Did I do something/happen to my brakes?

[j2dad5389]

Probably a noob question, but hoping nothing wrong happened.

I let my car sit for about a week when I went on vacation, came back to drive it to stretch its legs, and noticed it made a funny noise as I was reversing. A noise I never heard before. It definitely sounded like something clunking or grinding, but nothing extremely alarming or bad. Only thing I noticed that were on the brakes were the rust droplets after it rains. Attached are images. The first 4 are the front and left brakes, the last one is the rear for reference. Front looks like it rusted very heavily on the bottom ring. Also seems only the front was affected

View post on imgur.com

[avantix]

Nothing to worry about, the same thing happens to my brakes after prolonged non use. When I come back from a 3 week vacation in the summer they are completely rust colored. What you're hearing is the surface oxidation that goes away after a little while.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by avantix

Nothing to worry about, the same thing happens to my brakes after prolonged non use. When I come back from a 3 week vacation in the summer they are completely rust colored. What you're hearing is the surface oxidation that goes away after a little while.

That's a relief to hear. How come it was only the fronts and not the rears?

[avantix]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

That's a relief to hear. How come it was only the fronts and not the rears?

Couldn't tell you but I'm sure there a scientific explanation to more braking pressure applied to the fronts therefore they were probably hotter than the rears when exposed to humidity that created surface rust but this is pure conjecture on my part.

[No.401_Speed]

Might also be coming from your parking brake. I left for 10 days in the arctic back in 2014 and before I left I washed the car and parked it in my garage. When I came back, started the car and backed out, the parking brake was seized and broke one of the cables.

It continued to make a clunking noise as I drove, which lasted for a couple of days and then it gradually went away. Lesson learned, never park a wet car and leave it for any period of time.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by avantix

Nothing to worry about, the same thing happens to my brakes after prolonged non use. When I come back from a 3 week vacation in the summer they are completely rust colored. What you're hearing is the surface oxidation that goes away after a little while.

Just to be clear, it doesn't just "go away after a little while". The surface rust is ground off the first time you apply your brakes while driving.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Just to be clear, it doesn't just "go away after a little while". The surface rust is ground off the first time you apply your brakes while driving.

Shit. so are my brakes screwed

[avantix]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Just to be clear, it doesn't just "go away after a little while". The surface rust is ground off the first time you apply your brakes while driving.

Well that was kind of implied

[damageprone]

Wash your car. By the time you're done washing, your brakes will be rusty.

It's just the rust being ground off when applying brakes as everyone has said. No problems.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by damageprone

Wash your car. By the time you're done washing, your brakes will be rusty.

It's just the rust being ground off when applying brakes as everyone has said. No problems.

Ok will do. Thanks

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

my car always makes a very audible clunk for a bit when removing the parking brake and crusing in the 6mt after rain

[pbar]

You should note that the parking brake is nothing to do with the brake rotors you photographed. It's actually a separate hub brake internal to the rear wheel hub.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...brake/Gg0dcUZT

This is why it's actually safe to use the handbrake on an M3/4 after a session at the track without fear of your brake pads sticking to the rotors.