Brake Discs

[Munroast]

Front Disc on my van (1½ year old, 3500 mile, only did 200 mile in first year) its an EV so the brakes hardly get used!

whats best to do with this or it will just pit and then fail premituily

 

[jj4091]

Isn't that normal for a brake disc?

 

[Mottie]

I think it’s a common fault nowdays. Mine were like that when I bought it from newcand it had virtually no mileage on the clock. A bit of heavy used cured it, mind you, mine is only a HEV so it is possible.

 

[Wayners]

No asbestos in pads now and discs take a grinding. Terrible groves can form.
Discs show signs of rust within hours so that's normal.
Can be really rusty after a week plus.
Wears off though.
Looks fine to me

 

[Mottie]

I think it’s a common fault nowdays. Mine were like that when I bought it from newcand it had virtually no mileage on the clock. A bit of heavy used cured it, mind you, mine is only a HEV so it is possible.

Thread 'I've got a complaint with my new motor already!'

2 Sep 2025

Just noticed this - I'm going to get on to the dealership tomorrow to take it up with them. Bearing in mind I only picked up the new car yesterday and it had 46 miles on the clock, look at the condition of the rear brake discs. Pitted to fùck! Fronts are fine. I know some cars can get rusty discs after just washing them (our A3 was like that) but they clean off after a few hundred yards. I’ve done about 30 miles in this and they are looking terrible. Must have been sitting about for a while. I’m not having that!

N/S/R

O/S/R

• Mottie
• Replies: 92
• Forum: Car Repairs / Maintenance

 

[JohnD]

Motorbikes have stainless disks, because they're on show.

No doubt they cost more

Don't know if they perform the same.

 

[Avocet]

Front Disc on my van (1½ year old, 3500 mile, only did 200 mile in first year) its an EV so the brakes hardly get used!

whats best to do with this or it will just pit and then fail premituily

View attachment 421028

You need to give it some serious work to do. Mine are similar, but I don't let them get that bad before using them hard. A couple of really hard stops from as high a speed as you can safely manage, should do it. I typically find a quiet road once a month or so, and brake really hard from (I'd rather not say! ) MPH, down to about 20 MPH and then ease off. I'll do that a couple of times and then drive gently for a while without coming to a complete stop, to allow the brakes to cool again. When I say " really hard", I'm talking about enough pedal effort to almost invoke an ABS intervention on a dry road.

Iron oxide can be a surprisingly hard-wearing surface, and very abrasive, so if you let it take a hold, you've had it. The pads will just get grooves machined into them by the rust.