If a car is left standing for a period of time, then the risk is there that the brakes will begin to corrode, there are some simple steps you can perform to prevent/limit this from happening.
Thanks to Kett for the following advice...
The basic problem is that the discs rust, this is what happems to bare cast iron or steel and is made worse by the salt that is liberally chucked around on our roads as this accelerates the corrosion, weather is colder and damper so things are worse than in summer!
If you are using the car day to day there is not a lot that can be done other than washing the discs with clean water and then drying off.
For long term storage, put on stands and remove wheels, wash and dry discs and calipers to remove contamination; bag up the disc and caliper and put some vapour phase inhibitor paper into the bag before sealing with gaffer tape or tie wraps, this will stop the degradation and corrosion without contaminating the discs or pads as happens when you start using grease or WD40.
Deflate the tyres and black bag the wheels, store out of direct light and frost.
Recommissioning is easy, remove bags, reinflate the tyres preferrably using nitrogen rather than air (less pressure loss, stops corrosion of internal rim, doesn't degrade tyre internals etc), refit and away you go after basic function checks, no mess and no cleaning/contamination, no flat spots on tyres!
Thanks to Kett for the following advice...
The basic problem is that the discs rust, this is what happems to bare cast iron or steel and is made worse by the salt that is liberally chucked around on our roads as this accelerates the corrosion, weather is colder and damper so things are worse than in summer!
If you are using the car day to day there is not a lot that can be done other than washing the discs with clean water and then drying off.
For long term storage, put on stands and remove wheels, wash and dry discs and calipers to remove contamination; bag up the disc and caliper and put some vapour phase inhibitor paper into the bag before sealing with gaffer tape or tie wraps, this will stop the degradation and corrosion without contaminating the discs or pads as happens when you start using grease or WD40.
Deflate the tyres and black bag the wheels, store out of direct light and frost.
Recommissioning is easy, remove bags, reinflate the tyres preferrably using nitrogen rather than air (less pressure loss, stops corrosion of internal rim, doesn't degrade tyre internals etc), refit and away you go after basic function checks, no mess and no cleaning/contamination, no flat spots on tyres!
