View Full Version : Disk Brake cleaning question.
brungeman
05-22-2006, 10:52 AM
What do you use for cleaning your disks and pads?
I have a set of Avid Juicy 5's that after lubing the chain the other day I noticed some spatter on the caliper. I figured (and was right) that if the caliper had Tri-flow splatter on it then the disk probably did. I usually use a little alcohol or BrakeKleen. The last time I needed to clean the rotors and pads on another of my bikes I didn't feel the alcohol worked well enough, and the BrakeKleen made the brakes sing like a wounded elephant!
Any suggestions of what you folks use?
SkaredShtles
05-22-2006, 10:57 AM
I use the dishwasher for my pads and EVOO for my rotors. :D
narlus
05-22-2006, 10:57 AM
for the rotor, use that stuff you can get in an automotive store (spray can). for pads, i dunno...if they are bad, toss 'em. i've heard of people boiling and cooking them, but i've never done it.
brungeman
05-22-2006, 11:00 AM
for the rotor, use that stuff you can get in an automotive store (spray can). for pads, i dunno...if they are bad, toss 'em. i've heard of people boiling and cooking them, but i've never done it.
the can stuff is BrakeKleen. it evaporates about as quickly as it hits the rotors! its pretty cool stuff. I always have some on hand for doing brakes on the cars, but I was concerned that the pad material would be different than the "Auto" brake pads.
the pads are only 7 or 8 rides old. they have a lot of life left in them if I can get them clean!
Konabumm
05-22-2006, 11:01 AM
i like rubbing alcohol....
when my pads sing, I will sandpaper the pads and cook the rotors on the grill. I know it sounds funny but I read in MTB Action that cooking your rotors will burn off any oil thats on there.
It always works for me
Good Luck
Skookum
05-22-2006, 11:07 AM
Isopropyl on rotors once in a blue moon.
Luckily for us most of the year we can find some good gravity to burn em clean on the trail.
If you are using the spray stuff, Bman, spray any disc brake cleaner on a rag to clean the rotors. I usually pull the pads, if I care enough, and spray them really well, let them dry and spray them again.
white lighting has a cleaner. i only use it for the rotors and getting the sticky resido off the frame from stickers.
anything else i use Simple Green foaming cleaner
BurlyShirley
05-22-2006, 11:59 AM
WD40 is good for brakes.
Andyman_1970
05-22-2006, 12:03 PM
When bleeding my rear XTR calipers I got some of the mineral oil on my pads. I cleaned the rotor off with denatured alcohol, isopropyl will leave a film on your rotor. I "baked" the pads in the oven @ 250°F for 20 mintues...........they work good as new now.
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