Best Dremel brush for cleaning brake calipers

[bayzoo]

Hi,

I want to clean up my brake calipers before taking them to be sandblasted by a local company. I’ve been told that a carbon steel brush should be sufficient to get rid of the worst of the rust and grime. I know it does depend on the type of metal being cleaned but I’m not sure what type of of metal they are made from.

Can some please advise if this brush would be suitable for the most common metal used to make brake calipers? Thanks.

[GreenV8S]

I expect they'll be either aluminium or cast iron.

A stainless wire brush would be ideal for aluminium and OK for cast iron, a brass brush would be slightly better for iron. But since you're just degunking them, frankly I'd use whatever you have to hand including pan scourers and so on.

[bayzoo]

Thanks - they’re more likely to be cast iron I think. TBH I haven’t even bought a dremel yet and I might not bother, though they do come in handy for other jobs. I’m in no rush to get them on the car (they’re an extra set) so could just take my time, and as you say just use pan scouters etc. with elbow grease. I’m not overly fussed on the finish.

[gazza285]

Just have them sandblasted, the process will remove everything.

[Chris32345]

Just give them a scrub with a stiff brush in a bucket of degreaser


Sand blasting with get rid of the rest

[E-bmw]

bayzoo said:

I want to clean up my brake calipers before taking them to be sandblasted by a local company.

Isn't that the same as hoovering up before the cleaner comes?

Why bother, as others have said the blasting will do the job in one go.

Having said that, are you dismantling before they go to be blasted as if you do, you will need to protect the seal surfaces or the whole caliper will be toast.

[lufbramatt]

As above wouldn't bother. But if you're desperate to give them a clean up I wouldn't bother with a Dremel, not powerful enough, you'll be there forever. and then it will burn out. Get something that goes in a full size drill or angle grinder.

[bayzoo]

Thanks for the suggestions, and you’re right - it does seem a bit like I’m cleaning for the cleaner. The company I’m considering said it would be much more expensive if they were dirty and leaking fluids than if they were clean and masked appropriately. So I’ll just get some degreaser as suggested and give them a clean once dismantled.

In regards to masking before sanding, would a cut piece of cardboard do for the piston bore and tape for the rest? I’d spend enough time to ensure these were protected but I’m aware that high pressure sand could rip through these.

[gazza285]

Wooden or hard rubber bungs would be more use, cardboard wouldn't stop much.

[bayzoo]

Good idea, thanks.

[TEKNOPUG]

Are these alloy or iron calipers? If alloy, you'll probably find that you can clean them up with a Dremel so they won't even need sand blasting, as there will no rust, just grime.

[bayzoo]

There are iron calipers and they do have some rust unfortunately. I’ve been quoted £84 to have all calipers and carriers sandblasted, which seems ok to me