A vehicle that’s leaking brake fluid presents a major issue you’ll want to take care of as soon as possible, no matter how minor the leak is. Failing to do so can lead to brake failure the next time you drive your car. However, if the fluid gets onto your rims, you may still run into some issues. In this post, we’ll go over what can happen if brake fluid from a leaky caliper gets on your rims and what kinds of damage you might be looking at.
What Break Fluid Does to Rims
Brake fluid is corrosive. While it won’t melt down materials the instant it touches them, it doesn’t take long for it to start eating away at the materials it comes in contact with. If you find it on your rims, you’ll want to act fast. Since brake fluid is quite aggressive, it will slowly eat away at the paint and, eventually, the metal of your rims. If left for long enough, it could even puncture through. Regardless of how long it sat on the vehicle, it’s very easy for brake fluid from a leak to ruin your car’s rims.
What To Do if Brake Fluid Is Leaking
If you notice a liquid dripping from one of your calipers, the first thing you’ll need to do is stop the leak. Due to the hazardous nature of this liquid, it’s best to have your vehicle inspected by a professional. Brake fluid leaks can lead to brake system failure, so you should not drive a vehicle that is leaking brake fluid. Once a professional seals the leak, make sure they wipe up any leftover residue on your rims or other parts of your vehicle. Then, you can ask them to top off your brake fluid levels if the leak was heavy.
How To Fix Your Rims
After a mechanic has cleaned the liquid, you’ll need to assess the damage it caused. As long as you’re quick about it, the damage shouldn’t be extensive. In most cases, using a standard wheel cleaner or polish should start to remove the oxidation that occurred on your rims. After letting the polish sit for a while, you can use a soft brush to scrub it all away.
If the fluid pitted the metal, forming small cavities on the surface, it might be too late to repair the damage. You can potentially remove shallow pits by sanding them out and repolishing them, but it’ll ruin the symmetry of your rim. In these cases, it is normal to have to buy entirely new rims.
Fortunately, you’re already in the right place to do that. Wheelership is an online wheel retailer with a massive catalog of top-quality replacement and OEM rims to choose from, making it easy for you to either find a match for your current set or buy four brand-new rims. The choice is up to you.