Thread: Cleaning Brake Calipers

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

The way I've cleaned my calipers in the past was to remove them from the bike (leaving the brake lines attached), remove the pads, spray liberally with brake cleaner, and use a toothbrush. I recently read that brake cleaner can destroy the seals in the caliper, and that it's better to clean with Simple Green. True? How do you guys clean your calipers?

Lacquer thinner. No problem with the seals at all. Simple Green isn't really up to the task and leaves quite a bit of residue.

Originally Posted by abtech

Lacquer thinner. No problem with the seals at all. Simple Green isn't really up to the task and leaves quite a bit of residue.

That's what I though about Simple Green, too. I'll look for some lacquer thinner. So, you think brake cleaner/contact cleaner will eat the seals?

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

That's what I though about Simple Green, too. I'll look for some lacquer thinner. So, you think brake cleaner/contact cleaner will eat the seals?

I haven't had any problem when I use it (Motul contact cleaner) to clean them after a track day (leave them on the bike, spray the heck out of everything and then get out the air hose). For a total cleanup or rebuild, I have always used lacquer thinner (that's what I was taught to use a long time ago by our team mechanic).

Thanks!

Just pump them enough to get the piston out beyond the gunk build-up. Of course if you have real sludge, as was the case in the bike I rebuilt for DJChyk, you might want to brake them all the way down, scrub them and replace the seals.

You want to know if synthetic is better then dino you say?

If you liked OEM, stick with them, is my $.02.

I was looking at doing this tonight too...

Would Kerosene work for removing the build up too? Seems to work well for x and o ring chains?

I have brake cleaner here but I am just wondering.