New rotors have rusted up on car. Should I resurface?

[MustangLX-5.0]

So I did my brake job well over a year ago. The rotors have not been used, but they have accumulated some rust because I haven't been able to drive it just yet. Should I take them in to a shop to have them resurfaced, or do you think they will be fine if I just run some 100 grit sandpaper over them? Its not real heavy rust, but enough to cause an uneven wheel spin.

 

[Sicarius428]

Try driving them first I would say... As long as it's just surface rust your brakes will make them shiney fairly soon. Sanding them will probably cause an uneven surface...
Kevin

 

[HISSIN50]

I would try to clean up surface rust beforehand so you can properly burnish and bed-in the brake components (since they are brand new).

 

[rd]

I would just drive them. Rotors rust every night. I can hear my Bullitt rotors squeaking on the first stop of the day sometimes.

 

[2000xp8]

It's happened to me, just drive on them and they should be fine.
RD is right, if the car is outside they'll rust in just a few days.

 

[68stang351]

It's happened to me, just drive on them and they should be fine.
RD is right, if the car is outside they'll rust in just a few days.

Mine have gotten like that on my 04 sometimes during the day while I'm at work.

 

[S&B]

Just drive it, unless its been 10 years im sure you'll be fine, if not wost case you have to buy new pads.

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

I am talking about a year and a halfs worth of rust. Its wet and humid down here at least half the year so this was why I asked. Thanks for all the advice, I believe I will take HISSIN's advice and scuff them up a little before driving. It seems like getting the rough spots off first will allow the pads to bed in the surface and even it out better.

 

[SpartaPerformance]

scuffing is not good, you will ruin the surface. I'ld drive the rust off, if the rust is to the point where the surface is pitted then resurfacing wont help either, just remember to be as gentile as possible for the first 150 miles of stop and go driving.

 

[beyondspexj]

i was thinking the same thing. if you scuff it, you will have an uneven surface.

 

[njoliver]

I would recommend popping them off and spend a few bucks to resurface them if they are pretty bad, if they are real bad they will eat up the pads. I have resurfaced extremely rusty rotors before with out any problems. There could be a chance you might mess the rotor up or pads if they are extremely rusty. If they are not that bad might be able to lightly scuff them off, after a rotor is turned you scuff it up anyways to get rid of the directional surface so the pads do not walk and sqeak.