Yesterday I got into my E around 12ish, it warmed up during the day (around 40 or so ) so the snow was melting quickly. It was wet in the parking garage, so the air was moist. I started to move breaked for a stop sign and GRIND... OMG it's two months old and the breaks are going. Well it stopped after a few more applications of the break. So I 'm guess it's a rust problem. Now my question is this, has anyone found Al (aluminum, sorry it's the chemist inside) rotors for the E that won't rust at the first sign of wetness? I don't like the grinding sound it bugs me and with spring coming up (sooner than later) it will be wet all the time so the grinding will be back.

Also this can't be good for the rotors to rust alot, I've study metelurgy, and constent rust can cause fatique which can cause stress which can cause things to break which can cause the calipers to not stop a car (here experience talking here it's not a pretty sight when your doing 80 had it happen dont' want to have it happen again)

thanks to anyone who helps

:twisted:

This is normal and to be expected of steel rotors. It's happened on all my cars and even on my mountain bike with disc brakes.

According to my mechanic, unless you have platinum rotors (i.e. Porsche) the rust is to be expected.

8)
Ed

[quote:c60fb4e60c=" "]Now my question is this, has anyone found Al (aluminum, sorry it's the chemist inside) rotors for the E that won't rust at the first sign of wetness? I don't like the grinding sound it bugs me and with spring coming up (sooner than later) it will be wet all the time so the grinding will be back.

Also this can't be good for the rotors to rust alot, I've study metelurgy, and constent rust can cause fatique which can cause stress which can cause things to break which can cause the calipers to not stop a car (here experience talking here it's not a pretty sight when your doing 80 had it happen dont' want to have it happen again)

thanks to anyone who helps

:twisted:[/quote:c60fb4e60c]

It's normal. Please don't put aluminum rotors on your car.

>aluminum rotors

:shock: :shock: :shock:

[quote:4ebc4f4eaf=" "]According to my mechanic, unless you have platinum rotors (i.e. Porsche) the rust is to be expected. [/quote:4ebc4f4eaf]

Platinum rotors? :shock:
If that's true, I'm surprized you don't see porsches on cinder blocks wity rotors stolen. :roll: :P http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/images/smilies/doublefinger.gif

I say go for the $1000 per corner ceramic rotors. Gosh, let's not be shy and wimpy now, guys! Don't want no rusty rotors. Give me a break (on brakes). Hint, hint.

[quote:60680614f5=" "]I say go for the $1000 per corner ceramic rotors. Gosh, let's not be shy and wimpy now, guys! Don't want no rusty rotors. Give me a break (on brakes). Hint, hint.[/quote:60680614f5] <Mr. Subtle

Rust on your BRAKES with not cause them the BREAK.

Apparently Honda changed their rotor metallurgy on the Element and other newer Hondas and are now not using stainless but something a little different. In all previous Hondas that I have owned (the latest prior was a '98 Accord) the grinding sound we hear with the Elements was never heard. Our rotors on the Element begin to rust a little, enough to be heard at the first application of your brakes, in as short a time as just a few hours in a damp climate. Some motorcycles used cast iron rotors that heavily rust up overnight - same grinding sound, but it quickly goes away and braking is unaffected. Cast iron was/is used because of better rotor heat dissipation during braking.

So nothing to worry about, just yet another annoyance on the Element - just like the symphony of noises from the dash, doors and everywhere and the clicking of the brakes either in reverse or forward on that first stop of the day (pads shifting slightly in the calipers, so I'm told).

All is normal - however not exactly what consumers have grown to expect from a Honda.

[quote:6f71f5e9a9=" "]So nothing to worry about, just yet another annoyance on the Element - just like the symphony of noises from the dash, doors and everywhere and the clicking of the brakes either in reverse or forward on that first stop of the day (pads shifting slightly in the calipers, so I'm told).
[/quote:6f71f5e9a9]

Honda released TSB about brake clicking, so take it to your dealer.
Basically, caliper only has shim on top, and fix is add it to bottom as well.

I don't think I have seen anything but cast iron rotors on any vehicle.

WOw1 That IS radical!!!

Hey, there are so many after market brake manufacturers out there. You can get brakes with grooves,, with holes, double disks, and maybe even some kind of composite pads instead of the probably mettalic pads the E has. I hear that sound too in the morning when I back out. Through snow, slush, rainy stuff and lord knows what else....I haven't been bitten by the Aluminum bug yet though! Hey, try pounding the heck out of some old beer cans...recycling AND a new set of disks!

Amazed :shock:

OK, just to clarify... When it rains, etc. -- I have no noises from my brakes. However, the next day -- when it is bright and sunny -- I get a "moaning" noise. Is this the "grinding" noise everyone is hearing from rusty brakes? My 1994 Accord would "moan" when the brakes were applied when it was actually raining, etc. out, but not the next day. My dealer told me to bring up the issue at the time of my 1st oil change, but not to worry otherwise. Of course, I still worry each time I hear the noise.

OK, just to clarify... When it rains, etc. -- I have no noises from my brakes. However, the next day -- when it is bright and sunny -- I get a "moaning" noise. Is this the "grinding" noise everyone is hearing from rusty brakes?
I get it now...so what you're saying is I should wait until AFTER I've braked a few times and finally zooming down the road to crank up the sound system. Thanks! :wink:

8)

Hey! Well, I get this kind of clunk in the morning when I back the E out of the drive and hit the brakes at the street. :shock: Then it never happens again. I have learned to relax and face that it is one ofthose characteristic weird noises some cars make. After I get rolling, I never hear it again. Like they just have to "set" or something each day. I am going to put a new brake set on though after I do the engine mods I have planned. I feel it needs more in the brake department anyway. Face it, Honda made this vehickle to be affordable so they cut back some everywhere. I just like thsi car so I am going to jazz the heck out of it's engine and exhaust and intake and brakes and suspension. It iwll turn more horses, and handle better than it does now which is pretty good!

Just in the process of having my windshield replaced now. I had one of those that cracked.

Be well and good luck! :wink:

Michael

Hey! Well, I get this kind of clunk in the morning when I back the E out of the drive and hit the brakes at the street. :shock: Then it never happens again. I have learned to relax and face that it is one ofthose characteristic weird noises some cars make. After I get rolling, I never hear it again. Like they just have to "set" or something each day. I am going to put a new brake set on though after I do the engine mods I have planned. I feel it needs more in the brake department anyway. Face it, Honda made this vehickle to be affordable so they cut back some everywhere. I just like thsi car so I am going to jazz the heck out of it's engine and exhaust and intake and brakes and suspension. It iwll turn more horses, and handle better than it does now which is pretty good!

Just in the process of having my windshield replaced now. I had one of those that cracked.

Be well and good luck! :wink:

Michael

I got to writing and didn't check for spelling errors.....my bad

M

michael: glad to see you've got the bug as well. have fun with your mods! :)

[quote:1310703c1e=" "]Face it, Honda made this vehickle to be affordable so they cut back some everywhere. [/quote:1310703c1e]

Perhaps, but this is one symptom shared with CRVs, so that's probably not the reason. And we get the fix for free, if we want it, simply because so many CRV owners have complained they had to do something. :)

[quote:1310703c1e=" "]I got to writing and didn't check for spelling errors.....my bad[/quote:1310703c1e]

About half the time after I post, I notice typos and go fix them too.

-brendan