WD-40 on discs and pads?

the toffinator

i have wd-40 on my discs and pads and the brakes are a hell of a lot worse and rally hard to remove with riding in the dry, last time it happened grit and mud removed it but is there any way of removing it without doing this?

thanks

supersonic

Usually new pads time. Rotor needs cleaning with IPA - pads are rarely rescued.

the toffinator

how do you normally rescue pads as last time i went for a big ride it was really mudy and gritty and my brakes were a lot better. if not if i removed the pads and soaked them in a liquid whould this work? white spirit is supposed to be good

supersonic

White spirit is about the wrost thing you can use, its oil based and wil make them a whole lot worse! Could try soaking in alcohol, then sanding down.

the toffinator

wat about petrol?

supersonic

Bike disc cleaner, meths or alcohol.

the toffinator

thanks!!

the toffinator

how hard is it to remove pads or chould i just apply some to the disc then keep on doing it after i brake it off?

supersonic

You need to remove the rotor and pads before cleaning to be on the safe side. Your instructions will tell you how to remove the pads, or you can download some.

thaibog

thumbs up for brake cleaner.........dissolves oil and is made for brakes..

costs about 2-3 quid from car spare shops

supersonic

Many car brake cleaners actually contain oils so stop iron discs from rusting - you need a bike specific one.

thaibog

I haveto disagree mate I havenever used any with oil in..

Pretty much used most brands over the past 15 years..

we use them to dissolve oil on all manner of machines..eg tractors..forklifts..transits..heavy grass cutting machinery....expensive mountain bikes. and not just for brakes

Example :Muck Offs equivalent is expensive slow spraying and no different from any others we use in the workshops

still thumbs up for brake cleaner ( my hope minis are awesome after i use it, and they have to be at 18 stone)

thaibog

just a word of warning keep it away from " sealed " bearings

strips grease from them

supersonic

I would still exercise caution using cleaners designed for cast iron brakes - some do leave a residue.

red eye

its really meant for suppressing brake and clutch dust, you meant to spray over the wheels and brakes before you get the air gun to knock off the wheel nuts. with out it you get a face full of brake dust as soon as you pull the trigger. but yeah it also works as a brake cleaner.
i use it at work as a hand cleaner makes you hands go all cold, just what you need in the summer 8)

Shadowduck

red eye wrote:

i use it at work as a hand cleaner makes you hands go all cold, just what you need in the summer 8)

:shock: Sounds like a recipe for dermatitis to me.

red eye

gloves man! gloves! your hands get sweaty a spay of clutch cleaner cools them down and gets the oil sludge off the gloves

the toffinator

i seem to have sorted the problem for now, a handful of gritty mud sure got it rubbed out!!

thanks