rusty brake discs

[fruitsalad]

I sorn my mx5 off the road in the winter and the discs rust because its not being used any ideas how I can protect them and help stop it happening?

[benny3008]

Drive it backwards and forwards on your drive while braking just to clean them off. only needs a couple of metres movement every so often.

[Philtaz]

Give them a good dose of WD40 once a week.

[TWR]

Spray them with WD40, but make sure the fluid does not go on the pads.

[ChuckFickens]

Make sure you leave the handbrake off and just let them rust, if it's only a few months it will only be surface rust and will soon wear off when you start using the car again, just be aware that the car has stood for some time over winter when you first drive it.

Short of removing the discs each winter or keeping it in a climate controlled environment there's not really anything you can do to stop it AFAIK.

[ChuckFickens]

Are people seriously suggesting spraying oil on brake discs!!!!!

[TWR]

It can be washed off Chuck using petrol.

[Philtaz]

Yes Chuck. Despite the viscosity they would have little or no effect on the braking ability of the car yet will keep the shoes and discs rust free if applied liberally enough.

[douglas9401]

Anyhoo, it's not oil, it's a release agent innit.

[albaqwerty]

stop arguing. just give it to Mr Alba, he'll look after it :)

[TWR]

A bit of advise depending if the car is going to off the road for a long spell, as said, handbrake off with wedges in the front/back of wheels, move the car every so often otherwise there is every chance that the clutch plate will stick to the flywheel, have the radio code, remove the battery but keep charged in case you need to move the car quickly, tyres crack on the outer & inner wall if left standing on them, if poss & the car is not in the way, jack the car up, but this is going to the extreme.

[Andyvon]

If the car is being kept off-road for some time it's also important to consider the tyres. The rubber composition of tyres degenerates more if they aren't used than if the car is driven regularly. Temperature changes and frost are the main culprit but so is the fact that the car is standing on the same areas of the tyres for days or weeks at a time. That causes uneven wear and deterioration of the tyre walls.

If you aren't using the car for a while then it's best to lift the car on axle stands so that it's standing with all four tyres off the ground. That will protect the tyres and you can rotate the wheels by hand every day or so to keep the brake discs/drums free. Pump the brake pedal quite often too to stop the caliper and/or drum cylinders free.

[d9f1c7]

Bearing in mind all of the above surely it's false economy to bother sorning to save £100ish! Just leave it taxed and drive it round the block once a week. It's bad for a car to be unused for 6 months and could end up costing a lot more than the saved road tax.

[TWR]

To add whats been said, how long do you intend to leave the car off road? if in advance of 6 moths I would be thinking of the Oil & condensation / whatever fuel it uses, the same, when the car is put back on the road I would have the oil / filter/Air Filter /Fuel filter changed, that's what I would do but everyone has their own way of doing things.