De-Rusting Brake Discs

[Lewis's Friend]

This is a fairly weird question I realise...!

I've been working on a brake upgrade, and due to general incompetence and a minor injury, it's been sat for a while. This has meant my brand new rear discs have unsightly surface rust in them.

Not a problem, as they'll be fine within a minute of the first drive. However, the tart in me wants them clean again so that I can take some photos to document the work and not look like I found the discs at the side of the road...!

Can I wire brush them, or is that too aggressive? A high grade of emery perhaps? All suggestions welcome.

[v8s4me]

Wet & dry or wire wool will do the job. But the real answer is to drive the car

[phillpot]

Disc's are tough old things, you can be quite aggressive with them, imho.

I use an Orbital sander with about a 80 grade disc.


Using a coarse sanding disc rips off the rust but barely scratches the brake disc and gives a nice irregular finish, no lines or troughs

Guess an angle grinder with a wire cup brush would do for very light surface rust but obviously don't use a sanding disc or flap wheel of any kind, that will wreck the surface!


No sander? it's a hand job, just takes a bit longer

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 17th January 10:19

[v8s4me]

phillpot said:

...No sander? it's a hand job, just takes a bit longer

There's no need to lower the tone (any further)

[phillpot]

Top Tip...

Spray disc's with a light coat of satin black if they are going to be "waiting around for a while", will help keep surface rust at bay but will harmlessly rub off when your car finally hits the road

[HvdWeerden]

phillpot said:

Top Tip...

Spray disc's with a light coat of satin black if they are going to be "waiting around for a while", will help keep surface rust at bay but will harmlessly rub off when your car finally hits the road

top tip + satin black => Wheeler Dealers ;-)

[Lewis's Friend]

Thanks for the feedback. When it ceases to snow I will clean them up and spray a drop of paint on them as suggested.

Top tip indeed!

[johnnywgk]

Soak them in vinegar then wipe clean with rag, works well with wheel nuts etc etc