Welcome to our websites!

Why Brake Pads Rust and How to Prevent this Issue?

If we park the car outdoors for long time, you could find the brake disc would be rusty. If in damp or rainy environment, the rust would be more obvious. Actually rust on vehicle brake discs is usually the result of the combined effect of their material and usage environment.
The brake discs are mainly made of cast iron, which is prone to chemical reactions with oxygen and moisture in the air, generating oxides, namely rust. If the vehicle is parked in a humid environment for a long time or frequently driven in damp and rainy areas, the brake discs are more prone to rusting. But rust on car brake discs usually does not immediately affect braking performance under mild conditions, and we can continue driving while ensuring safety. By continuously applying the brakes, the floating rust on the surface of the brake disc is usually worn off.
The brake pad are installed in caliper and touch with brake disc to stop the vehicle, but why some brake pads would also be rusty? Does the rusty brake pads will effect the brake and has danger? How to prevent rust on brake pads? Let’s see what formula engineer said!

What is the test for putting the brake pad inside of water?
Some customer is using this way to test the brake pad expansion character in water. The test is imitate the real working condition, if the weather keep raining for many days, the brake pad keep in wet condition for a long time, the brake pad might be expanded too much, the brake pad, brake disc and the whole brake system will be locked. It will be a big problem.
But actually this test is not professional at all, and the test result cannot prove the brake pad quality is good or not.

What kind of brake pad easy get rust in water?
The brake pad formula which included more metal ingredients, like steel fiber, copper fiber, brake pad will be easy get rust. Usually low ceramic and semi-metallic formula has metal ingredients. If we immerse the brake pads into water for long time, the metal parts would be easily get rusted.
Actually this kind of brake pad breathability and heat dispersion is good. It will not lead the brake pad and brake disc keep working under constant high temperature. That means both brake pad and brake disc life time is long.

What kind of brake pad not easy get rust in water?
The material included very less or zero metal material, and the hardness is higher, this kind of brake pad is not easy get rust. Ceramic formula without any metal material inside, but the disadvantage is price is too high and brake pad life time is shorter.

How to solve the brake pad rust problem?
1.Manufacturer can change the material formula from semi-metal and low-ceramic to ceramic formula. Ceramic is without any metal ingredient inside, and it will not get rusted in water. However, the ceramic formula cost is much higher than semi-metal type, and ceramic brake pad wear resistance is not as good as the semi-metallic formula.
2.Apply one layer anti-rust coating on the surface of the brake pad. It will make the brake pad looks much better and without have the rust on brake pad surface. After you install the brake pad into the caliper, the braking will be comfortable and without noise. It will be a good selling point for manufacturers to distribute the products into the market.

a
b
c

Brake pads with surface costing

In daily use, brake pads are installed in calipers and impossible to be immersed in water for a long time. Thus put whole brake pads into water to test expansion is not accurate, the test result has no relations to brake pad performance and quality. If manufacturers want to prevent rust problem on brake pads, they can adopt above solutions.


Post time: Jul-15-2024