Car unused-rusty brake discs?

stevoh

Hi All,
I made the stupid mistake of leaving my car unused for a month, sat out on the road in the bad weather we had over Jan/ early Feb.
When I drove it a notice a slight thud as the wheel rotated and the brakes felt funny/ judder slightly and make a noise when I brake. I checked the tyres and they seem OK. The discs are visably rusted.

I tried driving it round the block, touching the brakes, for about 10-15 mins, with no improvement. The brakes don't feel as effective.
I have it booked in for its MOT on Fri, and guess it'll fail and the garage will get me to but 4 new pads and discs. How can I tell if I can solve the issue by just driving it and wearing the rust away? I've only driven at very low speeds, around the block, as didn't want to take it on the open road.

daveyjp

You need to get it out and use the brakes from much higher speeds.

AdrianC

Brake discs are made of steel. They aren't coated - they can't be, because the surface wears down.

Yes, they rust.

Use them, and the rust will clean off. Pootling round the block won't do anything.

Belenus

My brake discs look rusty after less than 24 hours in damp weather.

Unless it is excessive, it is normal. It usually clears after a few brake applications.

If the brakes still work but are a bit jerky, then drive very carefully to somewhere it is safe to build up speed and brake firmly but not too hard a few times. 

Be very careful of what is behind you and to the side as well as what is ahead.

Or just wait until you next drive the car and do that.

stevoh

Thanks for the quick response everyone. I applied the brakes quite a few times and trying to drive whilst touching the brake with my left foot. As I say though, it was at low speeds and just around the block. I'll try at higher speeds if you feel its not a major issue.

KimJongUn88

Don’t try and drive whilst touching the brakes with your left foot. That’s a stupid thing to do. Nobody advised you to do that.

Just do a few forceful stops from a moderate speed.

scot22_2

Are you really O.K with risking a possible accident on the comments of people who have not seen or ridden in your car ?  Probably they are all competent but I wouldn't rely on distant comments for my actions.

George_Michael

scot22_2 said:

Are you really O.K with risking a possible accident on the comments of people who have not seen or ridden in your car ?  Probably they are all competent but I wouldn't rely on distant comments for my actions.

What the OP is experiencing is an extremely common problem and can happen to just about all cars that have metal discs and driving at a reasonable speed on a clear dry road and applying the brakes will in the large majority of cases clean the build up of rust of the discs and won't pose much of a danger to the OP.

stevoh

Hi All, I've given in a bit of a blast up and down an A road, and then around the back streets where I live. Quite tricky in London as there's stil loads of traffic on the roads! Its defintely improving, but there still as thud, thud as I brake, although not as loud. The brakes seem fully effective.

dipsomaniac

KimJongUn88 said:

Don’t try and drive whilst touching the brakes with your left foot. That’s a stupid thing to do. Nobody advised you to do that.

Just do a few forceful stops from a moderate speed.

What's wrong with braking with left foot? Do it all the time in a auto

OP. If thud is still there after a couple of brake tests I would investigate further.

scot22_2

GM thanks for your courteous response to my post.  I don't disagree with your knowledge, I know little about car mechanics.  However, I have concerns about reliance on anonymous posts.
The OP has been driving in London with brakes that may be suspect.  He refers to a thud, thud.  Needs someone competent to assess.