Rusted brake callipers

[MIRSAD]

Hi,

... brake callipers of my daughter/wife Golf (90TSI - Dec 2009 with comfort package).

only front callipers are rusted ... and I am using only Sonax - non acid wheel cleaner

This is my 6th Golf in the past 9 years in Australia plus couple mk2 and mk3 in Europa - first one with rusted brake callipers.


according to VW Aus it is my fault and it is not covered by warranty - I am waiting for written answer to start procedure with Dept. of Consumer Protection.

any thoughts






Thanks

[Lucas_R]

Steel wool and some calliper paint will sort that out.

[mikinoz]

Once they have rusted, they won't rust any more.

That could have been caused by any number of things, but in all honesty, it is not a manufacturing defect, but a cosmetic one.

[JustCruisn]

Paint them hot pink and move on.

[MIRSAD]

Once they have rusted, they won't rust any more.

That could have been caused by any number of things, but in all honesty, it is not a manufacturing defect, but a cosmetic one.

Sorry mikinoz,

I think it is manufacturing defect (otherwise all Golfs will have same rusted callipers or it will be normal that you buy new car from dealership with it) maybe it is not structural defect...

and I am not sure that rusting will stop ... it is getting worst in the past few months - I am not an expert but second picture is showing 3 shades of corrosion

.. cosmetic defect - yes but car bonnet rust is also cosmetic one but You would expect that it will be covered by warranty.

... and if I want to sell it what will be reaction of an average buyer (like me).

---------- Post added at 08:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------

Paint them hot pink and move on.

[QUOTE= wool and some calliper paint will sort that out[/QUOTE]

Yes,
valid point,

as I am not skilled ( that is one of the reasons why I am changing car every 2-3 years) and You are sounding so ... why don't You come in Perth and paint it for me.

seriously this is from Audi forum:

"I had the same issue with my S4 when it was only one year old. I tried to get Audi to fix it but they wern't interested. They also said if I painted them it would void the warranty."

[THE_EGG]

I would maybe try and see a different dealership (if there is another one near you), and see what they have to say. I would be furious about that, especially as its only a few years old! If you can't get to another dealership I would just keep bugging the dealership you went to.

[MIRSAD]

I would maybe try and see a different dealership (if there is another one near you), and see what they have to say. I would be furious about that, especially as its only a few years old! If you can't get to another dealership I would just keep bugging the dealership you went to.

Unfortunately it was assessed by VWA representative here in WA and it is already rejected by VW Australia (it is already registered by them) ... and any dealership must get approval from VWA

[mikinoz]

Sorry mikinoz,

I think it is manufacturing defect (otherwise all Golfs will have same rusted callipers or it will be normal that you buy new car from dealership with it) maybe it is not structural defect...

and I am not sure that rusting will stop ... it is getting worst in the past few months - I am not an expert but second picture is showing 3 shades of corrosion

.. cosmetic defect - yes but car bonnet rust is also cosmetic one but You would expect that it will be covered by warranty.

... and if I want to sell it what will be reaction of an average buyer (like me).

I think you misunderstand what I am saying. If your car has rusty callipers, on multiple wheels, there is no chance they were made by the same company from the same materials in the same batch - so in the case that your car but not my car, or the other bloke that bought one that lives down the street for that matter, don't have the same problem that you are experiencing I would have to disagree and say it is environmental.

At a guess, is the car automatic/DSG?

But I don't want to stop you having them replaced. Just keep us updated how the replacements perform.

Going back to my original point though - it is surface oxidation that looks most likely caused by running the brakes warm and having them sprayed with water. The patterning relates to the heat dissipation that a calliper might exhibit in such conditions. Looking more closely also, it seems that the oxidisation could be removed rather easily with a wire brush.

Top of the day to you Sir!

[THE_EGG]

Unfortunately it was assessed by VWA representative here in WA and it is already rejected by VW Australia (it is already registered by them) ... and any dealership must get approval from VWA

bleh that sucks (sounds much like how my gearbox was rejected when i had a polo). I suppose another option would be to buy new brake callipers?

[mikinoz]

Unfortunately it was assessed by VWA representative here in WA and it is already rejected by VW Australia (it is already registered by them) ... and any dealership must get approval from VWA

Sorry to hear. An hour and someone handy with masking tape and a spray can could assist.



Can't void the warranty on them as they already won't warrant them, right?

[MIRSAD]

I think you misunderstand what I am saying. If your car has rusty callipers, on multiple wheels, there is no chance they were made by the same company from the same materials in the same batch - so in the case that your car but not my car, or the other bloke that bought one that lives down the street for that matter, don't have the same problem that you are experiencing I would have to disagree and say it is environmental.

At a guess, is the car automatic/DSG?

But I don't want to stop you having them replaced. Just keep us updated how the replacements perform.

Going back to my original point though - it is surface oxidation that looks most likely caused by running the brakes warm and having them sprayed with water. The patterning relates to the heat dissipation that a calliper might exhibit in such conditions. Looking more closely also, it seems that the oxidisation could be removed rather easily with a wire brush.

Top of the day to you Sir!

Thank You mikinoz,

Yes it is DSG,

According to dealer they can clean it but of corse rust will come back

VWA representative first assessment was that rust was caused buy acid rim cleaner.

When I asked them why it is only part of the brake calliper front rusted this is part of their e-mail: "...brake calipers were exposed to some sort of liquid or chemical which may corrode the callipers, further research is needed to determine what has caused the calipers to rust."

Dealership technician privately told me that callipers are teflon coated for rust protection and that they did not have such a case with relatively new car.

Anybody here with same problem.

Official VWA position (I am still waiting for written conformation) is that I have to prove that rust is caused buy callipers defect.

I was not asking VWA to replace callipers - just to fix them (paint or clean them and protect with something).

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------

Sorry to hear. An hour and someone handy with masking tape and a spray can could assist.



Can't void the warranty on them as they already won't warrant them, right?

If not fixed by VWA - of course I have to paint them.

Probably I will be looking for professional (my understanding is that callipers should be removed (or it is better) and than painted) but not sure which business (brake shop or...) is doing that and what I can expect to pay ... any recomendation for Perth.