Several ways to clean brake discs from rust

The life of the driver and passengers depends on how correctly the braking system of the vehicle works. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the condition of all its elements, including brake discs.

If corrosion appears on them, it is urgent to get rid of it. Read about why rust forms on brake discs and pads, how it threatens and how to deal with it, read the article.

Causes of rust stains

In the process of active operation of the car, rust does not appear on the discs, since they are constantly polished while driving.

So, the main reason for the formation of rust on brake discs is prolonged downtime of the vehicle. These elements are not protected by anything, therefore, like any other metal parts, they oxidize.

Why is corrosion dangerous and how often should it be cleaned?

Some drivers believe that corrosion is normal and poses no threat... The main thing is to start driving and it will remove itself. In fact, this assumption is only partly true.

Indeed, a thin layer of corrosion quickly disappears, but with a thick coating that covers the discs completely, this will not be possible to cope with.

Rust is dangerous. It acts like a lubricant, increasing friction between discs and pads. This leads to the fact that the braking efficiency is reduced. On the road, especially when driving at high speed, this is a serious risk.

Another reason to get rid of corrosion is accelerated wear on the brake system.... Corrosion acts as an abrasive, which leads to abrasion of the discs in those areas where it is most.

In the future, the car will brake with jerks. If this happens, it will not be possible to cope with the problem even with cleaning. The part will have to be changed. Therefore, it is so important to get rid of corrosion in time, when the layer on the discs is still very small.

It is necessary to carry out the procedure to remove corrosion in the following cases:

1. The car was idle for a long time.
2. The rust layer is thick and covers non-working surfaces.
3. Rust is clogging the ventilation ducts. Their blockage threatens overheating of the braking system and its rapid wear.

It will not be superfluous to clean the discs when changing wheels.

How do I remove it?

It is possible to cope with rust on brake discs with the help of improvised means and with the use of specialized formulations. Regardless of the chosen method of combating corrosion, The key to a successful procedure is strict adherence to the instructions.

Folk remedies for cleaning

Folk remedies work no worse than professional cleaners, but are much cheaper. You can deal with rust on discs using the following compounds:

1. Lemon acid... It is diluted in warm water. For every 10 liters, 50 g of preservative is required. The disc is completely immersed in the solution and left for 24 hours.

   After processing, the product is washed with a soda solution, and then with clean water (for more information on removing rust with citric acid, read here).

2. Table vinegar... It is used as citric acid. 10 liters of water will require 250 ml of vinegar with a concentration of 9%. If the rust layer is thick, then the amount of vinegar is doubled (for more details, see here).
3. Orthophosphoric acid... It can be purchased at hardware stores. The discs are treated with this composition, left for 15 minutes, and then washed off with soda solution and clean water.
4. Soda gruel... It is convenient for treating small areas of corrosion. The product is prepared in such a way that its consistency resembles sour cream. The paste is applied to the rust, left for an hour, and then removed with a damp cloth.
5. Sparkling water... To combat metal oxides, you can use Coca cola, Sprite or Pepsi. To increase the effectiveness of the procedure, the drink is slightly heated (up to 40 degrees). The disc is completely immersed in Cola and left for a day, after which it is removed, rinsed with clean water and dried.

Top 3 special squads

You can get rid of rust with converters or removers available from auto parts stores. They have a different form of release, so when buying, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Spray. It is chosen when you need to treat a small area of ​​corrosion. The spray is convenient to apply as there is no contact between the skin and the active substance.
2. Liquid form... These formulations are ideal for removing rust from the entire disc. The solvent is poured into a suitable container and the part is completely immersed in it.
3. Converter rust. Such compositions not only help dissolve corrosion, they provide additional protection for the metal from its reoccurrence. Therefore, it is so important to purchase formulations with the addition of zinc.

Regardless of the chosen product, before using it for the first time, you need to carefully read the instructions.

Top 3 popular brake disc rust removers:

1. Rust converter AUTOPROFIT Galvanized... The composition is available in the form of a solution, which is poured into convenient bottles equipped with a spray.

   It removes rust and prevents it from reoccurring by creating a durable zinc coating on the surface. For 550 ml of funds, you will need to pay 225 rubles.

2. Rust remover SYNTIROL... The product is available in liquid form. It has an immediate effect on corrosion, removing it in 4-8 minutes. The cost of 1 liter is 450 rubles.
3. Rust remover spray Rust remover... The composition is completely ready to use. It is applied directly to the corroded hearth. After 10 minutes, you can evaluate the result. One package is enough to process 5 m2. Prices are here.

How to clean by electrochemical method?

This is a challenging but effective way to deal with rust. To implement it, you will need the following components:

• a current source, such as a car battery;
• soda ash solution (1 tsp per 1 liter of water);
• plastic basin;
• stainless steel;
• wires and clamps.

Procedure:

1. Connect the drive to a power source using the "+" wire.
2. Immerse the part in a soda solution.
3. Put a piece of stainless steel connected with the "-" terminal into the basin. Steel and disc must not come into contact with each other.
4. Turn on the battery, make sure the reaction is started. This will be indicated by the bubbling of the solution.
5. Wait 2 hours.
6. Disconnect power supply, remove disc, rinse and dry.

Although this method is labor intensive, it is very effective.

What can be done to prevent the occurrence of a problem?

The most effective prevention of corrosion formation is the continuous operation of the vehicle.... If this is not possible, then before prolonged downtime, the discs must be treated with a special aerosol to protect them. These lubricants are available from spare parts stores.

Helpful information

Brake discs are made of cast iron, therefore, when purchasing specialized formulations, you need to clarify whether the selected product is suitable for this type of metal.

When working with chemistry, you need to take care of personal protective equipment... It is unacceptable to remove the part from the solution with bare hands. They must wear rubber gloves.

The cleaning procedure should be carried out in a well-ventilated area.

A lot of useful and important information about the methods of fighting rust on the car - in this section.

Related videos

The video will tell you how to clean the brake discs from rust:

Conclusion

There should be no rust on the brake discs. If it appears, it is removed with improvised means or with the help of professional formulations. All of them have sufficient effectiveness in the fight against corrosion.