It may be normal for the rotors that they installed, but definitely not normal for the OEM rotors which are E-coated. Rotors with this feature will have a bright, matte silver finish. There are lots of aftermarket options that are cheaper than the OEM counterparts that work fine. Just look for any fully coated (fully coated as in not just the hat and edge) rotor and you should be fine. FWIW I have Raybestos rotors with their "Element3" coating with Powerstop Z23 pads installed up front and they're great. It takes massive amounts of braking before I notice any fade.
Rust on Rotors
I’m very disappointed with my new Mopar Front Brake Rotors that my dealer installed to replace the original brake rotors that were on my van since new. Within a week, the hub portion and edges of the ventilation fins had developed a bright orange layer of rust. The service manager says it is “normal” and there is nothing they can do. My original rotors never did this and that is why I had the dealer do the work, so I would get factory parts. Now I find that all rotors are not the same. Some have anti corrosion coatings which would prevent this unsightly issue.
im considering replacing the brake rotors myself with a better brand. Soooo disappointed! Any suggestions on a better aftermarket replacement rotor?
![Automotive tire Tire Automotive lighting Bumper Wood]()
im considering replacing the brake rotors myself with a better brand. Soooo disappointed! Any suggestions on a better aftermarket replacement rotor?
1 - 4 of 27 Posts
I suspect there may be some confusion here, so I will try to clear this up. Your plain, cheap rotors come with a temporary oily coating on them to prevent them from rusting on the shelf. These must be thoroughly cleaned before installing them. These will rust very badly within a few years in the Salt Belt. I'm quite certain the rotors on the OP's van are of this variety.That is normal. My OEM factory rotors look the same. BTW all rotors in boxes come with anti-corrosion rosin coatings that have to be cleaned off the brake pad contact surfaces before installation. The rest of the rosin coating will burn off with heat. You could buy a set of rotors and have the non-contact brake pad areas powder coated it if bothers you.
Clean new brake rotors
The E-coated variety of rotors that I mentioned earlier are different. They come with a permanent coating for long term corrosion resistance, and are usually ready to install out of the box. The friction material of the pads quickly removes the coating from the contact patch within the first few brake cycles. This leaves the rest of the rotor completely protected from the elements.
Your OEM rotors may look similar, but they also have thousands of miles on them. The OP's rotors should not look like that after one week if the dealership did in fact install OEM rotors. Getting a brake job done at a dealership does not guarantee that OEM parts are used. The part numbers that were used should be printed on the repair order. The part number for the OEM front rotors is 4779712AB (68223507AB for rear). As you can clearly see in the pictures, these are E-coated rotors. Albeit, the wheel mounting face is not coated. The lower line Chrysler rotors are sold under the Magneti Marelli brand. Their part number is 2AMV9712AA for the front (not available for the rear). As you can see in the pictures, these are your plain old steel rotors.
The Raybestos rotors I installed on our van still have very little rust on them despite being on since last fall. The outer part has very little surface rust, but the middle part around the hub is still bright silver just like when they came out of the box.
I'm actually also surprised to learn that your dealership installed the cheaper rotors. I inquired about them at our local Chrysler dealership and was told they're currently backordered.Hello to all who posted. First, I am so appreciative of this forum. I looked at my invoice for the brake job from the dealership. The part number used for my rotors is in fact 2AMV9712-AA. The part number used for my pads is 2AM3163-AA. I am really surprised that the dealer would do this to me. I work with the service manager directly on my van. He knows how picky I am about it. I won’t even let them wash it! I specifically told him I wanted factory parts! I also told him we drive mountain roads when we travel to NE Georgia. I’m sure the AM in the part number refers to “aftermarket” …. (Magnetti Marelli)
It really upsets me that you can ask for oem and not be told there is a lesser version that they will use on your vehicle. They know I am not cheap and will gladly pay for the better ones. I showed the rust to the shop foreman, the service drive manager and the service manager and all told me it was normal and that you can’t get the same rotors that the factory puts on new vehicles. I suspected that was a line of Crap! Thanks to FreddieF73 for enlightening me to the difference between part numbers.
I will be having a discussion with the service manager and want the rotors and pads replaced with the better parts. I spent the weekend preparing for a similar discussion from the angle that the rust on the hats and cooling fins will reduce the rotors ability to dissipate heat. This is very important to me when we are coming down some of the steep mountain roads in Georgia. I was also looking at aftermarket “Power Stop” rotors and pads which may be an alternative if the dealership refuses to take these cheap parts back! I will update with the response/results of my discussion with the service manager.
Thank you all for the great information and support. I really appreciate it. 😃
FWIW at the GM dealership I work at, we never install OEM rotors unless they're specifically requested or the application requires it - which is seldom the case. The cold hard truth is that they're too expensive - in most cases north of $150 each - and most people won't splurge for them.
I agree with you here, and I think it's a reasonable expectation. The good news is that OEM parts are almost always used at a dealership unless a part is on intergalactic backorder or discontinued/obsolete. If a part is being replaced under manufacturer warranty, an OEM part must be used - no exceptions. This is exactly why some people are waiting months to get their vehicles repaired at a dealership - the OEM parts are backordered. Aftermarket parts may be available, but the manufacturer won't pick up the tab for the labor unless OEM parts are used.On many occasions while at my dealer for software updates or oil changes I have seen Auto Zone, Napa Auto, and & O'Reilly's Auto Parts drivers pulling into the service area and dropping off ordered parts.
I think this is tacky to do this as I would only want OEM parts on my vehicle being replaced at a dealer. If I wanted aftermarket I would go to a local jake of all trades shop.
Most manufacturers have parts loyalty policies in place that dealerships must adhere to to discourage the use of aftermarket parts. A certain percentage of all parts sales on repair orders must be the result of OEM part numbers sold. The exact percentage varies by manufacturer, but for GM it's 80%. They only look at the repair orders for VINs of the corresponding manufacturer. For example, at the dealership I work at, GM wants GM part numbers billed to repair orders with a GM VIN on it. GM doesn't care if you're using GM parts on a RO for a Toyota.
The catch with brakes in particular is that many manufacturers offer at least two different lines of brake parts for most applications. In the case of Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM you have OEM and the lower line Magneti Marelli parts. Ford has at least two lines of brake parts that I'm aware of. GM can have as many as four options for brake pads and rotors - OEM, AC Delco Gold/Professional, AC Delco Silver, and AC Delco Advantage. Technically, all non-OEM AC Delco parts are aftermarket, but because they have GM part numbers (separate from the AC Delco part numbers) we don't get dinged if we bill them to an RO with a GM VIN. The same is probably true at a CDJR dealership for Magneti Marelli brake parts because they are a CDJR-exclusive brand.
1 - 4 of 27 Posts
2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Minivan Forums
We’re a forum community dedicated to Chrysler Pacifica owners & enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about upgrades, towing capacity, reliability, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
Ducksface
144 Replies
M0Par
117 Replies
CANADAHYBRIDGUY
110 Replies
