Cleaning Brake Rotors

[enduramil]

Have just replaced the front pads on my disc brakes. The problem is that the front won't lock for say a endo. What is the best way to clean rotors? And I guess the pads as well.

[LeeLau]

Have just replaced the front pads on my disc brakes. The problem is that the front won't lock for say a endo. What is the best way to clean rotors? And I guess the pads as well.

What kind of pads and what kinds of rotors. I've had good luck torching the pads - torching the back of the pads. I've cleaned rotors by torching them and by wiping them with alcohol. Done this with Hayes and with Magura

[enduramil]

They are Magura discs and pads. How do you nuke em with alcohol? Also I know it can be done to rims, can you use sandpaper on the metal rotors?

[Sunday Rider]

Maybe your rotors are too dished out?

[mattj]

I wouldn't recommend sandpaper on the rotors. Unless you're a robot you will create irregularities that will cause nasty braking. I would recommend using alcohol and a clean rag over and over (with enough time in between for residual alcohol to evaporate) until the spot you're using to rub the rotor stays completely clean after the rub down. I recommend filing down the pads (take them out of the caliper) until the black appearance gives way to nice clean grey braking surface (this even works sometimes for pads contaminated by brake fluid), then fine sandpaper, then alcohol treatment. This essentially makes your entire braking interface like new, so you'll need to allow the proper burn-in time based on your pads (probably will be enough to just go up your local hill, turn around, come down really fast, and come to a gradual stop using the front brake only. Good luck!


-m

[corey@nsmb.com]

I'd give your new pads a few rides to break in.

You didn't indicate that they (the rotors) got contaminated.

New pads take a bit of riding to break in to the point where locking the wheels up is easy.

[LeeLau]

They are Magura discs and pads. How do you nuke em with alcohol? Also I know it can be done to rims, can you use sandpaper on the metal rotors?

I've tried soaking the pads in soap and hot water. I've tried rubbing alcohol. The best way is to torch them. You'll see a bit of wetness appearing on the pads and that would be the oil or contaminants evaporating.

I've had good luck with alcohol on the rotors or torching them - not too much torching mind you. I haven't tried sanding.

[corey@nsmb.com]

Why would new pads be contaminated? The rotor would have to be soaked with fork oil or dot fluid.

You need to break in the new pads.

[enduramil]

Since the pads are new, I'll try nuking the rotors with alcohol just to make sure their clean. By the way we are talking about the drug store kind of alcohol or the drinking kind?

[mattj]

rubbing alcohol

[LeeLau]

oh duh - coreys right. I just pulled an Espresso/Empress and totally missed the part where you said the pads were new.

You don't have to do anything to the pads unless you've touched them a lot with greasy hands. Just ride up a hill then ride down a few times with the levers engaged to break in the pads. With Magura pads it helps to have a little bit of water around just to help the break in.

And just use drug store alcohol on the Rotors; not Bacardi 151

[DaveM]

Just ride up a hill

Hey, watch your language :lol:

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Take the pads out and, being careful not to touch the pad itself, rub it back and forth diagonally on some fine-grain sandpaper. Then go out on the street and do couple of hard, sudden stops. I've found that this helps speed up the break-in period.

But Corey's right. You don't need to clean anything unless you've made it dirty (i.e. contaminated it during installation).

[Wayne P]

Automotive brake cleaner. Torching works ok, as does alcohol, but try this:

Spray the brake cleaner on your calipers with the pads still in 'em. Rinse off with water. Your done. Be careful not to fly over your bar when you try your brakes next.

[corey@nsmb.com]

oh duh - coreys right. I just pulled an Espresso/Empress


:lol: I will never hear the end of it! :lol:

[enduramil]

I'll do the alcohol cleaning. Thanks guys, completely forgot as it's been a while.

One thing I saw today at the shop was a product called Clean Streak from White Lightning. Is that the basic thing as either auto or motorcycle brake cleaner?

[Wayne P]

I'll do the alcohol cleaning. Thanks guys, completely forgot as it's been a while.

One thing I saw today at the shop was a product called Clean Streak from White Lightning. Is that the basic thing as either auto or motorcycle brake cleaner?

Just use the auto/moto brake cleaner. Trust me!

[enduramil]

What size Torx is it for the rotor bolts? Need to get a new tool.

