[Russ.]

Looking for insights on what happened here.

Was driving the car around town on Tuesday, at the end of the day I washed the car and parked it in the garage for the week. While washing the car I did use Chemical Guys Diable wheel cleaner; been using this stuff for years.

On Saturday I went to take the car out and it wouldn't move. As soon as I release the clutch, the rear brakes made their typical pop but the fronts were stuck. Applying a little gas caused the car to do a burnout and eventually ended up dragging the front.

When I jacked up the car and finally got the pads to separate from the rotors this is what I saw.

I'm really confused how this happens since the fronts aren't engaged when parked. The pad material that is on the rotor is really stuck on there. Knocking and sanding the material off took the better part of an afternoon.

Any insights? New rotors and pads are being ordered.

[Dabjbr]

That is wild! I guess it’s just the combination of oxidation, time, and possibly the cleaning formula intensified the situation.

I will also add…
The e brake only applies clamping force on the rear drums. However, all 4 rotor pads still maintain some contact. They’re never really off the rotor but more like skimming along.

Ps, seeing the lip on your front rotors, you’re likely past the minimum thickness. In other words, they needed replacing so don’t fret. Really no money lost. Just time.

[arpad_m]

You should always drive the car after a wash, otherwise the pads will stick to the rotors, to a varying degree. I have never seen it this bad, but the root cause is you put the car away with wet/rusty rotors and pads.

[Chutzpah]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

You should always drive the car after a wash, otherwise the pads will stick to the rotors, to a varying degree. I have never seen it this bad, but the root cause is you put the car away with wet/rusty rotors and pads.

Agreed… I’ll add that your wheel cleaner may be slowly eating away at the pad material…especially if it’s not 100% washed off before you park it. As I’m sure you know, pads are fused together with varying metals / minerals. The brake cleaner may be safe for use on some of those materials, but not others, weakening the overall structure. Just a guess though.

[Russ.]

Thanks everyone.

I typically wash my car in my garage and do blow off the brakes but it is generally superficial and just gets the outer face of the rotor and caliper.

I knew my pads were getting low but was hoping to complete a Labor Day track day and possibly one more this season on them before the winter maintenance season begins.

You can imagine how disappointed I was to see this kind of failure late in the season.

[Silent_H_]

I had a similar thing happen! I washed mine and the rears stuck like they sometimes do, but it took a lot of extra force to get them to break loose. When they did, the pads on the RR (where the parking brake is) shattered and some large chunks fell out.

Dealer replaced all rear pads under warranty but yeah from then on I drive around the block a couple times after washing!

[Roddrz]

During my engine break-in (10 to 60 mph thru several low gears, braking, repeat 10 to 60 mph, for 30 minutes) my stock GM Front brake pads wore down to 10% pad after 30 minutes of use. The Dealer is replacing under warranty, both front brake calliper assemblies, pads and machined the rotors.

No explanation from Service. I'm assuming bad brake pistons locked up and would not fully release.

I'll be replacing the brake pads with DFC 5000 Ceramics because the Power Stops Z26 are not available for 2022 Camaro Stock brakes. The ceramics will meet my daily driving requirements.

https://www.dynamicfriction.com

[fj5gtx]

Originally Posted by Roddrz

....I'll be replacing the brake pads with DFC 5000 Ceramics because the Power Stops Z26 are not available for 2022 Camaro Stock brakes. The ceramics will meet my daily driving requirements.....

Good to know! I was planning on swapping to the Z26 pads once my 22 shows up at the dealer. I was thinking of ordering them in advance. Is the change in 22 because they are avoiding copper in the pads and had to make the pads larger to compensate?

[WhiteMale]

Ive never seen them that bad but I've been close with the Z26, had those once or twice seize up pretty hard and needed some force to break free. The OE Brembo pads were really bad as I typically wash in the driveway then pull in and dry it off. Using a leaf blower on the wheels and calipers can help a little. Like I say I run the Z26 and those pads are pretty much the same as the Brembo is seizing up when parked and wet.

[cdb95z28]

I guess nobody reads the owners manual. It mentions this scenario. Semi-metallic pads + moisture.

Originally Posted by fj5gtx

Good to know! I was planning on swapping to the Z26 pads once my 22 shows up at the dealer. I was thinking of ordering them in advance. Is the change in 22 because they are avoiding copper in the pads and had to make the pads larger to compensate?

The copper free brakes are only mandatory in CA and WA, but are still available to order in the other states. What model 2022 are you getting? Unless it was specifically ordered with the copper free brakes, your pad selection will be the same as previous years.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

You should always drive the car after a wash, otherwise the pads will stick to the rotors, to a varying degree. I have never seen it this bad, but the root cause is you put the car away with wet/rusty rotors and pads.

Agreed. I suspect what happened here is the wheel cleaner contained a strong oxidant and it ended up between the steel rotor and semi-metallic brake pad. This accelerated the corrosion reaction (which is oxidation).

Originally Posted by Silent_H_

but yeah from then on I drive around the block a couple times after washing!

This is all it takes. A little spinning and a little heat.