Brake disc protection.?

[Jixer]

I have to move my S2000 project outside my garage into the weather for a while.
My worry is for my brand new very expensive discs.
Is there something I can spray on them which wouldn’t harm the pads.?
The new discs on my Beamer came with a sort of zinc like coating.
Any ideas gratefully appreciated.

thnks

 

[roofman]

Personally i have never tried to protect discs by chemicals and more so on the pad contact area..

 

[Moose McAlpine]

How long is a while?

My van sat since October without moving, the brakes had typical surface rust. 35-mile journey home from where i store it and they're fine.

 

[Robbie260]

Go down the auto factors find the absolute cheapest disks that they do that will fit and sling them on. Though you could just gently push the car around and take the break disks of entirely and leave it parked in gear.

 

[PhillipM]

AtomMac from Bilt Hamber might help, pretty much what it was designed for.

Failing that some clear transport wax and just clean it off after.

 

[optima21]

if you've got the old discs, stick them back on, but it does depend on how long you intend to leave the car outside, and are the wheels on the car too? my cars are left outside and sometimes I wont drive one of them for a month and they'll be fine. Ive also left the barke disks on the car without wheels for 3 months and fitted new disks as I wasnt happy with the amount of surface corrosion.

 

[Turbo]

If like me you've kept a set of old brake pads as spares you could fit those then spray the discs with a good anti corrosion spray once its where its going to sit. That way you won't contaminate your good pads.

 

[no idea]

Grey primer? I've fitted new discs which were painted in this way to protect them. It wears off quickly when you use the brakes so no issues with braking performance.

 

[Trevorleach]

Remove pads, apply coating of your choice to the discs, refit pads metal side to disc, that way friction material wont be effected by whatever coating you use, and you can clean discs off and refit pads correctly before use.

 

[Cato]

Take the wheels off, put a plastic bag over the disc and hub and put a dessicant sachet in the bag. Tie/tape the bag closed and put the wheels back on.

 

[bricol]

With too many cars to drive at once, I'm beginning to think I don't worry about enough stuff

Never even thought about brake discs on a car outside - the wheels and wings protect them pretty well. Surface rust polishes off the first brake pedal press.

 

[Jixer]

Lots of ideas there, thanks guys.
It gets very cold and damp here in skotchland, it ruins everything.

 

[steveo3002]

wheel off ...stout carrier bag over the disc /hub and wrap with tape , poke a hole for the wheel studs and refit the wheel

 

[jerrytug]

If they are expensive, keep them indoors. I left my classic Audi 100 out all winter, and the discs needed replacing in the spring, they were crumbling away.
If not, Lanolin would ideal to smear them with, it is very cheap, 100% waterproof, and is not a lubricant.
I disagree with plastic bags, condensation and humidity will make them even damper in my humble opinion.

 

[redlig]

Just don't leave the car with the handbrake on as that will/could result in an uneven area of corrosion .

 

[Bobupndown]

Pads out, cover discs in wax or grease of choice. Clean off with petrol when you wish.

 

[bricol]

How about bacon fat?

Would smell nice when you got them nice and hot on the first run out?

As for bags - I would think you would generate a nice protected moisture rich environment to really accelerate the rust. No breeze to dry them off, just trapped condensation.

I really can't see a new, un-used, non-heat-cycled set of discs are going to do much, even in wet Scotland. If you are looking for them to remain new-looking for showing, rather than driving, then your best options is as has been suggested - remove them and store inside.

 

[PhillipM]

I can, I have cars laid up regularly and 3-4 months is enough to get some serious rust pitting going on.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Jixer You don't say where you are but the odds are I'm North of you? My car lives outside all year round and can sit for weeks without being moved.

I leave the handbrake off with it in gear to stop the rears sticking and when moving off initially, light pressure on the brakes cleans the discs up and also gets rid of any 'rubbing' sounds.

Unless you're leaving her unmoved for an extended period I suspect you're overthinking it.

 

[Cato]

I disagree with plastic bags, condensation and humidity will make them even damper in my humble opinion.

As for bags - I would think you would generate a nice protected moisture rich environment to really accelerate the rust. No breeze to dry them off, just trapped condensation.

Take the wheels off, put a plastic bag over the disc and hub and put a dessicant sachet in the bag. Tie/tape the bag closed and put the wheels back on.

Once the dessicant has removed to moisture from the bag there won't be any moisture to form condensation.