[LIPS]

What size Torx is it for the rotor bolts? Need to get a new tool.
My Hayes are T-25.

[enduramil]

I assume that is the same for Magura?

[SC blur]

I've tried soaking the pads in soap and hot water. I've tried rubbing alcohol. The best way is to torch them. You'll see a bit of wetness appearing on the pads and that would be the oil or contaminants evaporating.

I've had good luck with alcohol on the rotors or torching them - not too much torching mind you. I haven't tried sanding.

you know most soaps have oil in them...

[Incorrigible]

Don't touch them. They will break in. Keep all fluids except water and definitely keep your hands aways from them!
You are inviting trouble if you do.

[SC blur]

Yea, when i worked at Sun and Ski selling bikes, there was sooo much mall traffic that just wanted to look at the bikes and knew nothing about them. They ALL seemed to want to touch the rotor. It made me cringe.

[FullMonty]

well, on a car I would wash the rotors with with hot water and dish soap, and then thoroughly rinse them with water. probably best to do this with the wheel off the bike so that you don't contaminate the pads.

anyway, just my opinion

[toy4-jay]

SPEED CLEAN!!!!!!!

product by finish line.

my shop loves it.

[Wayne P]

Touching rotors is fine, you won't notice any loss of braking (unless your hand was in a bag of of chips).

Don't make me say it again! :P

[SC blur]

Touching rotors is fine, you won't notice any loss of braking (unless your hand was in a bag of of chips).

Don't make me say it again! :P

Well at the mall, 100's of people would touch it per week. thats enoutgh oil to make the braking crappy.

And about the soap on car rotors. I think car rotors get MUCH hotter and have so much more preassure that is would burn off quicker and easier than bike rotors. Im not sure though.

[shmity]

For your particular problem, it just sounds like the pads need to bed in. Give them atleast a few runs to do this

As for cleaning, the best stuff ive found for decontaminating and cleaning both rotors and brake pads, is accetone. Soak the pads for about an hour, but not more than 3. Do it in a container that you can pour the used accetone off first so you dont pull the pads out through a layer of scunge. Give the rotor a wipe with some accetone on a paper towel. I contaminated the poo poo out of an almost new set of brake pads. Brake wouldnt' even slow me down, used some accetone, and they were as good as new.

[enduramil]

Did the full clean today. Have to ride to work and will squirt water on it on the way. One quick questiuon though, is the squeel sound when I brake hard at slow speeds normal during break in?

[LeeLau]

Did the full clean today. Have to ride to work and will squirt water on it on the way. One quick questiuon though, is the squeel sound when I brake hard at slow speeds normal during break in?

Totally normal.

Do NOT pee on the rotors

[HIBuLlitT]

Did the full clean today. Have to ride to work and will squirt water on it on the way. One quick questiuon though, is the squeel sound when I brake hard at slow speeds normal during break in?

It is for me, but only for a few minutes (unless it's wet).
If it doesn't go away, i've found my brake calipers need
to be centered.

[enduramil]

Ok, had the parts switched over to my new frame.

Took it for a ride and the front won't locl up. Took the pads out and the disc off off. Cleaned the rotor with alcohol and rinsed it off. The pads where black from grime. Cleaned them with a clean rag and alcohol till I could see the pad material. Fully rinsed as well. The pad's braking surface appeared to have an almost goldish colour.

Have ridden for 2 days now and the only way the front will lock up for an endo is if they are wet. Have been constantly wetting them down to break them in. Did I miss something? Asked the local lbs and they claim should work.

Are these a defective batch?

[Wayne P]

TRY AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE CLEANER.

For the love of god, please don't make me say it again.

[synchro]

Automotive brake cleaner. Torching works ok, as does alcohol, but try this:

Spray the brake cleaner on your calipers with the pads still in 'em. Rinse off with water. Your done. Be careful not to fly over your bar when you try your brakes next.

wayners got the ticket

[enduramil]

OK, just making sure as there doesn't seem to be a real consensus here.

By the way is the auto brake cleaner similar or the same as either Motocross brake cleaner? Or how about that new one called clean streak by the makers of White Lightning?

[Wayne P]

I just use the can from Lordco. Its for cars and motorcycles.

[enduramil]

Thanks dude.