First time DIY'ing, is this normal?

[HFC2197]

Hi all,

First post so go easy!!
Wishing to get into DIY, I replaced my pads and discs just under a month ago. The pedal feels fine and the brakes stop the car quickly enough, however there is a ring of corrosion on the inside edge of the disc (near the hub), which is where the pads aren't touching the disc.

Is it normal for there to be an area of the disc face that is corroded, especially that inside edge? Also, one disc has a smaller corroded area than the other so is this normal wear or have I put everything back together wrong? Pictures attached.

Car is a MK2 Clio, 1.2 2005 on 60k.

 

[Typhoon]

Normal mate.

 

[DrHammershaft]

The corroded areas are just surfaces which are not being touched by the pads. No issues

 

[HFC2197]

Ta for the replies guys. What about the difference in size of the corroded bit between each disc? Is that anything to worry about?

 

[Typhoon]

Ta for the replies guys. What about the difference in size of the corroded bit between each disc? Is that anything to worry about?

Not particularly mate, the main thing to watch out for with the discs is scoring.

 

[HFC2197]

Not particularly mate, the main thing to watch out for with the discs is scoring.

Those discs don't look scored do they? I'd hope not at 700 miles old!

 

[Typhoon]

Those discs don't look scored do they? I'd hope not at 700 miles old!

They look fine to me mate. (On a mobile)

 

[HFC2197]

Cheers for the help guys, thanks! Just learning, s'all.

 

[Gus]

Looks fine. Great way of learning is doing jobs like that. Do an oil change, air filter and oil filter change next. Gives you great satisfaction knowing you have done it yourself. Also worth getting any tools you might need before, nothing worse than having to put it all back together to be able to run to Halfords. Even if the tool is expensive it will be worth it in the long run as you will use it time and again.

 

[HFC2197]

Looks fine. Great way of learning is doing jobs like that. Do an oil change, air filter and oil filter change next. Gives you great satisfaction knowing you have done it yourself. Also worth getting any tools you might need before, nothing worse than having to put it all back together to be able to run to Halfords. Even if the tool is expensive it will be worth it in the long run as you will use it time and again.

Funnily enough I've been pretty busy with it recently - did an oil and filter change the other week, and the brake fluid needs changing (I ran out of time when the wheels came off to do these brakes). Seems to have a slight coolant leak somewhere but it's due a change soon anyway. It's my first car so I'm willing to learn, especially since I got a Halfords Professional toolkit for Christmas!

 

[Commie VID]

If you really wanted to, you could take the discs off again, clean up some of that corrosion, then use something like hammerite on those bits, then when you go for a drive, the pads will rub off any excess paint. That usually does a nice enough job.

I was exactly like you nigh on 4 years ago, but with a Peugeot 205 GTI. Halfords usually do the toolkits for half price and its pretty comprehensive for most jobs (unless you have a German car where they seem insistent on weird sizes). Over time, you'll acrue more tools and the next thing you know, you'll have an entire workshop!

I would probably recommend you get something called "Plus Gas" or similar. Prepare regardless for sheared nuts and bolts!

 

[levaz]

If you really wanted to, you could take the discs off again, clean up some of that corrosion, then use something like hammerite on those bits, then when you go for a drive, the pads will rub off any excess paint. That usually does a nice enough job.

Mercedes Benz do that from factory on replacement discs.
Gives a really nice finish on the discs after 100 miles or so.

 

[Knuckles]

Have you fitted vented discs? Hero!

 

[HFC2197]

If you really wanted to, you could take the discs off again, clean up some of that corrosion, then use something like hammerite on those bits, then when you go for a drive, the pads will rub off any excess paint. That usually does a nice enough job.

I was exactly like you nigh on 4 years ago, but with a Peugeot 205 GTI. Halfords usually do the toolkits for half price and its pretty comprehensive for most jobs (unless you have a German car where they seem insistent on weird sizes). Over time, you'll acrue more tools and the next thing you know, you'll have an entire workshop!

I would probably recommend you get something called "Plus Gas" or similar. Prepare regardless for sheared nuts and bolts!

I never thought about using hammerite tbh, may buy a can sometime, and how useful is penetrating fluid? Is it a must have for any workshop?

I need to pop some copper grease on the surfaces where the pads meet the calliper, they're quite squeaky brakes at the moment and I need to check they're wearing okay. I used some rubbish silicone spray as lubrication instead of copper grease and I realise now it didn't help at all! Oh well, you live and learn I suppose.
Only reason I asked about the different sized corrosion areas (ie difference in swept area) is that shouldn't the two sets of pads cover the same area as they've been fitted the same way? Plus, I looked at another Clio that had the same sort of corrosion on the inner part of the disc, but was smaller and identical on both sides. Am I just worrying too much?

Have you fitted vented discs? Hero!

Standard on 1.2 16Vs according to ECP! Got good deals, ECP had offers on so I got £30 off, plus they're brembo discs and pads so decent quality!

 

[DrR]

Every car I've ever had has vented discs, didn't know cars that arnt about 20years old + didn't have them?

 

[Knuckles]

Every car I've ever had has vented discs, didn't know cars that arnt about 20years old + didn't have them?

Goes to show how clued up I am

 

[DrR]

Goes to show how clued up I am

Yeah just checked, even my 2001 1.6 focus had them lol.

 

[Commie VID]

Solid discs are usually on the rears these days, I don't think I've seen any fronts that were solid discs.