[ldw222]

My old 125R let loose with some fork oil and got on the brake pads (one was metal and the other one fiber). Can these be cleaned and saved? They're pretty much brand new! Thanks...

 

[jonKranked]

take a file / sandpaper to them (edit - to remove the contaminated surface). won't make them any less functional than they currently are, so it couldn't hurt.

 

[Jm_]

Um, a file and sandpaper will not remove the oil. Oil soaks in, it's in more than just the "surface layer". Acetone is the only right way to do it. I forget exactly why, but rubbing alcohol doesn't quite break down the oil nearly as well, but every time I've used acetone the results have been good. You can't leave it in more than a few hours though because it may eat away at the pad backing and start to dissolve the pad material, but usually it's not a problem if you just give it a few hours.

Be sure to put the rotor in the acetone too, because it has oil on it as well.

 

[jonKranked]

Um, a file and sandpaper will not remove the oil. Oil soaks in, it's in more than just the "surface layer". Acetone is the only right way to do it. I forget exactly why, but rubbing alcohol doesn't quite break down the oil nearly as well, but every time I've used acetone the results have been good. You can't leave it in more than a few hours though because it may eat away at the pad backing and start to dissolve the pad material, but usually it's not a problem if you just give it a few hours.

Be sure to put the rotor in the acetone too, because it has oil on it as well.

oh that's right. derp. kinda out of it today. completed spaced out and was thinking of glazed pads.

 

[ldw222]

nice! thanks guys...that was fast!

 

[sbabuser]

I've had good luck with soaking contaminated brake pads in isopropyl alcohol overnight and then letting them dry out for a day.

 

[ruralrider]

I put my pads in the oven and baked the oil off of them, worked great. Try something like 300f for 10 minutes.

 

[SinatorJ]

Read an article from Stick man in Dirt mag years ago and the trick is to put under the broiler till they are
Smokin. tried once or twice it does work.

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

boil them in water

 

[H8R]

Small amount of denatured alcohol in a small metal dish or tin can. Drop in the pads, set them on fire for a minute or two till the fuel burns away. Fish out the pads and let sit until cool.

You're welcome.

 

[baca262]

you can burn the oil away on the metal one using gas stove or something like that until it stops burning/smoking but the fiber one will take some work - boil in water, then alcohol.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

I went through about every variation on this theme a few years back and finally decided that none of the proposed cures work very well - after baking or boiling or whatever, I got some recovery of function, but never really right, and after the lining on one pad shattered in use after treatment I decided that new pads are a much better idea.

 

[Jm_]

Ok, so I was able to find the material: the alcohols are polar solvents and great at mixing with water, not as great at dissolving oils. You need a less polar solvent, like acetone.

Some of these solutions (as always) are pretty ridiculous. Like oil is going to care about 300 degree oven temps? Maybe if it gets hot enough (broil? idk?), but then you got residue left over anyways. Boiling water? Seriously? Set them on fire? Why? I'm just going to start making up stuff from now on for this question.

 

[H8R]

Set them on fire? Why?

Someone suggested it to me long ago. I tried it. It worked. That's why.

And it's fun to set sh1t on fire, even if it doesn't work. I mean you'd need new pads anyway, might as well burn something.


I actually recommend setting something on fire if your brake pads are not contaminated.

 

[Jm_]

Someone suggested it to me long ago. I tried it. It worked. That's why.

And it's fun to set sh1t on fire, even if it doesn't work. I mean you'd need new pads anyway, might as well burn something.


I actually recommend setting something on fire if your brake pads are not contaminated.

Well, to be honest, I did buy some magnesium this weekend just because I want to light some things on fire.

 

[Radarr]

Ok, so I was able to find the material: the alcohols are polar solvents and great at mixing with water, not as great at dissolving oils. You need a less polar solvent, like acetone.

Some of these solutions (as always) are pretty ridiculous. Like oil is going to care about 300 degree oven temps? Maybe if it gets hot enough (broil? idk?), but then you got residue left over anyways. Boiling water? Seriously? Set them on fire? Why? I'm just going to start making up stuff from now on for this question.

Yep. Here's something I posted about this a few years ago:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/f19/oil-your-pads-heres-sure-fire-fix-121163/

 

[Sonic Reducer]

i got brake fluid on the pads one time on a riding/camping trip, started howling to all ****. i had a propane torch with me for starting fires and hit them with that, seemed to do the trick. these were metallic pads btw.