I recently got my rear brake pads replaced at the local dealership. The rotors were also machined in the process. Its been a few weeks and I've noticed rust on the inner edge of the braking surface on the rotor (i.e. right next to the shiny surface of the rotor). I am not talking about the hub. Attached are a couple of pictures; I've annotated one in paint to point to what I am talking about.

I think I am a bit to paranoid, I don't trust my dealership, but it is the closest one around. Is this normal?

 

If the pad is not touching the rotor when braking, then rust will accumulate. I think this is normal, esp if your car is parked outside mostly.

 

Completely normal. Iron+ water = rust. The areas swept by the pad rusts too, but using the brakes keeps it off. Wet your rotors and let it sit for a day or two outside without driving. You'll see a slight layer of rust begin to form. Leave it for weeks or months and it will look like the unswept area you're concerned about. Don't worry about it.

 

So is it safe to say the right pads were used? And that there is an intentional "unswept" area of the rotor?

 

I have no idea what pads they used, but that isn't relevant to the rust. There is an unswept area of the rotor, yes. It is normal. That was also there before you had your brakes done as well, you just never noticed it before.

 

The only way I know of to eliminate the rust is to have zinc coated rotors. EVERY car rotor will have rust accumulate on the rotor whether it's a fiesta or a minivan, as BB said it's a fact of life. If you buy aftermarket rotors that are coated I believe it will not happen....

 

never seen those wheels before, what are they?

 

It will happen eventually as the pads sweep across the rotor, it takes off that zinc coating, even the swept parts will begin to rust. The rusting hub is what bothers me most...so when I need to change out my pads and rotors, I'll try to find a zinc coated rotor with painted hub...I haven't looked but someone has to have them somewhere.

 

When I replaced the rotors on my 350Z, I painted the hubs myself. Painted them black...looked good and did not rust. I used paint for calipers.

 

Good idea! I'll do that next time

 

I'm going to attempt to fix this as well, as i think the rust on the rotor looks awful. Nicer rotors have hats that take care of this issue, but for now on my stockers I'm going to clean them up with a wire wheel on a drill and then paint them flat black. I'll post some pics when I finish, hopefully tomorrow. My buddy did this and it fixed it completely.

 

I think this is normal, esp if your car is parked outside mostly.

 

Wow, really??
If that bothers you, dont look under your car especially the exhaust system!!!



.

 

Actually TV post, the exhaust is all brand new. No rust. And there's no rust anywhere else either. I had some surface rust on my tie rods but that's been taken care of. Bottom of the car is very clean....

 

Since the pads are still pretty new, it will take a little while for them to completely seat themselves (i.e. they will wear down a ways and then contact the entire disk when you apply the brakes). In a couple of months you will notice the rust disappearing except when it sits for a while.