Hello everyone! I just got off the mountains with my buddies and my brake rotors were very very hot. We had to cross a big puddle of water and the right two brakes were smoking (steam). Did i do any damage to my brakes? I went slow across the puddle... I've heard that it can crack the rotors or even warp them, is that true?

 

I think you should be ok.

 

This is a lease car and if i did damage the rotors, do you think my dealer will cover that?

 

I have no idea. It depends on what is in the lease contract. Read your contract carefully and you may find your answer.

 

Ok. Thanks!

 

First off, the brakes on any car should not get damaged by driving thru any kind of condition on the public roads.


It should not matter what the lease contract says. If your brake rotors fail under normal driving then MB warranty should cover it.


Did you damage the rotors or is it just that you saw water steaming off of the rotors?

 

I was riding on the brakes down the mountain and went through freshly melted snow water, it formed a pretty big puddle. Steam came up the right side of the car, so i guess it was the brakes? or was it something else... The car drove home perfectly, didn't feel a difference.

 

Steam comes with heat usually higher than 212 F. On mountains at higher elevation at lower temperature.


I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

Ok, Thank You! Just worried that the dealer would try to charge me. Service B is coming up, i'll see what they say.

 

No defferance then there is not a problem . If they warp you would feel it as you use brakes .

 

My guess is the steam you saw come out from under the car was due to the water hitting the Catalytic converter(s). This happens all of the time as the exterior temperature of the CC can easily exceed 800 degrees. It immediately will produce the steam you saw. I don't think it had anything to do with your brakes at all.

 

In the USA pads and rotors are consumable items and unless there is a defect/recall they are not covered by warranty or pre-paid service.

 

In a past C, I had rotors and pads replaced for a problem under warranty. However, in the case of wear or 'abuse', of course warranty would not cover it.

 

There are instances of defective parts being replaced (such as the TSB replacing squealing pads in my 507).

Majority of owners who wear out (or abuse) a set of pads and rotors will be responsibility to pay for replacement.

 

More likely than not, the steam was from the engine under-area and/or hot exhaust components (any of them) getting splashed with water.

More likely than not, if your rotors crack - lease or no lease, they're a wear item and not covered by a typical warranty. More likely than not, your rotors will not crack.