Brake fluid on brake pads

[Wil Ferch]

Coming off of the thread on the miserable experience removing the rear dust shield on my car.....I also had this problem.

I got a small amount of brake fluid ( ATE Blue) on 20% of one of the pads. I cleaned it off and used a rubbing alcohol-soaked rag to go over the area in an effort to "clean" the pad surface that was wet.

Will this work? Are the pads now junk? These are Pagid Orange and the $ cost is a factor to re-use these.

-- Wil

[304065]

Wil,

That stinks. I would replace the pad. You don't want any contaminants on the pad surface, and I would be concerned that it soaked in. With only one pad affected, if you do experience lower torque from that pad it could do some weird things on braking.

Given the application of oranges for racing or serious DE, I wouldn't compromise.



How worn was it?

[Wil Ferch]

It was about 10-25% gone....fairly new....

As I said....it hit about 20% of the pad surface...not the whole thing...


BTW...this is a Right-Rear pad..not any one of the fronts....so "maybe" ...all things considered.. I may be OK...

Wil

[fastpat]

First, cure the leak for sure.

You want spray Brake Cleaner, I forget the brand, the one I use is in a tall black can available in most auto parts stores. This stuff cuts oil and brake fluid pronto, and has quite a bit of force in the spray stream, but use it outside only, it's very volatile. Then go out and heat up the brakes, a lot. This is to evaporate any remaining fluid and cleaning solvent.

However, even if the fluid is only visible on 20% of the pad, if it's soaked in over time, trash can the pad.

[ttweed]

Maybe try some heat on the pad to burn off any oil and solvents before reinstalling it, then test them to see if there is any pulling before any track use? Maybe a little judicious torching on the pad surface? They'll withstand about 1000F+, won't they? Most of the hydrocarbons should burn off well before that. I'd hate to throw away the $$$ for those Pagid orange pads, too.

TT

[Wil Ferch]

That's a good idea.....heat the puppies up....I'll try to contact Pagid directly for advice too. If anything new ( or conclusive ) comes out ...I'll post the answer.

Wil

PS---It wasn't a "leak" as such that needed to br fixed. I was dinking with removing the rear dust shields ( as noted...a separate thread)..and while I had the caliper off....I must have leaked some fluid on the pads ( "protected" , as they were...on the ground under the centerline of the car, doncha know !)....that I had under the car once I pulled them .

dummy me....

[lateapex911]

I bet this happens ALL the time at shops all across the country, including respected P car shops.

I am sure the mech wipes it off with a rag, grabs a can of brakeclean and sprays away.

IF it was left alone, and IF it reduced the effectiveness of that section of the pad to zero, that caliper would lose 10% of it's effectiveness. Or the rear would lose 5%. But I think that if you cleaned it off, then went after it with the solvent designed to clean up brake fluid, (brake clean!) you should be just fine.

I see the point about the loss of balance, but I just don't think it's going to be an issue. IF it is, then replace them. The disc can't be affected, so there is really nothing to lose by trying to clean it up.

[Wil Ferch]

Jake...

Yeah !! ( ahem..I mean....yes...that sounds reasonable)....

- Wil ( dodging another $$$ bullet)

[efhughes3]

Originally posted by lateapex911

IF it was left alone, and IF it reduced the effectiveness of that section of the pad to zero, that caliper would lose 10% of it's effectiveness. Or the rear would lose 5%. But I think that if you cleaned it off, then went after it with the solvent designed to clean up brake fluid, (brake clean!) you should be just fine.

I don't agree. If there is still fluid in the pad, you can just about bet the heat generated will spread that stuff across the entire pad. It won't stay contained in one small section.