This is probably one of the easiest questions to answer, but I've never attempted anything like this before and want to get some advice before starting. I use my Fabia infrequently and as a result the rear break discs are starting to rust. This was noted by my garage during this years service and they suggested that it was about time to sort it. I fancy a go at it but am not sure the best way to approach the job. Any advice on how to clean the discs and an estimate on how easy/hard it is to do? Any special tools required? I'm fairly handy with mechanical things (I've recently successfully replaced the front window reglator) but haven't touched breaks before.

Mike

This is probably one of the easiest questions to answer, but I've never attempted anything like this before and want to get some advice before starting. I use my Fabia infrequently and as a result the rear break discs are starting to rust. This was noted by my garage during this years service and they suggested that it was about time to sort it. I fancy a go at it but am not sure the best way to approach the job. Any advice on how to clean the discs and an estimate on how easy/hard it is to do? Any special tools required? I'm fairly handy with mechanical things (I've recently successfully replaced the front window reglator) but haven't touched breaks before.

Mike

Are you referring to the calipers or the disks themselfs?

The disc rotors should self clean after a few miles. If rust persists the rear brake calipers are seized. Rust around the rotor edge can be wire brushed off, or sanded off with glass paper 80 grit.

Do you mean brakes?? :P

They should self clean after a bit of use

Mines done the same thing, as an interim fix you can drive it like its not yours and apply the handbrake a bit (watch for trees) . Its a design fault as the pads don't make complete contact with the rotors.

yeap, I do mean brakes (i've a four week old baby boy and sleep isn't in great supply at the moment:O). My garage said that the rear discs were rusting and that they didn't normally get a lot use use as the main breaking power is done in the front (like a bike?). I figured that if i took the wheel off and brshed them with a wire brush and then applied dome copper grease that this might clean them up a bit. I've also tried slamming on the anchors when moving (empty roads), but I guess I just don't use the car enough to keep them clean.

The garage didn't seem to think thatthe handbrake worked on the discs in the same way as the foot brake, any comment?

Just go out and do a few hand brake turns in your local Asda carpark, that should clear the rust off

Popping the handbrake up a couple of clicks for a few seconds should be enough to clean them off.

Where are you thinking of putting that copper grease? :eek:

yeap, I do mean brakes (i've a four week old baby boy and sleep isn't in great supply at the moment:O). My garage said that the rear discs were rusting and that they didn't normally get a lot use use as the main breaking power is done in the front (like a bike?). I figured that if i took the wheel off and brshed them with a wire brush and then applied dome copper grease that this might clean them up a bit. I've also tried slamming on the anchors when moving (empty roads), but I guess I just don't use the car enough to keep them clean.

Drive a short distance with the handbrake on and see if they clean up. You may have partially seized calipers though.

The garage didn't seem to think thatthe handbrake worked on the discs in the same way as the foot brake, any comment?

That's right. The footbrake operates a hydraulic piston, but the handbrake is a cable and lever job. It all works on the same friction materials though, unlike some cars (BMW/Volvo) that have a mini drum brake inside the rear discs.

Just had my rear discs changed for same reason. Dealer said they have erroded because they aint used enough, bit of a ball ache really as it will be the same next year maybe.

Isn't it funny, the brakes that are used the least, wear the fastest. How do you get round this?

Reminds me of a storey James May wrote about his Porsch, sure it was linked on this site somewhere. Basically he had to replace and pay for a new set of rears for his boxter(i think boxter) after less than 3000 miles because he didnt use it enough. He had argued with the dealer about payment because he felt hard done by. Fair enough he said if the car had done 15-20,000 miles it would be wear and tear but how is 3000 miles justified as wear and tear.

Someone feel free to correct me if this doesn't make sense, but wouldn't reversing at speed then appling the brakes transfer the weight to the rear of the car forcing the rears to work harder and as such cleaning them better?

(or you could use the car more )

Someone feel free to correct me if this doesn't make sense, but wouldn't reversing at speed then appling the brakes transfer the weight to the rear of the car forcing the rears to work harder and as such cleaning them better?

(or you could use the car more )

That could work as the tranfer in weight would naturally cause the brakes to work harder maybe..... question, does ESP work in reverse?!

Had to have my rear disks and pads replaced at 20k service due to lack of use. now try to do some hard breaking on my drive to work.Only time will tell if this will help.

For $EITYS SAKE do not put the copper grease on the discs :-)

There again I suppose who you use to do your servicing

Please visit us for your free winter check, Oh your rear brakes are rusty please arrange a service

I took mine to the main dealer and he advised me the rear brakes were rusting and needed adjustment

So I arranged to have them done the same weekend

I sat for four hours on Saturday my only day off , paid £120 and two days later I had them done correctly by STAR PERFORMANCE (REPLACED CALIPER EVEN)

For less cash and less time

National