Notices
Brakes & Suspension 350Z stoppers, coils, shocks/dampers

Brakes locked shut after storage?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-24-2017, 06:42 AM
  #1  
CK_32
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CK_32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,635
Received 366 Likes on 315 Posts
Default Brakes locked shut after storage?

This is a first for me.. I'm sure I won't know until I pop them open.

But before I do has anyone ever heard of these front discs locking up after being out of use for 5-7 months off the battery?

Only thing I did was remove cats, muffler, intake, plugs and injectors. Then added a 6266 with new plugs injectors and piping and Osiris OBDII.

I noticed the discs were locked up a couple weeks ago on the jacks but figured that was just cause the wheels were off. But once I dropped it on the ground they are sure as hell locked up.

Tried pushing the car both directions. Nope.

Tried to pump the brakes. Nope.

I did notice what looks like a drip of rust that ran down the pads over time but I really doubt they rusted shut in 6 months.


Anyone ever heard of this on a Z?

05 roadster with brembos. Pads and calipers weren't removed or changed the entire time it was on blocks.
Old 07-24-2017, 08:09 AM
  #2  
Atreyu'z 350
New Member
 
Atreyu'z 350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,936
Received 262 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Yeah. It's not unheard of for the calipers to freeze up after months of non-use outside of a temperature controlled environment.. Does your storage unit have climate control? If not, they could've succumb to condensation, and as a result rust. As you probably know, brake fluid likes to draw moisture, and as you use your brakes the calipers heat up, dissipating that moisture. So when you don't use them, any accumulated moisture that gets inside of them stays there and causes rust, especially if your storage unit doesn't have climate control.
Old 07-24-2017, 08:20 AM
  #3  
dcains
Registered User
iTrader: (15)
 
dcains's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lutz, FL
Posts: 5,126
Received 435 Likes on 342 Posts
Default

Lots of humidity here in S Florida this time of year. If I don't drive the Z for a few days, sometimes I can hear the calipers "pop" as I move the car - because the pads have rusted to the rotors. I also didn't drive one of my Alfa's once for several months, and the damn clutch rusted together - couldn't do anything to break it free.
The following users liked this post:
ridered929rr (07-24-2017)
Old 07-24-2017, 09:43 AM
  #4  
amr_electron
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
 
amr_electron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: On Earth
Posts: 337
Received 13 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by CK_32

Anyone ever heard of this on a Z?
The same thing happened to my Z before.

Put the car in gear and drive it, I had to give it a good punch of gas to get it to move.
Old 07-24-2017, 10:38 AM
  #5  
Atreyu'z 350
New Member
 
Atreyu'z 350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,936
Received 262 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Or just take them apart and clean them with brake parts cleaner, inspect, reassemble, then bleed.
Old 07-24-2017, 12:35 PM
  #6  
CK_32
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CK_32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,635
Received 366 Likes on 315 Posts
Default

Huh that's a first. But glad to know it's fairly normal.

I'm almost 100% sure it's rust caused. Cause there is a nice dry drop rust stain from the caliper down the disc.

Usually the whole calipers get surface rust, but they are sparkling clean aside from the drip stain.

I'll see what I can do since the tires are on bricks since I'm lowered and can't get the jack out with out blocks to roll off of.

And as for my storage, it's a very high securety non controlled drive way lol
Old 07-25-2017, 06:12 AM
  #7  
Atreyu'z 350
New Member
 
Atreyu'z 350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,936
Received 262 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by CK_32
Huh that's a first. But glad to know it's fairly normal.

I'm almost 100% sure it's rust caused. Cause there is a nice dry drop rust stain from the caliper down the disc.

Usually the whole calipers get surface rust, but they are sparkling clean aside from the drip stain.

I'll see what I can do since the tires are on bricks since I'm lowered and can't get the jack out with out blocks to roll off of.

And as for my storage, it's a very high securety non controlled drive way lol


That's weird. I had my BMW on stands for a week in my ''high security'' driveway and already the rotor has surface rust.
Old 07-25-2017, 01:11 PM
  #8  
CK_32
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CK_32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,635
Received 366 Likes on 315 Posts
Default

Yea it's weird to me too. I left it for a week once and the rotors were all rusty. But on stands it has like 0 rust. Aside from that drip.

But I worked at it for a good 5 min and they broke free. I'm going to take them off and clean them before use tho. Seems like there is a good bit of rust on em.
Old 07-26-2017, 05:41 AM
  #9  
Atreyu'z 350
New Member
 
Atreyu'z 350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,936
Received 262 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Interesting. There's some physics going on there.
Old 07-26-2017, 03:41 PM
  #10  
zakmartin
New Member
 
zakmartin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,822
Received 512 Likes on 377 Posts
Default

You'd think that by now, someone would develop a brake fluid that wasn't hygroscopic.
Old 07-27-2017, 05:52 AM
  #11  
rancor
New Member
 
rancor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Iowa
Posts: 521
Received 73 Likes on 68 Posts
Default

They did it's DOT 5 and it sucks but if you have a show car or classic that just always sits around it might be a good option. Castrol srf is less hygroscopic but is crazy expensive.

Last edited by rancor; 07-27-2017 at 06:34 AM.
Old 07-27-2017, 05:59 AM
  #12  
Atreyu'z 350
New Member
 
Atreyu'z 350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,936
Received 262 Likes on 228 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by zakmartin
You'd think that by now, someone would develop a brake fluid that wasn't hygroscopic.


Yeah, you would think.. I remember reading somewhere that if it wasn't hygroscopic, the moisture(water) would begin to pool at the lowest points(the calipers) and begin to boil as the calipers get hot because of the lack of absorption into the fluid as a whole. So the benefit of it being hygroscopic is in its ability to absorb and spread that moisture throughout the entire system, hence preventing it from pooling at low points in the system.




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:10 AM.