Rusted discs - when are they a concern

[JBourne2Drive]

Hi PH. QuLooking at a new used purchase and wondering how concerned do you need to be about rusted discs. Is it a tell tale sign the car hasn’t been taken care of? Or just a cosmetic issue.

I remember reading you could get some warping and an issue later on MOT.

What are peoples experience with this? Do you request they are changed or can nothing be done.

Thanks

[Green1man]

Depends what you mean by ‘rusted’. Disks can be rusted in a couple of hours if left wet after a wash, this is no issue and quickly polished off with use. If after a mildly spirited drive the disks are rusted then that’s more of a concern. However unless there is actually vibration on the pedal or unbalanced wheel to wheel then it could be something you can live with.

[Wagonwheel555]

Surface rust on disks is fairly common, will just burn off after a blast and a few stops of the brake pedal.

I wouldn’t be overly concerned about warped disks, it’s not common and would usually be caused by a defective disk in the first place (unlikely but possible) or a sticking calliper causing the disk to overheat and cool down lots but you would feel or see a sticking calliper in my experience

[stevemcs]

It usually means they are knackered on the inside face, just budget for discs and pads.

[steveo3002]

any disc will be rusted if its stood outside a few days , if its just been a few weeks sinse the car was in regular use they should clean up like new , it its been passed round the trade and stood about being washed every week for ever then maybe they wont come back

need a look at the inside faces after a drive , insides are nearly always worst

[griffter]

If one is rusted on the braking surfaces more than others it can indicate a problem with the brake hydraulics for that corner.

[Welshbeef]

Surface rust - especially with lockdown is par for course.

Pitting however is something else.

After the test drive & I assumed you did a couple of full on emergency stops they should have been gleaming. If still rusted up well

[Meprobamate chic]

Welshbeef said:

Surface rust - especially with lockdown is par for course.

Pitting however is something else.

After the test drive & I assumed you did a couple of full on emergency stops they should have been gleaming. If still rusted up well

You are verging on illiterate and have no idea what you are talking about.

[fflump]

Meprobamate chic said:

Welshbeef said:

Surface rust - especially with lockdown is par for course.

Pitting however is something else.

After the test drive & I assumed you did a couple of full on emergency stops they should have been gleaming. If still rusted up well

You are verging on illiterate and have no idea what you are talking about.

I disagree. Not verging on illiterate more like full-on illiterate 😂

[JBourne2Drive]

Thanks for the feedback folks. Seems to be the consensus that’s it’s generally cosmetic. Will keep and eye out when I give it a run.