Fluid on Front Brake Rotors

[NaMeChAnGeCoW]

Hello everyone,

I recently bought my first truck, a 2002 2.2 I4 chevy s10 (base model). In order for it to pass its safety certification I was told it needed new front rotors and pads. I had the work done just under a month ago at the local Canadian Tire in Alliston, as I was unable to bring the truck back to a local mechanic in Toronto.

Yesterday, when I returned home I noticed red fluid on both front brake rotors around my calipers (in exactly the same spot on each wheel). I had a look inside my engine, and from underneath the truck with a flashlight, but I wasn't able to find any fluid on the calipers or tires, or the source of the leak.

From the research I have done online, I believe the seals around my caliper pistons have broken and are passing small amounts of fluid every time I break. Assuming this is correct, is it possible that the mechanics at Canadian Tire broke the seals? as both calipers are now leaking after the brake job.

Unfortunately I know next to nothing about cars, so I was wondering if someone might be able to shed some light on my problem. I have included the work done and the parts used from my Canadian Tire Invoice.

Reline Disc Brakes - Front:

GX154 Monroe Pad
Brake Caliper Slide Guide
Pin Service Front
Grinding Disc

Wheel Bearing - Spindle Type
Repack - Both Inner & Outer and Replace Rotors

Napa Brake RTR#NTS4886757 (link)
Oil Seal #19984 (link)

Thanks

[zoAr]

Here are the pictures I just took:

Rotor & Caliper (Right)
Rotor & Caliper (Left)
Right Wheel Assembly

The "fluid" is completely dry to the touch.

(Sorry for the "name change", lol, I no longer go by the name of my old account)

[Pete_Coach]

Brake fluid is not red (or it better not be). If it is red, you may have a serious problem in that someone put the wrong thing into your brake reservoir.
Hydraulic fluid from your transmission is. Sometimes shock fluid is red (not always). Is someone pulling one on you?

[spf1971]

That's not brake fluid. Brake fluid will either be clear or purple (dot 5). What you can see is a grease that gets put on the back of pads to keep them from making noise when you brake. Some cars use a shim , some use the grease and some don't use anything.

[tkyoshi]

Hmmmm I dunno, doesn't look too great to me. I would have it checked out again.

How is the breaking performance right now? If it feels weak I would have it checked out ASAP as it is not safe.

[kmltick]

like spf1971 says, it's not fluid, it's just antiseize / anti squeel compound that they put on the back of the pads and it's generally standard policy to do that on most cars.

From the pictures it looks like you have 1 or 2 piston (hard to tell looking through the spokes of your wheels), single sided calipers. The pistons push to the outside of the car. So if there's any hydraulic fluid leaking from the pistons (from bad seals), they would be on the back of the inside pads, not the outside ones as pictured.

[tkyoshi]

Oops didn't read the whole thread carefully. I agree with everyone else, it's probably anti squeel.

If it really was fluid, it wouldn't be dry to the touch.

[Pete_Coach]

Oops didn't read the whole thread carefully. I agree with everyone else, it's probably anti squeel.

If it really was fluid, it wouldn't be dry to the touch.

Neither would be the grease. All of the backing plate or anti squeal lubricant I have ever seen is either blue or opaque.
Hydraulic fluid is red and can become sticky when it dries. This stuff looks like it is on the rotor so, if noting else, should have come off when you applied your brakes the last time. This has been deposited since your last brake application.
Also I have seen wheel bearing grease that is red.

[kbjy11]

Neither would be the grease. All of the backing plate or anti squeal lubricant I have ever seen is either blue or opaque.
Hydraulic fluid is red and can become sticky when it dries. This stuff looks like it is on the rotor so, if noting else, should have come off when you applied your brakes the last time. This has been deposited since your last brake application.
Also I have seen wheel bearing grease that is red.

Have you considered the fact that candian tire might have used an anti-squeal that you have never seen before?

The part that is red, is obviously the brake pad, not the rotor.

You should not be giving car advice to people....

[Pete_Coach]

Have you considered the fact that candian tire might have used an anti-squeal that you have never seen before?

The part that is red, is obviously the brake pad, not the rotor.

You should not be giving car advice to people....

Yes, there is a distinct possibility that there are numerous (if not millions) of things that I have not seen every day. Please forgive me.

The brake pad? As seen through the wheel opening? Really? Do you think it may have slipped out of the caliper, stuck to the rotor and therefore is visible through that little hole in the wheel? If so, then there is a serious problem with the braking system, it has come apart.

Well over 40 years of fixing things from auto's to aircraft have allowed me to sometimes provide advice. You?

[TenzoR]

The brake pad? As seen through the wheel opening? Really? Do you think it may have slipped out of the caliper, stuck to the rotor and therefore is visible through that little hole in the wheel? If so, then there is a serious problem with the braking system, it has come apart.

Some caliper do not encase the entire brake pad as illustrated in this picture. Granted the better caliper encase the pads within the caliper making it not visible. From the picture the OP provided his caliper is the ones that have the opening, hence I believe the red stuff is on the back of the pads (e.g. where anti-squealing grease is put on).

[spf1971]

Being a mechanic I can tell you that it's not Hydraulic fluid and it's not on the rotor. What it is, is brake lubricant paste to keep your pads from making noise when they are applied.
http://proseal.supergluecorp.com/81500.html

[Pete_Coach]

Being a mechanic I can tell you that it's not Hydraulic fluid and it's not on the rotor. What it is, is brake lubricant paste to keep your pads from making noise when they are applied.
http://proseal.supergluecorp.com/81500.html

Thanks for the info. Like I said, I had never seen red but that did not mean it does not exist. (although the product your linked is tan in colour). Done.

[spf1971]

Just about every manufacturer will have their own colour. Red, Blue or other colour doesn't make any difference.

[kbjy11]

Yes, there is a distinct possibility that there are numerous (if not millions) of things that I have not seen every day. Please forgive me.

The brake pad? As seen through the wheel opening? Really? Do you think it may have slipped out of the caliper, stuck to the rotor and therefore is visible through that little hole in the wheel? If so, then there is a serious problem with the braking system, it has come apart.

Well over 40 years of fixing things from auto's to aircraft have allowed me to sometimes provide advice. You?

look at the pictures for crying out loud

the part that is red is right in the middle of the caliper. Which is where the brake pad is. Isn't it safe to deduct that it is a red coloured anti-squeal gel? Atleast that's my guess, along with the majority of other posters in this thread. The fact that it is sticky and dry only confirms this.

The fact that you dismissed the possibility of it being anti-squeal because of the colour shows you have poor logical thinking.

And well, in this case you were wrong you provided terrible advice... you are free to so whatever you want, but i was just making a suggestion for the sake of others.