Can I use brake cleaner on.....

[Rick Lee]

Sorry for the stupid question. Mailman brought me my Big Reds today and they're pretty dirty. Will brake or parts cleaner damage the paint? Will they damage the dust seals? How best to clean every inch of these calipers before install? Thanks.

BTW, stock black 993 calipers will be going on for sale board soon.

[Zeke]

Brake cleaner is nasty stuff, but it degreases things good. I have had brake cleaner disolve a few paints. Most caliper quality paints and powdercoat are safe. The stuff is OK around rubber. It's not too good for your lungs.

A citrus cleaner might work, so might Simple Green. I end up using a bucket of Tide a lot of the time. Especially toward the end of the job, gets your hands nice and clean. And I have never had any trouble with fumes from Tide.

[89911]

If brake cleaner destroys that paint on your calipers, then you've got problems, especially since it is "brake" cleaner. You should be fine. Spray away.

[Rick Lee]

Well, I've got problems then. Both cans I have by different manufacturers say not to use on paint, rubber or plastic. I guess that means this is brake ROTOR cleaner and nothing else. I have some Wurth Citrus Degreaser, but it's not a spray. I may just use compressed air and an old toothbrush, maybe some Simple Green. I really don't want to have to rinse with water and get everything wet. What else can I do?

[VincentVega]

Use the brake clean. I get the cheap stuff at Wallymart and it works just fine on rubber and paint.

[Rick Lee]

I do have Brakleen and it's even the non-chlorinated stuff. Back of the can says "DO NOT spray on painted surfaces". I really want to protect my red finish, but get them clean too.

[A Quiet Boom]

Richard, spray a little on a rag and test on the back side of the caliper. I have a feeling it will be fine with the caliper paint. Also if you spray it on a rag first you won't soak the calipers and therefore won't have to worry about it damaging seals which it shouldn't damage anyway.

[89911]

If those calipers are the factory paint, then the stuff they use is very tough. Think about it, when you bleed your brakes, your going to get brake fluid on them. That stuff is 10 times worse then the quickly dissapating solvent in brake cleaner. I'm not sure what they use, but it must be some sort of two stage epoxy like material.

[Dan Owens]

Richard

You're starting to scare me, Rotor Only Cleaner? Perhaps if you snuff a little of it first you'll calm down and just use it. It's brake cleaner, clean away.

[KTL]

I wouldn't use it. That's just me.

If it says not to use it on rubber, then heed the warning.

I have had a few instances where the brake cleaner makes the dust boots shrivel up. This happened when I cleaned my Carrera calipers before I started to reseal them.

That brake cleaner is nasty stuff. It may not take the paint off, but it might dull it. I assume the brake cleaner formula doesn't worry about messing up paint because the vast majority of calipers and rotors are cast iron and unpainted.

I'd go the safe route and use the citrus or Simple Green.

[Rick Lee]

Ok, I just bought some citrus in a spray bottle and a toothbrush at the dollar store. Brake cleaner is gonna be for rotors only before I prime the hats and edges with Wurth zinc primer. Wait til you see how these look with my 996 5 spoke wheels!!!

[rbcsaver]

Ok, Some common sense logic here. Brake systems are composed of metal, rubber and often paint. There is no such thing as Rotor cleaner!!! The Brakleen Un-chlorinated stuff does say to protect paint and rubber from overspray. You should probably be rebuilding the rubber components anyway before your installation. Try some on a rag. I sincerely doubt that you'll do damage to the paint.
Brake Fluid and perhaps Brake Cleaner WILL eat paint off of a car...however, so will a bottle of CocaCola for that matter. Water based products on or in the steel components will do much more damage. Remember that the original inventor of citrus cleaners came upon this to clean graffiti paint from trains, bridges, etc.
regards,
Steve

[Rick Lee]

Thanks. I used the citrus and a brush and it worked fine.

[Neilk]

Hot water, Tide and a toothbrush. It worked wonders on my calipers.

[rbcsaver]

Neilk,
Just to keep others from getting water in side the calipers, what did you use to seal the brake line holes. One does NOT want water and probably worse Tide, in there. Liquid Electric Dishwasher detergent may be good to cut grease also. Those threads are unique.
regards,
Steve

[Dan Owens]

Careful of the citrus cleaners. Quite a few. (but not all) have various types of bleach and caustic additives that actually do the cleaning. The citrus in them is just for the smell/scent.