Clearing drilled discs

[Dave2P]

The drill holes in my discs are a bit clogged with brake dust n stuff. What's the best way to clean them out - without risking damage to the discs, of course?

Thanks in advance.

[snuffy]

I just poke a screwdriver though the holes. Jobs a carrot.

[TuxMan]

i,ve got mine to do but was warned about breathing the dust !! had alook at my drivers side front as it squeals abit and the holes are full !!! another sat morning job !!

[paulcundy]

Dave2P said:

The drill holes in my discs are a bit clogged with brake dust n stuff. What's the best way to clean them out - without risking damage to the discs, of course?

Thanks in advance.

No point, they re-fill in no time, the harder you drive the sooner it happens. Also the holes are the source of micro cracking and unless you do it with a Q tip you risk further weakening the disc. Doing it with anything metal or abrasive is nono sensibilii.
Regards
Paul C

[TuxMan]

Going to wheel mine out the worshop on saturday and blow them out with the airline , got to rebuild the front brakes this year anyhow .

[GreenV8S]

Poke them out with a wire, an old wire coat hanger is ideal.

[Dave2P]

Alternatively, take the car to your nearest independent Porsche specialist, pretend it's a GT1 with a body kit and ask them (very) nicely to balance the wheels and do a geo-check... "while we've got the wheels off, we'll clean out your disc holes Sir".

Big "thank you" to Mick and the guys at Paragon ; now smoother than a very smooth thing covered in double cream (oh, hang on, wrong website)... at least on the 1 kilometre or so of decent road surface that there is in Sussex.

That's one less job for the weekend!

[wessexrfc]

I did the coat-hanger thing, it isnt great as the fronts are counter-sunk. If you can, (and trust me it isnt that hard) jack, remove wheels and drill out hole with as close as you can get drill bit, use a counter on the fronts, then blow out with an air line - job done. If however like me you get vibration when breaking, all the drilling and coat-hanger pokeing in the world wont help. You need to do as Dave. BOL

[GreenV8S]

I wouldn't ever use a drill. The brake dust shouldn't be solid enough to need it, and you are just risking damaging the inside of the holes. This is where the cracks start and not somewhere you really want to be damaging the disc. You also risk breaking the drill if you start wandering off line and it jams. It's just the wrong way to go. Poke it out with a wire, on or off the car as you prefer. If it's too solid to be poked out you're doing it wrong.

[wessexrfc]

GreenV8S said:

I wouldn't ever use a drill. The brake dust shouldn't be solid enough to need it, and you are just risking damaging the inside of the holes. This is where the cracks start and not somewhere you really want to be damaging the disc. You also risk breaking the drill if you start wandering off line and it jams. It's just the wrong way to go. Poke it out with a wire, on or off the car as you prefer. If it's too solid to be poked out you're doing it wrong.

Am I missing something??? These are cross-drilled brakes theres a clue there. I'm talking about using the same size drill as the hole (as near as dammit). I "cleaned" all mine with the same drill-bit no problem. Your not looking to cut the metal, just clear the build up of brake dust far more effective than poking about with a bit of wire IMO

[GreenV8S]

wessexrfc said:

Am I missing something??? These are cross-drilled brakes theres a clue there. I'm talking about using the same size drill as the hole (as near as dammit). I "cleaned" all mine with the same drill-bit no problem. Your not looking to cut the metal, just clear the build up of brake dust far more effective than poking about with a bit of wire IMO

Yes, you're missing something.

If you're unfortunate enough to have cross-drilled brakes, and the brakes are getting hot enough to have any benefit from the cross-drillings, then they're hot enough for cracking to be a danger. Cracking usually starts at the corners of the holes. Since the cast iron discs are very soft, they're easily damaged by hardened drill bits. Even a very slight nick from the drill can introduce a surface feature which encourages cracks to start. You don't need a drill to unblock the holes, they are easily poked out with a bit of wire which has no chance of damaging the disc. Using a drill is just asking for trouble.

[wessexrfc]

GreenV8S said:

wessexrfc said:

Am I missing something??? These are cross-drilled brakes theres a clue there. I'm talking about using the same size drill as the hole (as near as dammit). I "cleaned" all mine with the same drill-bit no problem. Your not looking to cut the metal, just clear the build up of brake dust far more effective than poking about with a bit of wire IMO

Yes, you're missing something.

If you're unfortunate enough to have cross-drilled brakes, and the brakes are getting hot enough to have any benefit from the cross-drillings, then they're hot enough for cracking to be a danger. Cracking usually starts at the corners of the holes. Since the cast iron discs are very soft, they're easily damaged by hardened drill bits. Even a very slight nick from the drill can introduce a surface feature which encourages cracks to start. You don't need a drill to unblock the holes, they are easily poked out with a bit of wire which has no chance of damaging the disc. Using a drill is just asking for trouble.

Can't say i've had any!! just vibration. Don't agree with holes have corners!!! only messing. I know what you are getting at, I'm just saying - Cordless drill, correct size bit and slowly, slowly, catchy monkey. IMHO you could avoid all this by using/buying air-compressor and blowing out the holes job done and no "holey cracks"!!!! - Would you agree GreenV8s???!!!

[wessexrfc]

GreenV8s just looked at your profile, you are a true PistonHead!!! I am not worthy V8 vroooooooooom lol. I'm missing that V8 sound