[Closed] What do you use to clean your disc brakes?

I was using some Bikehut disc brake cleaner, seemed to work ok and also smelled of lemon 😀

That ran out so now I'm using car disc brake cleaner, does exactly the same job but doesn't smell quite as nice 😆

Never clean them.

Nothing. No need to clean them unless they get contaminated. the discs develop a thin layer of pad material on the surface. This is needed for good braking

Nothing generally speaking, the pads keep them clean.

Only use a cleaner if they become contaminated with something.

fairy liquid when I wash the rest of the bike

Perhaps OP is asking because they are contaminated? Propan-2-ol or the Halfords disk cleaner works equally well. Disks will need 're-conditioning' but this occurs with normal use.

Propan-2-ol = isopropyl alcohol

Nothing.

Sometimes they get a bit of gt85 or whatever by accident when I clean the rest of the bike - if you read here you'd think this would cause the world to end, but in reality it burns off rapido with a bit of hard braking.

I use auto brake cleaner for all sorts, it doesnt attack rubber, its a degreaser and it evaporates.

its bloody handy, I also use auto silicone for shock and fork stanchions

Meths (before my post ride drink)

Most of the suggestions above will clean the disc but not necessarily improve it.

Get the disc hot by dragging it then spray it with water. When the steam clears you will have a brake with good bite. Standard practice for a motorcycle trials bike.

Car brake cleaner often has lubricants in it. easily burnt off on car use but can contaminate bike discs

Nothing, unless they get contaminated- then just a blow torch on the pads.

Sometimes they get a bit of gt85 or whatever by accident when I clean the rest of the bike - if you read here you'd think this would cause the world to end, but in reality it burns off rapido with a bit of hard braking.

I hope that true. My newish pads for GT88 on them I think which made the rear brake nearly pointless and the front one a squealer. They did get better by the end of the ride, but not perfect. Here's hoping

Take them off the wheel
Squirt lighter fluid on them
Light
More lighter fluid
Turn over
More lighter fluid
Refit

Get the disc hot by dragging it then spray it with water. When the steam clears you will have a brake with good bite. Standard practice for a motorcycle trials bike.

You also end up with warped disks. Looks cool though.

another +1 for never. Did have a contaminated set once (leaky forks), that was a bit scary for a long time. But even that's ancient history now.

Dirt

Nothing

Brake pads

One of my riding mates was struggling with braking yesterday. His bike had been leant to his sister in law, with instructions to lubricate all the moving parts after cleaning.

Good spray of WD40 on the disks. They were nice and shiny mind. 😀

I'm pretty sure they are contaminated, which seems to happen to me fairly regularly, I take the front wheel off after every ride for storage which may be causing it but cannot really see any other reason why they seem to get contaminated so often.

Lol @ WD40

shimano calipers? could be the mystery shimano tiny leak

Muddy puddle and mud then ride.

When was the last time you took the wheels off your car and cleaned the brakes?

That's the answer to this question, unless you have actually done that 😆

The Dark Peak.

Rachel

reformedfatty - Member
Nothing.
Sometimes they get a bit of gt85 or whatever by accident when I clean the rest of the bike - if you read here you'd think this would cause the world to end, but in reality it burns off rapido with a bit of hard braking.

This.

I ought a can of disc cleaner about 12 years ago. I've used it once. The only bike that's ever had a disc issue was my Portland as the discs never got warm enough to get rid of the oily spray picked up riding 40 miles a day in London.

Cars are significantly heavier than I am, and have 4 wheels, so any contamination can burn off safely. It's not comparable.

I ride in London but my commuting bike seems fine, it's the mountain bikes which get less use and as it's pretty flat they probably don't get very hot often

I've never heard of, or experienced, any disc warping using that method thisisnotaspoon.

Halfords clutch and brake cleaner.

After I bleed, my brakes, give the caliper a squint to get rid of any mineral oil that might risk contaminating the pads. More precautionary than anything and I hate easting brake pads.

Disc brake cleaner by muckoff. I bought some in 2010 so continue to use as needed.

It actually gets more use on my road brakes. A little squirt on a rag then wiping takes the film off the rim and pads after a wet ride.

I use Iron Rain, then Halfords Brake cleaner.

Works a treat.