Brake cleaner alternatives?

[quilty]

I just recently had my second run in with carelessly using brake cleaner resulting in damaged paint/powder coat.

That, coupled with the fact that I'm trying to be a bit more conscious of the chemicals that I routinely expose my body to leads me on the hunt for some alternatives to using brake clean.

Is there something out there that's less aggressive and more gentle on finished surfaces that are either painted or powder coated? I guess it'd be ideal if the alternative was somewhat less toxic to our bodies than brake clean as well.

Acetone? Isopropyl Alcohol? Mineral Spirits? What are the options here?

Ideally I'd like to be able to use something in a liquid form so I can do more precise applications like with a Q-Tip. My first bad run in with brake cleaner was from aerosol overspray. This is just for very general parts cleaning, thread chasing, cleaning out old loc-tite as well as anti-seize, etc.

 

[Metallitubby]

I mention this often, but since they are partners for our race team, I recommend this:

GTech

GTech

buygtech.com

 

[wssix99]

Acetone? Isopropyl Alcohol? Mineral Spirits? What are the options here?

It depends....

I keep two bottles of Isopropyl around, both purchased from the drug store. 70% and 90%. For delicate stuff, I'll use the 70% but usually go to the 99% Isopropyl for general grease cleaning and where I don't know the properties of things. I keep my 99% in a spray bottle and like it because most painted surfaces are resistant to it and it fully evaporates like brake cleaner.

Acetone and Brake Cleaner are in the quiver, but come out later, usually after some research.

For specialized chemicals like loctite, I lookup the instructions. They will tell you the best way to do it. For example, threadlocker requires heat/mechanical removal or a very specialized solvent: (its resistant to everything else) https://datasheets.tdx.henkel.com/LOCTITE-Threadlocker-Red-271---Repair-Liquid-en_US.pdf

For plastics, I use a sheet like this to confirm which solvents are safe for what I'm working on: https://capolight.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/solvent-compatibility-and-plastics/

 

[Wrench97]

I mention this often, but since they are partners for our race team, I recommend this:

GTech

GTech

buygtech.com

Is that water soluble as in you have to rinse it off after use or does it clean and dry up like regular old brake fluid?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I keep isopropyl alcohol and denatured alcohol. I got away from acetone to prevent painted surface boo-boos too. I used denatured alcohol a lot when I was doing leatherwork and just kept it.

With the above said, I still keep brake cleaner and carb cleaner for when I need to to clean brakes or carbs.

 

[Dagny]

I have a buddy at the ethanol plant.

 

[PWC Repair]

Have you tried "Awesome" cleaner? It works on just about everything.

 

[drmarkr]

OP has some good answers already, but I just want to make the comment that my 19 y/o and all of his buddies seem to think brake cleaner should be used to clean anything and everything. I buy it 4 cases at a time, for God's sake.

And being from Arizona, I offer my sympathies to those of you in the commie states that can't get the good stuff. The 50 state legal product royally *****.

https://a.co/d/gDyNm5m

 

[firebirdparts]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

 

[drmarkr]

Hmmm...maybe it's just me, but I like working on things that are clean. Or mostly clean. And when I pull a wheel off, that hasn't been off for 10,000 miles or more, everything in sight is pretty fugging nasty. So I clean it as I begin working on it. YMMV, of course.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

If there is a seal leak there is going to be some cleaning needed.

 

[LopezBart]

And being from Arizona, I offer my sympathies to those of you in the commie states that can't get the good stuff. The 50 state legal product royally *****.

I'm not sure what Communism has to do with reducing the risk of developing Parkinson's disease or various forms of cancer. In any case, avoid skin contact (e.g. wear gloves) and wear a organic vapor respirator if you don't have ample fresh air blowing the stuff away from you.

 

[john.k]

The brake shoes from my old crane resisted every kind of cleaner known.......even the old sure fire of soaking in gasoline and burning them off............600 grade worm gear oil dont come out easily.

 

[AJHD]

At the CAT dealer, we were only allowed to use dawn+water and isopropyl alcohol. Anything more harsh, even acetone, was "highly restricted".

The helicopter manufacture I most recently work for also used isopropyl and acetone almost exclusively. Anything more harsh had very specific and controlled/restricted use.

 

[Wrench97]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

Brake dust, spray it down before you work on it to keep from inhaling the dust.
Brake Fluid from wheel cylinders leaking, broken lines etc.
Grease/oil from wheel/axle seals leaking.

 

[4x4Pete]

A Chrysler dealership I worked for in the 80's would have us spray down the drum brake assemblies with a garden hose. It worked better than nothing.

 

[Aileron]

If you need it you can still get for now the older red canned CRC brake cleaner in a gallon can if you are wanting to use a qtip and don't want aerosol. You can put it in a sure shot can if needed for aerosol. I didn't want to stock up on aerosol cans only to have them loose the propellant when I need them down the line. You can get it in 5 gallon pails also but they are ball busters.

 

[Renegade1LI]

This is where the hot water pressure washer works great. I remove the wheels and clean the brakes and wheel, then hit it with cordless blower. Comes out way cleaner and no dust.

 

[Sumboodie]

This is where the hot water pressure washer works great. I remove the wheels and clean the brakes and wheel, then hit it with cordless blower. Comes out way cleaner and no dust.

Need to plug the axle tube though.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're looking for products for general cleaning and not specifically for brakes, mineral spirits is a good thing to have in your arsenal. It isn't good for everything, but it's safe to use on most things automotive.

 

[LopezBart]

The brake shoes from my old crane resisted every kind of cleaner known.......even the old sure fire of soaking in gasoline and burning them off............600 grade worm gear oil dont come out easily.

