You walk to your car in the morning and the brake rotors are orange with rust. Should you worry? Most of the time, no. But in Ontario, with our wet weather and road salt, rust can turn into a real brake problem. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Light surface rust: normal
Brake rotors are made of bare iron. When they get wet from rain, snow or a car wash, a thin layer of orange rust forms, sometimes overnight. This is called flash rust.
The first few times you brake, you may hear a light scraping sound. The pads wipe the rust off and the rotor surface turns shiny again. If the noise goes away after a few stops, everything is fine.
Heavy rust: a problem
Rust becomes a problem when it doesn’t wipe off. Look for these signs:
- Rust on the braking surface that stays after driving, often in patches or rings
- Pitting, small holes or rough spots on the rotor surface
- A thick rust lip on the outer edge of the rotor
- Rust flaking off the rotor or the brake parts around it
- Shaking or pulsing when braking, caused by uneven rust
- Grinding that does not go away after a few stops
Heavy rust reduces how well the pads grip the rotor. It can also cause the pads to stick and wear unevenly. In most cases, the fix is new rotors and pads. Read do you need new rotors with new brake pads.
Why Ontario brakes rust faster
- Road salt in winter speeds up rust a lot.
- Cars that sit for days or weeks, like a second car or a car parked during a trip, rust more because the pads don’t clean the rotors.
- Rear brakes rust more than front brakes because they do less work. See front vs. rear brakes.
- Hybrids and electric cars use regenerative braking, so the regular brakes are used less. Their rotors often rust faster than on gas cars.
How to reduce brake rust
- Drive the car at least once or twice a week if you can.
- After driving on salty roads, do a few firm (safe) stops to clean the rotors.
- Rinse the salt off your car and wheels during winter.
- If you drive a hybrid or EV, use normal braking sometimes, not only regen.
- Get your brakes checked before and after winter.
Rusty brakes? Get a free check in Waterloo
President Tire & Wheels offers a free brake inspection at 632 Colby Drive, Waterloo. If your rotors need replacing, brake pads and rotors start at $350 per axle with a 1-year warranty, or $499 per axle with a 2-year warranty (most sedans).
Get a free brake quote, see our brake service page, or call (226) 698-1667. Serving Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge.
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