Rotor cleaning

[Chubba]

Have a set of rotors that are looking a bit rusty and slightly scratched.

Could i use a light water sandpaper to clean them?

[Ysterman]

Apologies for the hi-jack ... I've been trying to "clean" my rotors & pads for the last week & have been trying all sorts of things to get the damn brakes to brake ...

 

Prepsol

Clean Green

Brake Cleaner

P400 sand paper

 

The front brake is almost back to normal ... but the rear ...

 

How course can I go with the sandpaper?

[Chubba]

Apologies for the hi-jack ... I've been trying to "clean" my rotors & pads for the last week & have been trying all sorts of things to get the damn brakes to brake ...

 

Prepsol

Clean Green

Brake Cleaner

P400 sand paper

 

The front brake is almost back to normal ... but the rear ...

 

How course can I go with the sandpaper?

Have found this so far:Method

 

and these:

Article 2

Article 3

Edited August 16, 2011 by Chubba

[brussel]

I use 120 grit on a random orbital sander, no issues at all. within 20 minutes the pads have rubbed most of the scratches smooth anyhow.

[Chubba]

I use 120 grit on a random orbital sander, no issues at all. within 20 minutes the pads have rubbed most of the scratches smooth anyhow.

could I do this by hand? don't have a sander.

[Cassie]

Pads could possibly "glaze over" ....a bit of roughing it up will improve that...other than that, I do not see much else to be done.

 

Rotors - what about light sanding to remove rust and then a bit of Brasso?

afterwards wipe clean with a prepsol type mixture...as not to contaminate pads?

 

Me, I regularly wipe with acetone cloth...just to remove any resin-type accumulation on rotors. = resin pads.

 

dunno about rest?

[brussel]

chubba I am sure you can, just keep doing it in a way that you sand uniformly and not one spot more than another. the steel they use is hard as nails, hence the sander - its a lot less elbow grease!

[Chubba]

chubba I am sure you can, just keep doing it in a way that you sand uniformly and not one spot more than another. the steel they use is hard as nails, hence the sander - its a lot less elbow grease!

thanks, will give it a go.

Edited August 16, 2011 by Chubba

[Chubba]

used 350 grit water paper, with some elbow grease, and it did the trick.

[brussel]

cool!

[Big H*]

I have always used a 3M scour pad to clean my disks and then wipe them with a isopropyl alcohol swab. You get those pre-packed at the chemist.

 

I do not think the sandpaper idea too often is a good idea, but then inland we do not have the same problem as you okes on the coast.

 

Rather clean it more often with the 3M pad than sanding.

[Clayton Blackler]

This is possibly the best rotor cleaner i have ever used, it comes in an aerosol and is basically squirt on rinse off.

 

http://www.multitergent.co.za/3rd-party-extensions/virtuemart?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=3

 

their other products are also awesome, give them a try.

[The Drongo]

New rotors - lie them in Coca - Cola (Coke - just to clarify for the crackheads) till the fizz is gone. Clean with IPA.

 

General cleaning - IPA = Isopropyl Alcohol

 

Old rotors - Waterpaper, clean with IPA

Edited August 17, 2011 by The Drongo

[Chubba]

New rotors - lie them in Coca - Cola (Coke - just to clarify for the crackheads) till the fizz is gone. Clean with IPA.

 

General cleaning - IPA = Isopropyl Alcohol

 

Old rotors - Waterpaper, clean with IPA

What does the IPA do?

[Eldron]

Automotive break cleaner works too.

 

Any auto parts shop will sell it. One bottle should last you several lifetimes.

 

I can understand people wanting to remove resin but rust? Damn you're an anal lot

 

And I thought my use of the touch up paint that came with my bike was anal!!!

[manbearpig]

My 2 bits. Don't worry about taking rust off. If anything it will help deglaze your pads and the rust will be gone after the first bit of braking you do anyway.