So effectively you'll sand away some of the pad and the lose more trying to get it bedded again. This will decrease stopping power, cause squealing and require the pads to be re-bedded. Unless experienced, you are almost guaranteed to get the surface not flat and out of parallel with the other side and rotor surfaces. Usually more expensive and mainly pressurized isopropyl alcohol.Īvoid sandpaper. Also, when you go to the auto parts store, they will have brake cleaner as well. It is the go-to for removing and cleaning DOT brake fluid of the bike as well. In addition, if you are working on brakes, this should be part of your standard tool kit. So you can add it to the shopping list or swing past a chemist/drug store. Isopropyl alcohol is cheap and easy to find, often branded as some type of household cleaner. In addition, isopropyl is also used to wipe down the rotors' surface and that is very important to keep clean.
Isopropyl is also great if you found the pads contaminated and can often save the day from having to buy new ones. You can then use isopropyl alcohol to bush the caliper out. 20 light pressure braking actions from walking pace but not quite stopping completely, 20 from running pace and then gradually build up the speed and pressure until doing fully pressure braking from high speed. I have even found citrus de-greasers leaving residue films behind.ĭuring major services you want to get the wheels and brake pads out after the normal wash. Remount the disc with clean hands and give it another solvent clean to be certain of no finger prints. Use a fine sandpaper and gently sand the rotors’ surface and brake. Then, loosen the lock screw and pull out the brake pads. These leave residue and will affect your stopping power. Remove the brake pads by first removing the safety pin with a plier.
What you want to avoid is any cleaner that is oil based(petroleum, paraffin etc.). Used in conjunction with a toothbrush or the like. They usually don’t need as much scrubbing as the discs themselves since the constant friction keeps them relatively clean.In most cases a mild bike wash soap gets you past the minor services, no problem. In addition to cleaning your disc brakes, you should also clean your brake pads with alcohol as well. Bleach your hair Can I Clean My Brake Pads With Alcohol Too?.If you need something to clean the tight corners, I suggest using an old toothbrush or bristled pipe cleaner.ĭid you know that rubbing alcohol can also be used to:
Then, meticulously wipe down each disc brake until they’re free from all dirt, debris, oil, and residue. Thoroughly Clean With Alcohol– Once the disc brakes are dry, take a clean cloth and soak it in rubbing alcohol.3rd step Apply wheel cleaner and let it sit for some minutes. For use on backing plates, brake pad contact points. Remove with a degreaser or brake cleaner product. Specially formulated to dampen the vibrations that cause brake noise. Allowing them to dry beforehand will prevent the water from diluting the potency of your rubbing alcohol. 1st step Gather necessary cleaning materials. Disc brake quiet forms a water resistant, high-temperature film that absorbs noise while quieting squeaks and squeals. Let Disc Brakes Dry– After washing with soap and water, give them some time to completely dry.The soap and water mixture will remove the large chunks of mud and neutralize any acid that could be on the surface of the disc brake. Pre-Wash With Soap and Water– Apart from rubbing alcohol, most bicycle mechanics also agree that you should use a bit of plain dish soap and water to clean off the heavier grime.Remove Your Disc Brakes– Keep all of the parts in one place so you don’t lose anything important.