Gram light 57 Maximum's RUSTING?!!!!

[camppain]

I just purchased my tires and wheels from Tire Rack back in September. This past weekend as I go to wash my car's I noticed heavy amounts of rust on my rims. I put tire cleaner on there and scrub to agitate it. Some of the rust is removed, yet on my pass rear tire I can feel pitting from the corrosion. I contacted T/R today and sent them pictures. 3 of the 4 wheels have this problem. 1 has pitting the other 2 seem to continually get surface rust. I have not driven the car in 2 weeks if not more. I washed the car's Saturday.

This is the reply I get from T/R which sounds like complete :bs:

These wheels are made from an aluminum alloy. They are not made with
steel or iron so they can't rust. Those are definately rust deposits but
they are coming from the brake rotors and pads dusting. He should
consider looking at a different brake pad compound if they are
generating that must brake dust and iron dust. That seems very excessive
and that brake dust is highly corrosive. It will damage the painted
finish on the wheels if they are not kept clean. This is a brake issue,
not a wheel finish issue.

Funny because aluminum does corrode. It is better than steel or iron but it still corrodes.

Here are the pics I took of the rims today and sent to them. Tell me what you guys think. I think when you pay for parts and expect quality you shouldn't be getting this kind of result.

http://www.camppain.com/rims

[s13silvia123]

thats BS man its rusting. if the the rims you have should have a certain amount of steel and iron in it. but you'll have to find out the percentage of it thats in the rims. there should be lat least 2-10% of steel and iron in your rims. i know how alluminum alloy is made and the percentage of alloy that is in there.

so your rims should at least rust and corrode.

[240trainee]

Just on a cursory glance I would agree with T/R, that looks like bad brake dust with iron in it.

I could be very wrong though.

[KA24DESOneThree]

When aluminum corrodes, it corrodes with the same color as mag. Both corrode with a slightly whitish oxidation. I have seen quite literally thousands of wheels and I have NEVER, EVER seen an aluminum wheel rust with a reddish oxidation.

That is absolutely NOT the wheels rusting.

What brake pads are you running?

[DOOK]

When aluminum corrodes, it corrodes with the same color as mag. Both corrode with a slightly whitish oxidation. I have seen quite literally thousands of wheels and I have NEVER, EVER seen an aluminum wheel rust with a reddish oxidation.

That is absolutely NOT the wheels rusting.

What brake pads are you running?

I'm in 100% agreement

[scottie]

When i look at the pictures, it looks like you can wipe away the "rust". I see finger marks on the picture below. I think its coming from the rotor/pad combo. I've yet to see wheels rust like that.

http://www.camppain.com/rims/driverfront3.jpg

[fantasya98]

When aluminum corrodes, it corrodes with the same color as mag. Both corrode with a slightly whitish oxidation. I have seen quite literally thousands of wheels and I have NEVER, EVER seen an aluminum wheel rust with a reddish oxidation.

That is absolutely NOT the wheels rusting.

What brake pads are you running?

i 2nd that.........

[sr20boostn20]

When aluminum corrodes, it corrodes with the same color as mag. Both corrode with a slightly whitish oxidation. I have seen quite literally thousands of wheels and I have NEVER, EVER seen an aluminum wheel rust with a reddish oxidation.

That is absolutely NOT the wheels rusting.

What brake pads are you running?


yea pretty much, and if it were the actual wheels rusting the rust would have to start underneath the paint on the metal not above it

[VigVoodoo]

That's not the wheels, if it where the rust would start from beneath the paint so you would first notice the paint bubbling up.

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

I agree also, I had this same problem when I had some Motegi wheels.
The brake dust "bonded" itself to the wheel and looked like that.

[Pstl_pete]

Sorry to say dude but that looks like rust from your brakes or rotors. There is no way that is from the wheels. Those wheels are clear coated and would never rust like that. Tirerack is right.

[veilside180sx]

You never answered the question about which pad you are using?

I would assume it's a semi metallic pad...which unfornunately is causing the rust to form. You need to clean your wheels at least once a week if you do not want the deposits on your wheels.

