cleaning rotors - what with?

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:58 am

Anyone know the best stuff for cleaning the brake rotors with? Im guessing good old brake cleaner would do the job just as well?

p.s.
Also how to clean them? Would you use wire wool? a cloth??

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:04 am

wd40 and wire wool RobB !!

Post by **Jamz** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:45 am

I just did mine when I put the new discs on!

Petrol.

Then spray them with that brake/carb cleaner stuff and wipe them over. Job done!

They sparkle!

I had to use the petrol mainly because the breakers had put brown tape all over the discs, and when I peeled it off all the sticky toad stayed on them! :smt013

Post by **deviant** » Mon May 14, 2007 6:25 pm

masterofinsanity wrote:wd40 and wire wool RobB !!

just make sure you remember when you put it back together, cos the brakes ain't gonna work until you've put a few hard stops on them!

unless of course you clean the wd40 off with brake cleaner, but then why not just use brake cleaner in the first place?

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:37 pm

Cheers guys, only bit a really want to scrub is the outer edge of the rotor. They usually go black!

think ill stick with a few cans of brake cleaner!

GlenthemanN · Post by **GlenthemanN** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:22 am

yeah use brake cleaner not wd40 on your rotors.

Post by **Xphyral** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:11 pm

Yeah and if you do use wd40 remember they dont bite in gradually, it's quite a sudden thing.

Mori Man · Post by **Mori Man** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:04 pm

If your just wanting to clean them, OOO wire wool is your mate.

But if like me (shortly) you want to re-surface them to get a better grip from your pads then a nylon/scotchpad disc of 320 grade on an angle grinder will remove the peaks on them and leave them looking almost brand new. the swirl marks that are left will recut your pads and your stopping power will feel like how you remember them from new

******* DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE DOING THIS *********

The Nylon disc will happily eat your rotor if you are heavy handed. Very light strokes are only required to bring them up new.

******* MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF YOUR DISC ********

If the peaks are on the MIN. thickness for you rotor - DO NOT do this.
If you have over .3mm above the min, you should be OK.

The discs I've got have a lot of surface rust on them and I will be freshing them up doing this. I will take plenty photos to show what I am doing and so you can see the end results.

Try and avoid using any solvent , even high flash point on your rotors.