WD-40 on brake discs to stop rust

[FM-EVA]

Is it ok to spray a bit of WD-40 across the face of brake discs to help stop them rusting during several weeks/months of no use?

Providing that I remember to brake very lightly for the first mile of driving.

[Krikkit]

Why? Just use them when you return.

If you're worried about rain splashing and causing high levels of corrosion then wrap a bin bag round the wheel and tape it up

[Gooose]

They often come with a light spray of oil on them, I would use 3in1 if I had to, then a load of carb cleaner before fitting them.

[Gweeds]

Personally I wouldn’t. Any rust will be removed after the first couple of brake applications and you could contaminate your pads.

[deckster]

Pointless and a potentially dangerous waste of time.

Surface rust doesn't compromise brake performance and comes off with a couple of good braking cycles. It will take a lot longer than a few months for corrosion to have an impact on the integrity of a brake disk and a light spray of WD40 isn't going to stop that in any case.

[vikingaero]

Bilt Hamber Atom Mac will prevent/delay serious corrosion

[Tabs]

Besides which, how are you going to get to the inside of the disc?

[Demelitia]

If you absolutely have to do something to your brake discs, maybe don’t go with something that will reduce the coefficient of friction and contaminate the pads.

Bilt hamber Atom-mac is what you’re looking for.


Please don’t lubricate your brake discs.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Darwinism at it's best.

A bit of unsalted butter on the brake pedal helps too.

[Mave]

Gooose said:

They often come with a light spray of oil on them, I would use 3in1 if I had to, then a load of carb cleaner before fitting them.

...which you clean off when you fit them, before any contact with the brake pads...

[ImDesigner]

Are you really asking if you should lubricate your brake discs?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

FM-EVA said:

Is it ok to spray a bit of WD-40 across the face of brake discs to help stop them rusting during several weeks/months of no use?

Providing that I remember to brake very lightly for the first mile of driving.

Lubricating your brake discs? Oh yeah, we all spray ours regularly, it's highly recommended.

Make sure you spray your window rubbers as well, get right down behind the rubbers and into the mechanism. Keeps the glass nice and clear.

What car are we talking about here?

Edited by Koyaanisqatsi on Monday 19th December 15:14

[Electric Blue]

This is an absolutely excellent idea and has no obvious downsides. Don't forget to loosen off the bleed screws too

[Limpet]

The rust that forms on brake discs is unsightly, but harmless. After one decent application of the brakes, it's gone without trace anyway.

Given that disc brakes rely on the friction between the pad and the disc to actually work, introducing any sort of lubricant is a terrible idea. Unlike the disc, pads don't "wipe clean" and once contaminated, they have to be replaced.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Well, you're no fun Limpet.

[Spydaman]

I thought the WD in WD40 stood for water dispersant so probably ideal for stopping your discs going rusty or not.

[MikeM6]

This is a wind up surely? No one is really spraying wd40 on brake discs are they??


Please DO NOT lubricate your discs. I do not want to share the road with anyone who would compromise their brakes in this way.

[SeekerOfTruthAndPies]

Spydaman said:

I thought the WD in WD40 stood for water dispersant so probably ideal for stopping your discs going rust or not.

But probably not ideal for stopping you when you want them to.

[donkmeister]

OP, fuel goes "off" when exposed to oxygen. So, fill your fuel tank with water to displace all the air in the tank

This has the added benefit of counteracting any issues from lubricating your brake friction surfaces.

[donkmeister]

SeekerOfTruthAndPies said:

Spydaman said:

I thought the WD in WD40 stood for water dispersant so probably ideal for stopping your discs going rust or not.

But probably not ideal for stopping you when you want them to.

As a former pond owner I can tell you that in winter, lobbing a brick at the frozen surface will allow you to easily remove the ice in pieces. The same is true of using this technique with your windscreen, but that doesn't make it a good idea.