Car unused-rusty brake discs?

stevoh

Hi All,
I checked this with my father in law, who's a retired car mechanic in France. He basically confirmed its nothing to worry about (but in a more dismissive Gallic manner lol) and said just to drive as normal and try to apply brakes more often. I've spent an hour or so going up and down the local A road and its almost completely resolved now.
Thanks for all your help!

scot22_2

Mickey 666 we don't know how old the car is or its mileage.  The condition of the brakes is unknown.  They might be due replacement.  Manufacturers, in my opinion,  are motivated by profit I realise I probably spend more than necessary in car maintenance, e.g my tyre tread limit is double national.
However, I would rather do that than, even if slightly, increase my risk of an accident.

stevoh

scot22_2 said:

Mickey 666 we don't know how old the car is or its mileage.  The condition of the brakes is unknown.  They might be due replacement.  Manufacturers, in my opinion,  are motivated by profit I realise I probably spend more than necessary in car maintenance, e.g my tyre tread limit is double national.
However, I would rather do that than, even if slightly, increase my risk of an accident.

Hi- Its 5 year old, really good condition, with 40k on the clock. Its just been serviced recently, but had been sat for a month during lockdown. Probably should have added that to my initial comment.

Mickey666

stevoh said:

Hi All,
I checked this with my father in law, who's a retired car mechanic in France. He basically confirmed its nothing to worry about (but in a more dismissive Gallic manner lol) and said just to drive as normal and try to apply brakes more often. I've spent an hour or so going up and down the local A road and its almost completely resolved now.
Thanks for all your help!

Thanks for letting us know the outcome.

JGB1955

Several years ago I had a Renault Clio.  I'm guessing I left it on the drive, handbrake on, over the Christmas holidays (I worked in a school).  First time back in the car - it wouldn't move - the brakes were totally 'locked'.  After a lot of manual pushing and shoving I managed to reverse it off the drive.. leaving marks in the tarmac on the drive!  Lesson to myself - never leave the car with the handbrake on.....

jimjames

stevoh said:

scot22_2 said:

Mickey 666 we don't know how old the car is or its mileage.  The condition of the brakes is unknown.  They might be due replacement.  Manufacturers, in my opinion,  are motivated by profit I realise I probably spend more than necessary in car maintenance, e.g my tyre tread limit is double national.
However, I would rather do that than, even if slightly, increase my risk of an accident.

Hi- Its 5 year old, really good condition, with 40k on the clock. Its just been serviced recently, but had been sat for a month during lockdown. Probably should have added that to my initial comment.

As you have an MOT coming up I'd wait until then for a check, if as you say the brakes work fine then chances are it will pass without problems

Ectophile

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.

Back in the days of drum brakes, that's how I would clear the brakes of water after driving through a deep puddle.

Keep the right foot on the accelerator, and keep dabbing the brake pedal with the left foot until the brakes are working properly again.

It's a pretty safe thing to do, though it feels a bit odd hitting the brakes with your left foot in a car with a manual gearbox.

Bonniepurple

I have to do left foot braking (automatic) as it’s too painful to use my right foot. I sometimes have to do left foot acceleration too, again due to pain.  

OP, When I drove my small car for the first time in a few weeks there was a bit of hesitation and a clunk as the brakes released.  It’s been fine since.  2006 Honda Jazz.

stevoh

The left footed braking seems to have caused quite a debate!
I was told to do that by one of my late fathers friends. Its an automatic, and he told me to very gently tap it at steady speeds.
My father was a very competent amateur mechanic, and amateur rally driver. His friend was his side kick, and pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.
I do vaguely recall my father do it to dry brakes out after driving through fords too.

Mickey666

I drive both automatic and manual cars and find it pretty difficult to do anything but an emergency stop by braking with my left foot!  It is just too ingrained not to push down hard, as if using a clutch pedal.
No doubt it would improve with practice, but there must be a good reason why instructors do not suggest left foot braking on an automatic?
Actually, having said that, perhaps they do - I've never had lessons or a test for an automatic car.