Cleaning cross-drilled rotors?

M3Now! · 11-24-2012, 03:19 PM

I couldn't find this in a search, and it's an odd question: the cross-drilled openings in my rotors are full of brake pad dust - some are completely closed, others are half-full. Is this normal?

I understand the purpose of cross-drilling, and this doesn't seem optimal? I cleaned them out, just wondering if a) this is normal and b) requires maintenance?

Thanks!

C|3R1C · 11-24-2012, 04:23 PM

Happened on my OEM ones constantly. I believe it's normal. I just used a hose with pressure to clean them out each time.

dex37 · 11-24-2012, 06:25 PM

You can also use screwdriver or something similar.

Car54 · 11-24-2012, 09:48 PM

Would compressed air do the trick?

Richbot · 11-24-2012, 09:56 PM

4mm allen t-handle

Amri215 · 11-24-2012, 10:57 PM

What bad advice being given here..do not "gauge" at the holes with any tools. Try washing and spraying with a hose

C|3R1C · 11-24-2012, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amri215

What bad advice being given here..do not "gauge" at the holes with any tools. Try washing and spraying with a hose

What he said.

Just a hose or compressed air works. The dust doesn't fuse itself in. It's relatively easy to remove and comes off with gentle force. If you wash your car yourself, just aim the water on each hole directly and the dust breaks free and your done. Proceed with the rest of the car.

M3Now! · 11-25-2012, 01:55 AM

Bueno - partially cleaned them out with a bamboo skewer (bbq), will wash them out fully while washing tomorrow.

Cheers

Richbot · 11-25-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amri215

What bad advice being given here..do not "gauge" at the holes with any tools. Try washing and spraying with a hose

.

i think you mean "gouge" but you aren't going to hurt a steel rotor that sees 1200+ degrees and thousands of lb-ft of torque sticking something in the holes to clear them. You know the inboard face of the rotor has holes in it too, right? How well does spraying water clean the inboard side? What happens when a clod of wet brake dust gets stuck in a vane? It turns to cement as soon as it dries.

Amri215 · 11-25-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

.

i think you mean "gouge" but you aren't going to hurt a steel rotor that sees 1200+ degrees and thousands of lb-ft of torque sticking something in the holes to clear them. You know the inboard face of the rotor has holes in it too, right? How well does spraying water clean the inboard side? What happens when a clod of wet brake dust gets stuck in a vane? It turns to cement as soon as it dries.

Yes I meant gouge..and yes you can damage the OEM galvanized coating on the surface of the rotor. It has nothing to do with the rotor's thermal capacity

If you have plugged up brake rotor holes you are simply not washing the car enough..as others have said simple hose will take care of it..nothing turns to cement.

On the inboard side it wouldnt matter as you cant see it..we are talking only aesthetics here.

Richbot · 11-25-2012, 11:02 PM

Galvanized!?

No. The floating rotor is bare iron. Look at photos of oxidation inside the holes and inner radius on used rotors for proof, or just know what a zinc coated part looks like and realize they aren't coated...

Porschefile · 11-26-2012, 09:37 AM

I used q tips with Brakleen on my Cayman, I don't think it does anything other than improves looks though. They would get full of stuff again in like 1 track day.

Richbot · 11-26-2012, 05:28 PM

It's probably about 30g of unsprung rotating weight! -0.5 seconds! +50hp!

M3Now! · 11-27-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

It's probably about 30g of unsprung rotating weight! -0.5 seconds! +50hp!

LOL

11-24-2012, 03:19 PM	#1
M3Now! Second Lieutenant Drives: 09 E93, Jerez Black Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 293 iTrader: (0)	Cleaning cross-drilled rotors? I couldn't find this in a search, and it's an odd question: the cross-drilled openings in my rotors are full of brake pad dust - some are completely closed, others are half-full. Is this normal? I understand the purpose of cross-drilling, and this doesn't seem optimal? I cleaned them out, just wondering if a) this is normal and b) requires maintenance? Thanks! __________________ 2009 E93 M3 - it's, um, pretty fun
	Tweet

11-24-2012, 04:23 PM	#2
C\|3R1C So Kewl Guy Drives: 2010 E93 M3 DCT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 407 iTrader: (0)	Happened on my OEM ones constantly. I believe it's normal. I just used a hose with pressure to clean them out each time. __________________ 2010 E93 M3 / AA Catless X-Pipe / AA Catback / Vorsteiner Vented Hood and Bootlid E93 Trunk / ADV1 7.1 Wheels GB / LS3 LED Lights / AFE Stage 2 / Velos Designwerks Tune In progress: AA Pulley

11-24-2012, 09:48 PM	#4
Car54 Captain Drives: 1999 Z3 Mcoupe \| 2008 M3/4 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 825 iTrader: (1)	Would compressed air do the trick? __________________ Craig Brickner BMW CCA/PBOC/Chin Motorsports DE Instructor Click to Join: BMWCCA # 366493

11-24-2012, 09:56 PM	#5
Richbot Major Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL Posts: 1,487 iTrader: (1)	4mm allen t-handle __________________

11-25-2012, 01:55 AM	#8
M3Now! Second Lieutenant Drives: 09 E93, Jerez Black Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 293 iTrader: (0)	Bueno - partially cleaned them out with a bamboo skewer (bbq), will wash them out fully while washing tomorrow. Cheers __________________ 2009 E93 M3 - it's, um, pretty fun

11-24-2012, 06:25 PM	#3
dex37 Private First Class Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 149 iTrader: (0)	You can also use screwdriver or something similar.

11-24-2012, 10:57 PM	#6
Amri215 Banned Drives: 2012 Alpine White M3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 161 iTrader: (0)	What bad advice being given here..do not "gauge" at the holes with any tools. Try washing and spraying with a hose

11-25-2012, 11:02 PM	#11
Richbot Major Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL Posts: 1,487 iTrader: (1)	Galvanized!? No. The floating rotor is bare iron. Look at photos of oxidation inside the holes and inner radius on used rotors for proof, or just know what a zinc coated part looks like and realize they aren't coated... __________________ Last edited by Richbot; 11-25-2012 at 11:56 PM.

11-26-2012, 09:37 AM	#12
Porschefile Major Drives: E92 M3 DCT, E46, Formula Mazda Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,049 iTrader: (5)	I used q tips with Brakleen on my Cayman, I don't think it does anything other than improves looks though. They would get full of stuff again in like 1 track day. __________________ #18 Formula Mazda, Southeast Division SCCA

11-26-2012, 05:28 PM	#13
Richbot Major Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL Posts: 1,487 iTrader: (1)	It's probably about 30g of unsprung rotating weight! -0.5 seconds! +50hp! __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search