What Causes Car Brakes to Rust?

[LeXavier]

Car brakes are prone to rust when exposed to damp road conditions and air contact. Here are some precautions regarding car brakes: Slamming the brakes during a flat tire: It's inevitable to encounter a flat tire while driving, but slamming the brakes immediately is a common misconception. The most important thing after a flat tire is to stay calm, grip the steering wheel firmly, control the vehicle's direction to prevent loss of balance, and gradually reduce speed to bring the car to a gentle stop. Braking at red lights: Most people tend to press the brakes directly when encountering a red light, which is also incorrect. If the red light lasts only about 10 seconds, controlled deceleration braking is sufficient. However, for red lights lasting 30 seconds or more, it's advisable to engage the handbrake and shift to neutral to avoid imbalance between the brakes and transmission, which could damage components and shorten the vehicle's lifespan.

[Ramirez]

Brake disc rust is quite common, like my neighbor's car that sat for three weeks. Most car brake discs are made of cast iron, which easily forms iron oxide when exposed to humid air. Especially after rain or in coastal areas, rust forms particularly fast. But don't worry too much - this surface rust usually wears off after driving a few hundred meters and applying the brakes a few times. If you see thick brown rust patches, it might indicate prolonged water exposure or extended vehicle storage. In such cases, check whether the brake pads are jammed with rust debris to avoid abnormal noises or vibrations during braking.

[GabriellaDella]

Found reddish-brown rust on the brake discs? In most cases, it's completely normal. Cast iron brake discs exposed to air will rust when they come into contact with rainwater or dew. My old car in the garage always rusts after sitting for two days in rainy weather. The key is to observe the degree of rusting—a thin layer is nothing to worry about and will clean off after braking a few times. However, if the car is parked by the seaside for weeks and the brake discs develop lumpy protrusions, you should be cautious as the corrosion might affect the disc's flatness. Some high-end models use rust-proof coated discs, but these are more expensive to replace. After washing the car, it's best to drive for a while to dry the brake discs, which can slow down rusting.

[BriellaAnn]

Just washed the car or after rain, the brake discs rust? No need to panic at all. This is determined by the chemical properties of iron, just like a kitchen knife will rust if left wet for too long. As long as the rust layer is not too thick, lightly pressing the brakes a few times while driving will wear it off. For vehicles parked for a long time, check the condition of the brake discs before moving. If there are scab-like rust patches on the surface, clean them with a copper brush first, otherwise, the brake pads may be scratched. New cars' brake discs can also rust during transportation, so remember to check them when picking up the car.