Preventing rotors from rusting

[E5 Charger]

I won't be using my old Jeep this winter and will have it parked outside. Is there anything I can use on the rotors to keep them from rusting? I don't want to use something that would ruin the pads and don't want to take it all apart. I'm probably asking for a miracle.

[twodko]

WD40?

[1970Moparmann]

As for the braking surface, no unless you change out the rotors.  If your talking about the non braking surfaces, I found this by Eastwood.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-fast-etch-16-fluid-oz.html

[E5 Charger]

I am talking about the braking surface. Hm, they show a rotor in the photo for the Eastwood Fast Etch. I assume it would leave some type of coating. Maybe I'll contact Eastwood. Unless someone else has dealt with this before?

[1970Moparmann]

I am talking about the braking surface. Hm, they show a rotor in the photo for the Eastwood Fast Etch. I assume it would leave some type of coating. Maybe I'll contact Eastwood. Unless someone else has dealt with this before?

Your correct.  I called Eastwood and talked to them.  They said there is another cleaner that you have to use on the brake surface, which will remove the Fast Etch.  The picture shows a rotor that was soaking in a bucket.

[HPP]

Why bother? Your first application of the brake pedal will wipe all the rust away.

[1970Moparmann]

Why bother? Your first application of the brake pedal will wipe all the rust away.

I drove my 68 in the rain one time and I'm feeling the pain still.

My rotors, like most, are not painted even by the hub portion.  They had a bad case of surface rust and wound up cleaning them real good, and putting the Fast Etch everywhere except the brake pad surface.  Will let you know how long it lasts.

[Ghoste]

My disc brake Charger sits all winter and I have never had a problem yet.  Come spring, go for a drive, stop and voila, rust gone.

[E5 Charger]

I hope the rust doesn't get too bad. I had a car sit for a year once and the rust was too deep to be removed by just stopping. It also made a grinding noise from the rust that formed on the edge of the rotor. I replaced the rotors and it stopped nice and quiet again. They rust fast up here in Canada. I'm thinking of zinc platted rotors for my Charger when I get to that part of it. I know it won't help the braking surface, but the rest should stay rust free.

[Ghoste]

I'm in Canada.  Never had a problem with a stored car getting too much rust on rotors, but I think no matter where you are if let a car sit for a year you can expect a bunch of different problems.

[E5 Charger]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not going to worry about it.

[68X426]

So what's wrong with WD40 (like Tom suggested)?

Quick and cheap. 

[Ghoste]

Not a bad idea.  The other thing to consider is that leaving it to sit outside all winter is not exactly the same as storing it for the winter.  I haven't had problems storing mine, but they are indoors for the winter.

[E5 Charger]

Wouldn't WD40 soak into the pads and ruin them? It would be nice to store the Jeep indoors, but I don't have the room. We get a lot of snow and it's hard to keep it off the Jeep. Some years I run out of places to put the snow.

[Nacho-RT74]

DEPENDING ON PADS MATERIAL.... I don't think WD40 will hurt ceramic pads, but definitelly is a no no, on semimetallic or asbest pads. Usually petroleoum components causes damages on brake systems, loosing friction propperties on pads and shoes, then loosing braking propperties

[C928BRAN]

Use machinist blue layout dye. I use this at work, goes on very thin, and when you get ready to drive it, you just get in and go. it will come off on its own, when you drive, with no damage to pads.

[E5 Charger]

I haven't heard of the layout dye before. Sounds interesting. So this would prevent the rust and I don't have to remove it?

[C928BRAN]

yep, its what i use to prevent rust, on metal at work, and will come off when you hit the brakes.

[69rtse4spd]

 Very interesting. .

[twenty mike mike]

Zimmerman rotors come completely painted. Their directions said don't remove the paint, but just throw them on and the paint will come off when the brakes are used. Sounded weird to me, but it didn't bother my pads.