I have my '05 Mustang, and after the first time I washed it, the brake rotors started dripping rust down on the inside of the wheels. Now, I'm sure this is normal, but it stinks. My question to everyone is what are my options? I'm sure I could spend $500 to a grand on a new set of brake rotors (Powerslot said they won't even have anything until the first few months into 2005)... either ceramic or ones that are coated to prevent rust. I have heard of people actually painting their brake disc rotors, as well as the calipers. Not sure if I want to go that route. What about powdercoating them? I can buy a do-it-yourself powdercoating gun/kit for a hundred bucks, and powdercoat the rotors and calipers and bake them in my oven. Does anyone know if you would be able to actually powdercoat the discs where the brake pads rub against them? Would the powdercoating be strong enough to not be scraped off when braking?

And on sort of a second note... I know that I definitely want to either powdercoat or paint my brake calipers. But, if I powdercoat them, I need to actually take them off. How hard will it be to disasemble the brake calipers from the wheels and put them back on? Has anyone done this with brakes like the ones on the '05?

Thanks for any advice you can give me. And this may be a good thread to talk about brakes in general.

 

That is just the nature of the beast. Anyone who has painted or powder coated brake rotors is a candidate for the Darwin Award. They will not work. Period.

Yes, you can powder coat calipers, and yes you have to remove them from the car. The procedure shouldn't be any different than most any other car. You will however have to deal with re filling and bleeding the brake system. While it is not a major process, it is the brakes after all, so you may want to leave that up to a qualified professional.

My advice on the rotors is to get used to it. It's really not that big a deal.

 

Blake is correct. The amount of rust is probably just build-up from transit or sitting. All carbon-steel rotors will rust, but it's usually a small amount of surface oxidation.

Your problem will go away.

 

Just take it for a spin aroung the block, the heat build up from using them will wear off the stuff on the rotors, but as for the little bit of rust in the vains of the rotor, thats life, its on everyones car, except maybe the porsche and ferrari owners that have the carbon/ceramic rotors but come on those cost about as muchas your new 05!

 

Thanks for the advice. The rust has gotten a lot better over the week that I've had the car.

 

Like some one above mentioned, just drive it and it will go away. That happens on my 03 when it has been sitting and it has been raining. You can see rust on the rotors but it goes away once you drive the car.

 

just wash your car.
by the time its done, the brakes are rusted

Take it for a boot...problem solved

 

Acadian, just put a new set of shoes and rotors on an Escort ZX2. Basically, there all the same. When you take your wheel off, on the back side of the caliper, you will see the heads of 2 bolts. These are quite long, and hold the caliper to the rotor. Take them out. Next, undo the hose that is connected to the caliper. You might have to take a small pry bar, or screwdriver, and put a little pressure against the shoes, and pry them back from the rotor, as there is a small piston that keeps a small amount of force against them.

there are 2 clips that hold the shoes to the calipers. Undo them. There's your caliper. After you paint, or whatever, replace. this is a good time to put a little bit of neverseize on the bolts. It will keep the bolts from seizing in the calipers for the future when you have to do a brake job. After you have it all together, MAKE SURE when you start the car up, you pump the brake pedal 5 or 6 times. If you don't, you will have no brakes. You should'nt have to bleed the system, because there is no loss of fluid. But, having said that, just to cover myself, if the pedal feels spongy, by all means bleed. That's it! Good luck!

 

Merlot, you are referring to keeping the brake line connected to the caliper then right? :scratch: ... Yes, this makes the job easier in the sense of, not needing to bleed the bakes, since there is no loss of fluid and no introduction of air to the brake line, but it makes it harder to paint the caliper, since you have to drape the mustang with sheets to prevent over spray.

What kind of paint would work best for painting calipers? It would stink to have the paint start to flake off when the calipers heat up from hard braking.

 

No offense, but if you really wonder if you can powdercoat a brake rotor, you should probably just leave well enough alone before you kill yourself.

 

I'd take the car back to the dealer and have them check it out, afer all the car's brake rotors should be covered by the new car warranty.

 

I had some brake work done, and the guy put Thread Lock instead of never-seize on my caliper bolts. Talked about being P.O.ed. It was kinda hard to get those off. :bang: