Hello all. This is my first post here. My SW, manual trany, tC is 7 days old. :D

Anyways I have a few questions regarding brakes.

1. Can the rotors be damaged if they get soaked while their hot?

2. Did any of you noticed your rotors develop a reddish/brown color when the brake system was all OE?

The reason I ask is because last night I took my tC to the car wash (not the automatic ones), and I sprayed water on my wheels. I did not realize that the brakes where hot, of course, and that it could possibly cause damage, until it was too late. So later I noticed my brakes had developed a white residue on them. After a while of driving around, it was gone, but my rotors where left with this slight reddish/brown tint on them. Now the OE brake pads are red, but I did not notice if the rotors had any reddish/brown tint on them before I took my car to the car wash.

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I can't stop thinking to myself, "1st brand new car that you've ever bought, and you already f***ed it up."

-Thanks

 

No worries unless you were participating in a roadrace at Riverside, I doubt your brakes were hot enough to damage. After all, they are designed to function in all elements and conditions. I think you're ok as long as they work. If there is a prob, take it back to the dealer.

 

Steel rotors rust when they see a picture of water!

When cars are shipped they actually have a film that goes over the rotor to prevent rotor rust. What happened was that your dealer probably took this off, it rained, and the brakes werent used so your rotor rusted a lil. Its common.

One thing you can do is get a towel soaked in some rubbing alcohol and just wipe the rust off, this way it wont collect on the brake pad. After its clean your brake pad will kinda sorta reshine ur rotor.

 

yeah, i can wash my car and by the time im done drying it, it looks like the rotors have been sitting in a desert junk yard for the last 100 years, but when you drive it will remove the nasty film that has coated your rotors.

 

It's complete normal, no worry man. Is that your first new car?

 

no worry. that is normal. You can get them coated if you hate the rust. I have the stock rims so you dont even see it.

 

Rust. no worries.

 

Everyone has pointed out that it is rust, I'd just like to point out that it'll go away as soon as you drive your car again and get some friction to rub it off. Your brakes will make odd noises and be not super-smooth for the first couple stops as you get the rust off.

Happens every time.

 

Agreed x2!

 

I thought I said that ^^^ <shrugs oh well>

 

Thanks for the tips everyone. Glad to hear it's perfectly normal. Oh, and yeah this is my first new car, but my 3rd car ever.

 

by the way, rotors are made from cast iron...not steel