. Any suggestions on how to keep them clean?

 

You're literally asking how to prevent iron from rusting.

Your only real option is drive it more or upgrade to carbon ceramic brakes

 

Well, ceramics are not an option - too much $$$. Powerwash and hit them with vinegar to remove the rust? And I'm talking about the edges on the top and bottom that don't get hit by the brake pads when you stop.

 

Are you referring to the hat and not the rotor face? If so, remove them, sand them down, and paint them with a high temp paint of your choice. If its the rotor face, drive it.

 

The rotors rust since they are steel and the steel dust around them. There is no way to avoid it if your car gets wet from the rain or even a car wash unless you go with ceramics. They will shine right back up the first time you go for a drive.

 

Mine rust every time I wash my GS, just a short drive up the street and it's gone.

 

Cast iron rotors rust. There's nothing you can do about it.

 

Yeah... I am talking about the edges that don't get hit by the brake pads when you stop. I can still see some rust on those bits and am just wondering about the best way to keep them clean.

 

Not a specific Corvette issue. My daughter's Kia Optima does the same thing. Physics taking place.

 

Perhaps you could consider buying Zinc plated rotors. The pads will wear off the zinc plating and that portion will rust but as pointed out this will disappear in half a block. With the plating the other portions of the rotor will resist showing surface rust.

 

Try this.

https://www.autogeek.net/hydes-serum-rust-stopper.html

 

There’s a very light coat of gray primer on the hat and edges. For whatever reason, the paint was removed. There are several related threads on the matter. The only way to prevent the rust is to repaint the hat and edges. I assume the below are examples of what you are referring to:

 

Have you used this? If so, does it make the brakes squeal? Any negative effects?

 

I have a bottle but have not used it. I dry clean my car.

But I can tell you when I read reviews on it before I purchased they were good.

 

Brakes on my C7 do not rust...Here’s why.

2016 Base Car brake rotor material; "General Motors engineers and developed FNC coating for C7 brake rotors. FNC stands for Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing, a chemical case-hardening process whereby nitrogen and carbon are diffused into the surface of a ferrous meta of the steel. This exclusive, patented process is being applied to the brake rotors of a number of GM vehicles. It not only reduces or eliminates corrosion, it results in a finish that is harder and stronger, thus increasing the life of the rotors. The FNC protection lasts for about 60,000 km in highly corrosive environments such as the east coast and up to double that in less severe areas such as the prairies. The initial testing of the new rotors was conducted in Atlantic Canada.

The process involves heating the rotors in special ovens the size of a tour bus at 560 degrees Celsius where they are exposed to a nitrogen-rich atmosphere for 24 hours. The nitrogen atoms bond to the surface of the rotor."

 

[QUOTE=sTz;1597220847]There’s a very light coat of gray primer on the hat and edges. For whatever reason, the paint was removed. There are several related threads on the matter. The only way to prevent the rust is to repaint the hat and edges. I assume the below are examples of what you are referring to:


Mine do that as well and it looks terrible. I've been removing the rust and touching up those areas with paint. At some point I guess I'll disassemble everything and repaint using something better than GM did.

 

Hmm, brake rotors have been rusting since they were introduced! However when you wash the car there is rust over the whole surface. I never put the Vette away wet! Always drive it down the block and get the rotors hot to dry them! Been doing that for many years. If I don't, that brown rust can form around the pads and when I do drive it will deposit on the wheels!

Recall an early post when a fellow was surprised about the rust and I asked if it was the first car he washed at home and did not bring to a car wash. He said yes! That's why he never saw it before! When going through a car wash, you immediately drive it after. even if driving in the rain the pads heat and drive off the moisture when you stop.

I just checked my 1 year old Grand Sport. There is a very small area <1/4 inch, that has a small amount of rust on the outer edge of the rotor but hardly noticeable. Nothing one would call horrible. Pic's worth a 1000 words perhaps if you take one it could help. But vinegar? Should not be needed.

Now I switched to Carbotech ceramic pads as dust from the GS pads is terrible. Now I clean my wheels when I wash my car. With my 2014 Z51 was cleaning the wheels every 100 to 200 miles of the dust not only looked bad it was pitting my wheels. switched to Carboteh pads and cleaned the wheels when I cleaned the car.Cost is small compared the PIA of cleaning wheels! However they have nothing to do with eliminating rust.

 

[QUOTE=Mako72;1597222365]Just checked my one year old GS rotor hubs, no rust, still gray. If there was any believe I would use the rust reformer that converts rust to a blue black. It only affects rust not the painted surface. Have used it on my muffler welds on my C7 Z51 and the Grand Sport, see pic.




Before and after use of Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer. It only affects rust does nothing to painted surfaces. It is not a paint, it's a chemical that converts only iron oxide to the blue black color. Does not peel,

 

My MO for years has been to drive the car down the block applying the brakes to get them hot when I'm 95% finished washing.

Then after I pull the car back into the driveway I use a microfiber towel to pick up water drops from the mirrors, spoiler and lastly the wheels. When picking up any wheel water drops I apply a matt tire dressing. Then it's parked.

 

Thanks Maxie: My 15 base just turned 30K on the clock and the rotors, front and back hardly have even any pad scratches on them. I wondered what kind of coating they used and why they stay so clean. No rust at all, and almost mirror smooth. -- thanks for the information -- tom