[Aggnaught]

Ok, so I've had my new 3 sedan for about 2 weeks. I've noticed that after parking the vehicle for the night, the next morning the brake disks (I'm not sure what they are called exactly) are all rusty. It has been raining (and snowing, which is amazing for around here) a lot lately.

Is this normal? It seems strange to me that there is this rust and the car is only 2 weeks old. Maybe its just brake dust - but its not there when I park. Just after it sits for a while.

Thanks in advance, and please forgive my brake system ignorance!

-Agg

EDIT: Thread Title

 

[vaBooM]

Other threads about this topic.

Its a known fact that all cars do the same thing. It oxidizes from the humidity in the air.

 

[gt6]

Very common and perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.

 

[funkyfreshmonke]

u guys notice that brake dust is more common on the rear than the front? iono maybe its just me....

 

[trolldrengi]

u guys notice that brake dust is more common on the rear than the front? iono maybe its just me....

This sounds extremely unusual, as all cars are built to have larger brakes in the front, with a higher percentage of brake force going to the front as well. All of that = more dust.

Take a look around the next time you're on the highway, and you will notice that the front wheels on most cars appear darker thatn the rears.

 

[Yamez]

I have more brake dust on the rear wheels. So your not alone.

 

[04M3S]

I also noticed that the rear brakes produce more dust than the fronts. Not sure why, I was considering taking it in to the dealership.

Looks like this may be a common thing among 3's. Remember, we have EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) so the rears may overcompensate for the weight transfer (towards the front) during breaking.

 

[trolldrengi]

Remember, we have EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) so the rears may overcompensate for the weight transfer (towards the front) during breaking.

Interesting point... I hadn't thought about that, but that may be the case. My Boxster's front brakes turn the rims almost totally black in only a few days worth of driving... A real pain!

I'll have to remember this when I get my 3 this summer.

 

[TellyDSP]

My rears are worse on brake dust as well. I do remember seeing in another thread that this happened on the 6 for a while and should gradually balance out. As far as rusting, the snow your recieving probably requires salt and I'm sure that is not helping your rusting situation. Shouldn't be a problem though.

 

[funkyfreshmonke]

whew im glad im not alone on this brake dust thing haha....i was beginning to think something was wrong =)....haha ah the comfort of mazda3forum family..

 

[rpc180]

Same is happening with me. I thought it was part of the EBD http://mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1056 system (I had a thread on EBD). But anyways, since the rears are working harder, wouldn't it make more sense to put the bigger brakes on the back? Can they be switched at a service center or the dealership?

 

[bluong1]

The fact that there is more brake dust on the back is intriguing.

- what is the mileage on your car? could it be the pad/rotors do not yet well fit together?

- I would like to point out this: even the front disk is bigger, the back and front pad areas are identical.

 

[schulkw]

You brake too hard.

 

[funkyfreshmonke]

yea haha im still getting used to the brakes as well i only got 140 miles on it...

 

[rpc180]

2300 Miles. Its been about 1300 since the last wash where I cleaned out all the wheels and waxed the rims (yeah, I know )

 

[maxspeed]

u guys notice that brake dust is more common on the rear than the front? iono maybe its just me....

This sounds extremely unusual, as all cars are built to have larger brakes in the front, with a higher percentage of brake force going to the front as well. All of that = more dust.

Its a statistic that weight distribution when stopping is transfered to the front.

Lets use this as an example...
Speed is 60mph
You slam the brakes...
You know that feeling when you feel like you are moving forward... well that is your own weight moving forward.. now the engine is pretty heavy and its in the front.. so if you apply pressure to the front and rear brakes then no matter what the major weight of the car is.. it will affect the front of the car causing the front brake rotors + brake pads to have more use than the rear....

Also...
When you are stoped and you slam the gas... do you feel the weight of the car shift to the rear.. its just like that when you are stopping... just the weight is in the front and thast why there is always more brake dust on the front wheels..

hope that wasnt too confusing.

 

[3rdMazdain4yrs]

Please start calling Mazda Canada and Mazda US customer service toll free numbers to complain about this problem. If enough Mazda 3 owners complain direct to Headquarters they will have to do something about this. If you call they will not even acknowledge the fact that there is a know issue they are looking into. Please, start calling every day.

Mazda Canada 1-800-263-4680
Mazda USA 1-800-222-5500

 

[quiksilverx181]

My rears are worse on brake dust as well. I do remember seeing in another thread that this happened on the 6 for a while and should gradually balance out. As far as rusting, the snow your recieving probably requires salt and I'm sure that is not helping your rusting situation. Shouldn't be a problem though.

i didnt read all of the posts in this thread, just the f irst page... so assumign from what u just typed above, the brake problems will go away?

 

[zimmerDN]

I agree that when there's enough ppl complaining they will have to answer our requests. So everyone please do their share of work to get this problem fixed. It seems like this is a very wide spread problem so I think it will be hard for them to keep this down and not come out with a TSB. Its only a matter of time.

 

[3rdMazdain4yrs]

The problem does not go away.

Once the rotors are scored or grooved significantly they will never correct themselves through use. The life of the rear rotors will be signifanctly reduced and will never work to their full potential. When your brakes need replacing at 40,000 km (very early) and Mazda tells you it's normal wear and tear, you'll be out of pocket for new rotors, pads, and labour. No fun, when we all new there was a problem after after 1,500 km.

Cheers.