Chazz

Are you supposed to scrub that stuff off before installing them? This will be my first DIY brake job. I've never seen the coating before. Would look like crap if they were installed with the coating still on it. Suggestions on getting it off?

Thanks!

Viper98912

No, you leave it on there. It's an anti-rust coating so the rotor looks better over time (rain, humidity, etc). Once the brake pad squeezes on the rotor for a few miles, the area of the brake pad sweep will take off that coating in the sweep area. Everything else will stay coated.

This is only if the coating is non-oily or greasy. Rotors sometimes come coated in oil for rust prevention while they sit in the warehouse . You must wipe off all oil as much as possible before installing.

91RS

If they are painted, then you leave them alone. But if they are bare metal, then you need to use brake clean to clean off the oil/grease coating.

Velociabstract

Mine came with instructions. It said to wash with soap and water to remove the rust inhibiter. The reason being that the brake pads wont bed properly with the inhibitor on the rotors.

Les

mikekuriger

you have to scrub it off. I use steel wool and simple green. after that, clean them with brake cleaner. If you leave it on, it' will coat your brake pads and they won't seat properly. It will also smell bad.