Repairing a rusted rotor
10-26-09, 04:46 PM
#1
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Repairing a rusted rotor
I got an S5 N/A rotor for my rebuild that has some surface rust on it. I've used a wire wheel to clean off the rotor faces, and I can see some pitting in the face. From what I've read, pitting like that can cause hot spots and detonation. I'm thinking I can use some fine grit sandpaper to smooth off the faces and that shouldn't change the compression or the balancing too much. As for all the grooves, I'm hoping I can scrape them clean using old seals.
Any specific things I should check or pay attention to?
Any advice on good ways to clean the groves out?
Thanks
Andy
Any specific things I should check or pay attention to?
Any advice on good ways to clean the groves out?
Thanks
Andy
10-28-09, 09:47 AM
#2
Engine, Not Motor
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How deep is the pitting? The bowl area of all rotors prior to S5 NA was rough cast anyway, so a little pitting won't be an issue.
It's a bit hard to see, but here are the rough cast faces of S4 NA rotors:
Yes, use old seals and carb cleaner to scrape the grooves.
It's a bit hard to see, but here are the rough cast faces of S4 NA rotors:
Yes, use old seals and carb cleaner to scrape the grooves.
10-28-09, 04:02 PM
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The reason they appear dirty is due to the poor lighting, but most importantly, the cadmium plating on the rotors from the factory.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
10-28-09, 05:48 PM
#5
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The reason they appear dirty is due to the poor lighting, but most importantly, the cadmium plating on the rotors from the factory.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
10-28-09, 06:52 PM
#6
The Firestarter
The reason they appear dirty is due to the poor lighting, but most importantly, the cadmium plating on the rotors from the factory.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
All those pictures you see of beautiful steel-silver rotors have one thing in common: the cadmium plating was either worn off, or more likely, dissolved off during cleaning.
I just cleaned up a set of rotors for my Cosmo build a few weeks ago and was totally dismayed that the cleaner I used (Zep Purple) totally removed the cadmium.
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11-01-09, 09:13 AM
#10
If you have rotors that are badly caked with carbon in the side seal grooves, or perhaps a few bits of old side seal stuck in a groove you can use a putty knife such as this one I bought at Home Depot:
And grind into one of the corners to make a slope:
Slide it into the groove and push or lightly tap with a hammer where my finger is:
And grind into one of the corners to make a slope:
Slide it into the groove and push or lightly tap with a hammer where my finger is:
