Cleaning brake callipers

[damci]

Can anyone recommend a product that will remove stubborn stained on brake dust from my motorbikes brake callipers? I have tried brake cleaner but as you can see from the photos they are still looking a bit grubby.




The callipers have had the pistons and seals removed and are ready for a good clean up.

TIA

[steve_bmw]

try auto glym metal polish on a toothbrush!
soft enough to remove the brake dust, not harsh enough to remove your gold anodising.

[The real Apache]

alloy wheel cleaner

[steve_bmw]

The real Apache said:

alloy wheel cleaner

good call, but dont leave it on bare aluminium for long as it will turn your calipers into a steaming pile of molten aluminium.

[damci]

I never thought of metal polish, will give that a go first as I have a tube of autosol. I have some wonder wheels alloy wheel cleaner but I didn’t try that as I thought it might be too harsh.

[steve_bmw]

alloy wheel cleaner will be ok if the pistons and seals were in , diluted down so its not to harsh, the acid in alloy wheel cleaner will play havoc with bare alloy.

[kev b]

Put them through the dishwasher.

[phumy]

kev b said:

Put them through the dishwasher.

And then wait for the black eye off of the Mrs....

[damci]

phumy said:

kev b said:

Put them through the dishwasher.

And then wait for the black eye off of the Mrs....

I would never get away with putting them through the dishwasher the Mrs would kill me!

I had a go at cleaning them with some Autosol last night which worked a bit but there's still some dust on the back of the callipers that I can’t shift.

I’m going to have a go with some wonder wheels tonight and see if that shifts it.

[kds keltec]

I cant see properly from the pictures if they are painted or anodised ?

if painted then alloy wheel cleaner , try one that you can dilute and start with weak solution so not to damage the seals or paint surface ,

if they are anodised then dont go near them with wheel cleaners unless its the citrus based one like P21s as others will attack the anodised finish , the light weight wheels which are anodised normally found made in japan with this finish MUST not be cleaned with strong wheel cleaners

like this wheel finish best picture i could find of wheel




edit to say that if they are anodised then bilt hamber surfex hd cleaner will be fine

kelly

Edited by kds keltec on Wednesday 9th March 09:28

[PJ S]

Surfex HD, strong solution (20%) of very hot water in a tupperware container.
Leave until warm enough not to scald you, then tooth/nailbrush.
Should de-gunk the calipers nicely.

http://www.bilthamber.com/pro-introduction.php?cna...

[damci]

Had a go at cleaning my calliper’s with some Wonder Wheels tonight. I'm happy with the results they look a lot cleaner, the only problem is that it has taken some of the finish off the bolts.





I don't really want to replace the bolts as it would mean splitting the calliper’s which would be a PITA. I was thinking of painting some Hammerite metal paint on the bolts to tidy them up?