2004 Regal Brakes and ABS Light

[onebigcanuck]

My wife car has 20,000 km's on it & it often sits for 5 or 6 weeks at a time without moving. A year ago the brakes chattered after the non use and the dealer sanded the rotors. This seemed to fix the problem. It of course returns after each period of non use and the Dealed advised me that she should drive the car more (I still can't believe that comment).

Now the ABS light and the traction off light is on, which has happened in the last week after it sat for 2 months and guess what the 3 year warrenty was up 1 month ago.

Sooooooooo, is this a common problem (The brakes), should the rotors have been replaced last year, what is the forums best guess as to the cause ??

All help is appreciated

[richtazz]

If the car sets outside and is exposed to rain, the pads and rotors are rusting. The small metallic particles of the pad material to get into the rotor castings, and then turn to rust, which expands and destroys the rotor surface. This causes an uneven braking surface and a brake pusation, which the anti-lock computer is detecting as wheel slip tripping those lights. A switch to ceramic pads would help in this situation, as it will eliminate the metallic dust that's getting into the rotor castings.

[onebigcanuck]

It turns out the right rear hub had to be replaced, 20,000km, can't believe it.