If this is 600W cylinder oil, this oil is compounded with an organic fat - typically lard. It is used in (non-condensing) steam engines and pumps, since it leaves a strong film on surfaces that are often wet, protecting them both during use and lay-up. You may find a hot/boiling TSP or lye solution works to remove the film since it will help saponify the oil, but the oil is quite tenacious. It's also hard to remove from wooden boat hulls; I've had a bit of luck there scrubbing with a strong hot Murphy's Oil Soap solution.

 

[Metallitubby]

Is that water soluble as in you have to rinse it off after use or does it clean and dry up like regular old brake fluid?

I rinse it off, but it's not required. It doesn't work for everything.

 

[Dixie_Flatline]

MEK

I used kerosene to clean some parts that were covered in grease. Mostly because I was out of brake cleaner and had some handy. Definitely miss having a solvent tank for cleaning up parts, thought about just buying that solvent by the gallon and using it in a sprayer.

 

[Dixie_Flatline]

Now that I am thinking about this topic, has anyone ever tried one of those steam cleaners? Not the big industrial wands that you use on HE, the smaller hand-held units. Wondering if that would work as well if not better than a solvent.

 

[drmarkr]

Now that I am thinking about this topic, has anyone ever tried one of those steam cleaners? Not the big industrial wands that you use on HE, the smaller hand-held units. Wondering if that would work as well if not better than a solvent.

we use them on our race cars. They actually work amazingly well for wishbones, uprights/hubs, etc on the formula cars. I haven't tried it on the daily's or the sports cars, but I probably should. We also use the floor attachment to clean the porcelain tile in the shop at home. It's a Stanley unit that cost about $175 on Amazon?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I rarely use brake cleaner on anything that can be rinsed with water.
In addition to those mentioned I usually have simple green, purple power and various household cleaners around. I also might use common hand cleaners (ZEP, Goop etc.). Most of the citrus based degreasers I've used seem to work OK.

 

[N_Jay]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

Greasy fingerprints on the rotor face

 

[LopezBart]

Greasy fingerprints on the rotor face

These come off nicely w/ a disposable shop towel + acetone; the latter has a lower toxicity than many other solvents often used for the purpose such as denatured alcohol, etc.

 

[BrandonV]

I use Simple Green Pro HD (purple) from Home Depot.

It's the same stuff as the Simple Green they use on Boeing aircraft just purple. It's aluminium safe.

 

[jayemm]

This is my main solvent. Evaporates quickly (too quickly sometimes). No residue but very convenient. Plastic safe. Just picked up a couple cans at $5.44 ea on Walmart closeout.

CRC QD Electronic Cleaner

CRC QD Electronic Cleaner is a petroleum distillate / alcohol based precision cleaner designed as an alternative to CFC based cleaners. Plastic safe.

www.crcindustries.com

 

[john.k]

When I did truck brakes ,I used to smear the new drums with a handfull of chassis grease...........this stops them from developing the harmful dry scoring that destroys drums............on the 3 axle coaches ,the single tire tag axle has full size brakes ,and greased drums save tires from flat spotting and blowouts.

 

[N_Jay]

When I did truck brakes ,I used to smear the new drums with a handfull of chassis grease...........this stops them from developing the harmful dry scoring that destroys drums............on the 3 axle coaches ,the single tire tag axle has full size brakes ,and greased drums save tires from flat spotting and blowouts.

You must be joking?

 

[john.k]

Trucks with 16 x 7 S-cam air brakes ...not pickups.

 

[BrandonV]

This is my main solvent. Evaporates quickly (too quickly sometimes). No residue but very convenient. Plastic safe. Just picked up a couple cans at $5.44 ea on Walmart closeout.

CRC QD Electronic Cleaner

CRC QD Electronic Cleaner is a petroleum distillate / alcohol based precision cleaner designed as an alternative to CFC based cleaners. Plastic safe.

www.crcindustries.com

Reminds me that MAF sensor cleaner is probably also an answer.

 

[N_Jay]

Trucks with 16 x 7 S-cam air brakes ...not pickups.

https://www.sisuaxles.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/MaintenanceManuals/12180-S-Cam-Drum-Brakes.pdf

Section 1.1.1

 

[DGersic]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

Rotor surface. Drum surface. I always seem to get a fingerprint or two on the surfaces that should be clean.

With drums, I hose out everything. Better than blowing it out with compressed air and breathing the resulting cloud of stuff, like we used to do.

 

[johninct]

For general cleanup, I use an autobody paint prep cleaner. I really liked the Napa one but the price became crazy.

 

[NHtoolguy]

So here's a dumb question:

What part of the brakes require cleaning? I literally don't know what part of brakes is improved by the application of solvents. Please help me.

I use it mostly for drum brake assemblies. When you remove the drum for service, all of the internal components are coated with a layer of dust from the friction material. The brake cleaner flushes it into a drain pan. That keeps the dust from being airborne, since it's not safe to breathe.

 

[vpd66]

ref=sr_1_12_sspa

About 10 years ago I stopped buying brake and carb cleaner and bought one of these sprayers. I go to Ace, Menards, or Fleet Farm (any store with a paint department) and buy lacquer thinner by the gallon. If you shop it right or use a coupon I can usually buy it for under $15 a gallon. I've never found anything that it can't do that brake or carb cleaner can do and is much more affordable.

 

[firebirdparts]

Thanks for the answers. I don't use it, obviously, and I'm probably not going to start. I don't think brake dust is soluble in anything, but I admit having done no research. Grease is. Brake fluid is soluble in water, but it also evaporates. I couldn't tell you the last time I found something leaking, though. Not common at my house.

I can see where this would have been different 40 years ago. At that time, I was driving a 1959 Ford pickup with a rear axle we traded for. I don't know what it came out of, but obviously it had drum brakes and not obviously shoeleather axle seals. It was a dirtier time.