Avoid rust on the brakes: Your guide to passing the TÜV with your Tesla

Tesla and other electric cars rely primarily on recuperation to recover energy and rarely use the mechanical brakes. This often leads to rust forming on the brake discs, which can impair braking performance and, in the worst case, jeopardize the vehicle's MOT. In this guide, you'll learn how to regularly clear the brakes and prevent rust formation in the long term.

• Rare use of the mechanical brakes: Due to the strong recuperation, the brakes are rarely used in everyday life.
• Environmental influences: Humidity, rain and especially road salt in winter promote corrosion.
• Longer periods of downtime: If your Tesla is not driven for a long time, rust will form faster

• Targeted braking exercises:

  • Since recuperation cannot be reduced, you have to free up the brakes through targeted exercises. This means you should regularly use the mechanical brakes to remove rust from the brake discs.
  • To do this, drive at a speed of about 70-100 km/h and brake hard without activating the ABS. Repeat this process several times.
  • Make sure you let the brakes cool down between exercises to avoid overheating.

• Use neutral mode (N):

  • Before braking, you can activate neutral mode to switch off recuperation and use only the mechanical brakes. Here's how:
    • Push the drive lever up slightly to switch to neutral mode (N).
    • Then brake deliberately.
    • After braking, switch back to driving mode (D) to continue driving normally.
  • Only use this mode on safe, flat surfaces.

• motorway journey:

  • If you drive on the highway regularly, you can brake hard from time to time (but safely and without endangering others) to keep the brakes clean.

• Regular free braking:

  • It is best to carry out the braking exercises described above regularly right from the start. Even if you often drive with recuperation, this regular use of the brakes ensures that no rust sets in. Plan to do these exercises at least once a month.

• Washing after winter driving:

  • If you drive in bad weather or during the winter, you should wash your vehicle regularly to remove traces of salt and moisture that can encourage rust.

• Regular inspection:

  • Have your brakes checked and cleaned during Tesla inspections. This will ensure that no stubborn rust spots form and that the brakes remain in good condition.

• If rust spots or grooves remain on the brake discs despite free braking.
• If you notice that the braking effect deteriorates significantly.
• If a TÜV inspector complains about the brakes.

With these tips you can regularly clean your brakes and prevent rust formation:

• Use the mechanical brakes regularly and plan targeted braking exercises.
• Clean the car after driving in adverse weather conditions.
• Use neutral mode (N) to deactivate recuperation and use only the mechanical brakes.

This simple but regular maintenance will keep your brakes in top condition and the braking performance will remain optimal – this also ensures that your Tesla will pass the MOT without any problems!

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