[Dousan_PG]

its the brake pads

[BlackZenkiS14]

that is definately some nasty brake pad problems. I have a set of Gewalts that i purchased from a friend that are all pitted like that. Get some nice Porterfield R4S pads, and clean the wheels real good and you'll be ok. Aluminum +oxygen does not equal iron oxide, which is rust.

[yudalicious]

+1 for brake dust. Looks just like mine. Try cleaning it more often, unfortunately there's no way around that unless you change pads.

[vvtisupra]

its the brake pads and its a bitch to get that shit off after it has set

[S14DB]

It's the same color as the edges of your rotors. Looks like a typical brake dust pattern too. Wash your rims when you was your car.

If you are getting pitting buy some better pads. Cheap pad dust is acidic and will eat paint and etch your wheels.

[MrChow]

Ditto on the pads.

I bet you haven't tried cleaning that. I bet you wash them they'll come right off. Get some brake cleaner and spray your rotor you'll see.

[camppain]

You never answered the question about which pad you are using?

I would assume it's a semi metallic pad...which unfornunately is causing the rust to form. You need to clean your wheels at least once a week if you do not want the deposits on your wheels.


I never answered because I just got a chance to reply. Sorry single parent in the Marine Corps, I don't have much time.

The brakes are what was on there "duracrap"

I know aluminum alloy has a white powder corrosion to it. But I figured the wheels wouldn't be 100% aluminum alloy. Ohh well, I'll shop around for better brake pads.

I'll take a look at Porterfield R4S, but how about EBC? IIRC they had ones that were low dust?

[ALEXTHESUS*PECT]

Just on a cursory glance I would agree with T/R, that looks like bad brake dust with iron in it.

I could be very wrong though.

i agree! sorry for you, you just need clean more and consider different barkes!:keke:

[Tops*]

its the brake pads and its a bitch to get that shit off after it has set

+gazillions

Take off your wheels and get to work. Do work, son!

[vw_nissan]

Check how much meat you have on your pads....If your brake pads are gone, and the metal grinding the disc, you will have metal deposits staying on your wheel.....I
know because I had this happened to me, I was driving around for months with the pad dragging on the disc and deposits built up on my wheel and body panels....

Took me roughly 5+ hours to get them off because I let them sit for too long. And it was inevitable that the wheel finished was damaged.

[Jung918]

Like everyone said, seems like it is coming from a different source. I would say it is coming from the rotors. Try this. Take the wheels off and completely clean them. Then apply a coat of wax on them. The next time you clean then, don't use that harsh wheel cleaner. Just use regular car wash soap and a soft cloth to wipe it down.

[A Spec Products]

When I read this thread title, I was like nahhhhh no way

Anyway

Like ^ said, definitely stay away from using harsh cleaners when it comes to wheels

One piece wheels are typically pretty resilient in terms of finish, versus multipiece wheels, which are often polished lips with clear coat over them

A lot of people will use harsh cleaners, which eat the clear coat, then you develop surface oxidation/discoloration, etc

But yeah, just clean your wheels more often

My coworker has WHITE 57 Maxes and daily drives, just has to take extra time when cleaning his wheels, and its all G!

[azndoc]

I never cleaned my 57 max in white.

They get dirty but not like your shit.

Just like everyone else is saying.

I'm jumping on the wagon and saying it also. It's your brake pads son.

Clean your wheels.

Also why you buying 57 max from Tire Rack when you could've just bought it from Logan.

That's just bad karma biting you in the ass.

lolz j/k

[The Riot Hero]

your pads are bad grinding off metal and rusts on your wheels. dont be dumb, aluminum doesnt rust lol. replace pads clean wheels, wd40 works badass for cleaning off brake dust and road grime

[MrChow]

I never answered because I just got a chance to reply. Sorry single parent in the Marine Corps, I don't have much time.

The brakes are what was on there "duracrap"

I know aluminum alloy has a white powder corrosion to it. But I figured the wheels wouldn't be 100% aluminum alloy. Ohh well, I'll shop around for better brake pads.

