Oil contaminated discs, possible to clean? [pic inside]

[gareth.e]

As some of you might know I recently posted a thread on my tire which turned out to be fine.. This time its my brakes! These brakes passed the MOT yesterday but there was a single advisory for low brake pads so I took it upon myself to sort them now..

Upon removing the wheels I noticed the Offside was contaminated by oil, I've noticed it slightly before after my sump exploded and the car went up in smoke!



The pads from the contaminated side are noticibly thicker than the otherside too

edit: update of pad size difference and white spirit hasnt taken the oil off


Is a brake cleaner/spirt going to penetrate it (especially since its been baked on since last summer) or shall i fork out £50 for some new brembo discs (bargin)


I would also say it does seem when I brake heavily sometimes it pulls to one side slightly

Edited by gareth.e on Saturday 26th March 18:09

[TooLateForAName]

Tbh I would say replace the pads.

[Prince Jefri]

gareth.e said:

or shall i fork out £50 for some new brembo discs (bargin)

You've answered your own question......

[supersingle]

Nasty pad deposits on that disc.

I'd just change the pads. Clean the discs with some brake cleaner. Steel doesn't really absorb oil.

[Fartgalen]

If it's been on since summer - then it's not really on anymore.
Seems to be quite a lip on those discs. Since you're doing the pads, then why not get some new discs too ?

[eldar]

Its the brakes. Entirely the wrong place to cut corners, as it were. Those disks look past their prime...

[Starfighter]

Replace the pads, keep the disks. The pads will absorb oil, the disks wont so just clean them with a bacis solvent / degreaser.

[maniac0796]

eldar said:

Its the brakes. Entirely the wrong place to cut corners, as it were. Those disks look past their prime...

All discs look past their prime once they're out the box.

Those discs will still last another set of pads. Go round them with some brake cleaner for peace of mind (although I expect most of it's burnt of) and replace the pads.

[supersingle]

Forgot to mention, it's worth checking you haven't got an oil leak somewhere that's still putting oil on the disc. Gearbox/driveshaft oil seals are a favourite.

[MX7]

Years ago we used to put petrol on the pads and set fire to them. The thinking was that it would burn the oil out, but in reality, it was probably a fairly stupid thing to do as we didn't really know what impact it would have on them.

Just get new pads.

[gareth.e]

supersingle said:

Forgot to mention, it's worth checking you haven't got an oil leak somewhere that's still putting oil on the disc. Gearbox/driveshaft oil seals are a favourite.

This is a good point, theres nothing I can see this side dribbling but will keep an eye out...

As for the brembo discs.. theyve vashined

Think I'm just going to clean them and stick pads for now

[gareth.e]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Don't worry I'm being safe the other side is also jacked up and I have axel stands under each side (although the weight inst loaded on them, they're about 1cm away from taking the load) so slight laziness on my part but I think its safe enough

[gareth.e]

heres an update the difference in pad size is rather silly...

Oil doesnt seem to want to come off the discs dispite getting the white spirt out and I'm worried it'll just happen all over again..



new, uncontaminated side, contaminated side!

[andy-xr]

Shame it's not both sides, stop your pads running out

[shalmaneser]

just replace the pads, discs look fine, but stop keeping your foot on the brake after pulling up - use the handbrake.

[gareth.e]

shalmaneser said:

just replace the pads, discs look fine, but stop keeping your foot on the brake after pulling up - use the handbrake.

How did you know I did this?

I stopped around 2 weeks ago btw

[gareth.e]

andy-xr said:

Shame it's not both sides, stop your pads running out

I did think about that for a second

[PhillipM]

New pads, scrub the discs with some fine wire wool and brake cleaner, of if that doesn't work, some 400/800 grit emery cloth.

Tbh, if you can spare the money, I'd just stick new discs on.


edit, looks like a 306? Discs are peanuts from buypartsby for most models if so...

Double edit - gti6 brake setup looking at your other thread, discs are £13.34 + vat each...just swap 'em.

Edited by PhillipM on Saturday 26th March 19:30

[JM]

gareth.e said:

heres an update the difference in pad size is rather silly..

Uneven pad wear is quite normal, nothing to worry about.

Disc looks ok to me too unless there is a big lip on the outer edge or the back is badly scored etc.

[PhillipM]

JM said:

Uneven pad wear is quite normal, nothing to worry about.

I think I'd be pretty worried...