Cleaning Break Discs - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Brucelee · 08-23-2005, 08:11 AM

I don't either. The brake rotor surface is cleaned by the pads each time you stop. If you are talking about the hub that the rotar sits on, that should be handled by whatever wheel cleaner you use.

Also, a pressure washer does a nice job on the innards of the brake system.

PhilBH · 08-23-2005, 02:44 PM

I mean the drilled discs that you can see through the spokes in the wheels. They have started to rust slightly in only a week, and I'd like to know how I can keep them looking good.

deliriousga · 08-23-2005, 03:23 PM

If you want to keep them from rusting, that's a whole other ball of wax.

You have to remove them, sand them down very well on the rusting hub part (do not sand the wear surface) to get all of the rust off and paint them with a high temp paint. That's the only way to keep them from rusting that I know of.

Ronzi · 08-23-2005, 06:30 PM

I must confess to a continuing puzzlement regarding the cleaning the brake disc issue.
The arrow in the picture points, as far as I can tell, to the actual friction surface of the rotor, and you do not want to be spraying much of anything on there, rusty or not. The first time you push on the brake pedal, the rust should be gone by the scrubbing action of the pads.
On my car, it is not unusual for a little discoloration ("rust", if you like) to develop if some water splashes on the rotor surface as there is, obviously, no rust protection on that portion of the rotors. Again, the action of the brake pads clean that up in a hurry.
I can well imagine that a damp climate would lead to quicker rusting of the rotors if the car is unused, but then that's another excuse to take it for a joy ride, eh?
"Sorry, honey, can't scrub the carpet today, I have to scrub the brake rotors on the Porsche instead."

PhilBH · 08-24-2005, 03:20 AM

But I've driven the car daily, and they only get worse? Ah well, I'll just have to take it out for another drive now. Oh, what a chore it is to HAVE to drive the Boxster.

donv · 08-24-2005, 10:05 AM

My rotors (brake swept area) "rust" up in 15 minutes during a car wash, esp. after cleaning with P21S. A quick drive and they are back to normal and stay that way for some time after.

PhilBH · 08-24-2005, 01:36 PM

I think I get it now. I've actually seen what you guys have been trying to tell me. This morning the discs looked very orange, after being on a 40 min drive, I had a look at them again, and they were practicaly back to how they were when it arrived last week.

I was worrying for nothing.

Thanks all for putting up with me.