How to clean brakes?

[AndyL]

Bit of a basic question, but how do you clean your breaks? What bits should I be cleaning and with what should I use to clean them? Pictures would be useful.

Cheers

Andy

[Dave20046]

Have you got some brake cleaner/brake & carb cleaner/carb cleaner?

[AndyL]

No, but I can easily pop up to halfords to get some. Just not sure where to put it :confused:

[Dave20046]

No, but I can easily pop up to halfords to get some. Just not sure where to put it :confused:
If halfords sell it I imagine it'd be very expensive, try a smaller motorfactors or a bike shop.
You need to remove the two bolts securing each caliper, knock the pads of the spring clips that keep them on (hard to explain how to do but you'll see how it works). Make sure there's good movement in the pistons squeeze the lever slightly so they are extended (but don't let them get clamped together away from the disc) clean the crap off with the cleaner and a toothbrush and or wirewool or a pan scowerer. Slap a bit of copper grease on the back of the pads.

Probably missed a bit but while you pop out to get brake cleaner and maybe a bit of copper grease (not absolutely necesary but useful) someone clever will pop by to correct me.

[Ceri JC]

If halfords sell it I imagine it'd be very expensive, try a smaller motorfactors or a bike shop.
You need to remove the two bolts securing each caliper, knock the pads of the spring clips that keep them on (hard to explain how to do but you'll see how it works). Make sure there's good movement in the pistons squeeze the lever slightly so they are extended (but don't let them get clamped together away from the disc) clean the crap off with the cleaner and a toothbrush and or wirewool or a pan scowerer. Slap a bit of copper grease on the back of the pads.

Probably missed a bit but while you pop out to get brake cleaner and maybe a bit of copper grease (not absolutely necesary but useful) someone clever will pop by to correct me.

Wouldn't this be a bit too abbrasive? I've always been v. cautious about not scratching/scoring the sides of the piston/bores for fear of it damaging the seal (whehn I really scrub at pans with scouring pads I notice how it makes small scratches on the surface). If it's not a problem, I'd be delighted to be corrected as it'd make the job much quicker for me.

[Dave20046]

I've never used a pan scowerer (Although I was referring to the green square material ones, not the metal ones) but I've used a bit of wirewool before and it shifted the rust and tough crap really well. But now you've said that maybe you have a point, I'm really not sure. Pistons are made from strong decent metal but I'm not sure if they scratch with wirewool or how much that scratchign would damage your brakes.

[yorkie_chris]

Use the green scotchbrite stuff IMO,

Maybe some solvol to finish them off.

[Viney]

I just use brake cleaner and a rag and rub a bit. I have used wire wool when i done a stripdown of the calipers, on the pistons.

If you can get some red rubber grease, then apply this to the pisons before you push them back in.

[Dave20046]

I just use brake cleaner and a rag and rub a bit. I have used wire wool when i done a stripdown of the calipers, on the pistons.

If you can get some red rubber grease, then apply this to the pisons before you push them back in.
Is there anything else you can use instead of rubber grease. I've got to admit to putting dry chainlube on a piston that was really ****ing me off! I figured it could resist a bit of heat and might stick.

[DEJA_Vu]

just a note about the wire wool as long as you only rub in in the same direction around the circumference of the piston and and not up and down along its length this wont effect it as each time the seal passes over a small scrath it will reseal it, just make sure that there arent any deep scratches or scoring to catch on the seals.

[Dave20046]

just a note about the wire wool as long as you only rub in in the same direction around the circumference of the piston and and not up and down along its length this wont effect it as each time the seal passes over a small scrath it will reseal it, just make sure that there arent any deep scratches or scoring to catch on the seals.
Cheers dejavu, yeah I always did it sideways around the circum.

[pencil shavings]

I cleaned my brakes today and the pads were very smooth, I think from riding while the pads were binding slightly. They still have lots of life in them and are about 5000 miles old. Is there anything I can do to roughen them up abit and get the bite back becasue they were abit lack luster today on my ride (1st ride for about 2 months)

[DEJA_Vu]

you could try getting some coarse sand paper pencil give em a rub with that to roughen em up again

but you dont want them too rough otherwise they could score your discs

[pencil shavings]

yeah sure, that why I didnt want to do anything too drastic. would rather get new pads then need to get new pads and disks after going crazy on the pads :)