Storing Brake Discs - Rust

Tesla · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:17

Hi there,

I fitted brand new Front BMW discs and pads to my 530i ~500 miles before the gearbox blew up.

I am considering breaking the car for spares and keeping lots of useful parts for another 530i (if I'm able to find a nice one in Touring form).

The front brakes are an obvious part to put in the keep pile as they're next to worthless second hand but I'd happily fit them to another car as know their history and as they set me back about £150. My consideration is stopping the discs rusting away.

Is there something I can coat them with to prevent rusting? It may be a couple of years before I use them? Considered vacuum packing them somehow too?

Jokester · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:19

You can get a spray you can spray them with that leaves a waxy coat over the top to prevent corrosion, but I can't think what it's called off the top of my head, sorry!

esK` · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:29

I was thinking Waxoyl? Or is that stuff not suited for this application?

Jokester · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:32

esK` said:
I was thinking Waxoyl? Or is that stuff not suited for this application?

I think that might be the stuff I'm thinking of, can it be removed when required though? Presumably you could just wash it off with a brush and hot soapy water?

arcamalpha · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:32

put them in a ziploc bag with a little bag of silica gel? I'd avoid coating them with anything if possible.

bainbridge · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:35

Grease them and then strip the grease when you need them.

esK` · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:37

I presume you could remove it with a wire brush or wet/dry paper afterwards, I wouldn't have thought it would impregnate the disc and ruin it, only make a protective top coat.

Something Else · 22 Dec 2013 at 17:10

My grandad used to put them into a sealable bag, spray them over with a bunch of wd40 and seal the bag.

Hasn't had an issue yet.

Matt82 · 22 Dec 2013 at 17:23

a spray of WD40. when you use them the rust will scrub off anyway

Fuzz · 22 Dec 2013 at 17:25

Paint them with some grease but make sure you wash it off properly with brake cleaner when the time comes to fit them again.

loltim · 22 Dec 2013 at 19:17

arcamalpha said:
put them in a ziploc bag with a little bag of silica gel? I'd avoid coating them with anything if possible.

why? when you buy them they're coated.
wd40 should be ok.

Begbie · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:37

Just spray them with some sort of lube,grease etc.