rusty front brake surface - 1978 dt175

[mmaurin]

does rust on the braking surface matter much? i would think it does, but have seen rotors flash rust and then wear off...
if so, how do you clean it? i tried some steel wool and simple green... can i use a wire brush attachment for my drill? i cant imagine that would gouge the surface...



and yes im going the replace the bearings... they roll better than they look, but not that great...

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

80 grit emery paper. You can be pretty aggressive with it.

The trouble with leaving the rust there, is that it acts like a superfine abrasive, and causes the brake shoes to glaze.

 

[VonYinzer]

80 grit emery paper. You can be pretty aggressive with it.

The trouble with leaving the rust there, is that it acts like a superfine abrasive, and causes the brake shoes to glaze.

+1

Or, if the wheel is broken down, you can take just the "drum" to a repair shop and they'll cut it.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

No, there is not enough "meat" to most drums to cut them. I would never do it.

 

[VonYinzer]

No, there is not enough "meat" to most drums to cut them. I would never do it.

Agreed. I should have phrased that differently. You're not actually taking a real cut from the surface as much as a skim to remove the rust.