I'll take a look at Porterfield R4S, but how about EBC? IIRC they had ones that were low dust?
Get the Portfield. Me and my friend just finish doing some hard ass driving with my car and shit works. The dust on them aren't that bad.
EBC green are bad on brake dust... Basically in about 2 or 3 days of just DD about town the lip on my wheels were covered in brake dust. Porterfield well I haven't really noticed the dust that much. Basically I can see the colors of my wheel instant of just dust...

There's that. Pads do a lot. New rotors are always good too.

[crazyikimasho]

Its not actually "brake dust" in general but the composite of the pads hes running. Pads that dust heavily are actually a common characteristic of good pads, a common misconception is that good pads are quiet and dust-free. Thats not always the case.

But back on topic, its most likely that he has some metal on metal contact (i.e. worn pads) that is causing the metal/rust buildup.

[blu808]

Dude your complaint is completely legit in what you are seeing. But dude this is not the wheel rusting or even surface rust. This is indeed from the rotor. The pads you are using are griding iron dust onto the wheel from the rotor and that is rusting. In some cases if using a metallic pad it can cause the same effect.

Anyways. Aluminum rust is called oxidation and it appears like a white flaky powder.

[BlackZenkiS14]

Porterfield R4S for teh win

[water]

Its your wheels!!!! Sell em to me for cheap. ;^)

[S14DB]

He's using Duralast pads, I still blame them.

[steve shadows]

When aluminum corrodes, it corrodes with the same color as mag. Both corrode with a slightly whitish oxidation. I have seen quite literally thousands of wheels and I have NEVER, EVER seen an aluminum wheel rust with a reddish oxidation.

That is absolutely NOT the wheels rusting.

What brake pads are you running?

same here in agreement.

thats rust from the rotors

[camppain]

Cool thanks for the replies. I wanted second opinions from someone else besides a company.

Hey these rims are gonna go on the 92 later, so Logan can get my next wheel purchase as I need to go wider on my 95.

I know aluminum corrodes or to be technical oxidizes in a white powder. I work around magnesium titanium and aluminum on the helicopter. I just wasn't sure what the wheel was because the site doesn't say it's aluminum. Hence why I called b.s. when I first spoke with them. One wheel was getting it the worst. 2 had a surface dust of rust which I did wipe away like you can see in the picture. One wheel had nothing. That's what had me asking questions.

I'll check out the r4s pads, where is the best place to look for them?

[remi]

As far as pads go, try a set of Wagner Thermoquiets. Excellent brake response, no noise, and VERY LITTLE dust, if any. Check them out, seriously. I know people think "racing pads" are where it's at, but if you dont like the dust and dirty wheels after a 20 min. drive, you really should look into the Wagners.

[KA24DESOneThree]

I can't believe people care about dusting.

[camppain]

I don't really care about dusting but if there is a better pad that won't rust onto my rims, then I would like that.

I did however find out after finally driving my car that the right rear inner pad was definitely grinding down pretty bad into the rotor. So that is why my passenger rear tire was rusting so much more than the others. I took a look at it and the thing looks like it had so much friction the pad melted and has heat marks all over. The rotor is definitely done also.

Just need advice on some online links to find brake pads. SPL and ProjectNissan have Hawk Nismo and project Mu.

I found them here
http://www.frsport.com/Porterfield_R4S_AP460_Front_Brake_Pads_6_89_96_NIS SAN_300ZX_Turbo_p_7407.html

80 bucks for 300zx front and 60 for the 240sx rear. They only had the 96-98 but they are all the same (unless I have been out of it for so long that I forgot, correct me if I am wrong)

[glitched]

Check how much meat you have on your pads....If your brake pads are gone, and the metal grinding the disc, you will have metal deposits staying on your wheel.....I
know because I had this happened to me, I was driving around for months with the pad dragging on the disc and deposits built up on my wheel and body panels....

Took me roughly 5+ hours to get them off because I let them sit for too long. And it was inevitable that the wheel finished was damaged.

Same thing happened to me to.