How to clean disc brakes on a bicycle

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Jon Woodhouse's picture

Jon Woodhouse

Jon was previously the editor here at off.road.cc. Whether it's big days out on the gravel bike or hurtling down technical singletracks, if it's got two wheels and can be ridden on dirt, then he's into it. He's previously been technical editor at BikeRadar.com, editor at What Mountain Bike Magazine and also web editor at Singletrackworld.co.uk. Yes, he's been around the houses.

3 comments

1 year 11 months ago

Refreshing to read an article that stays clear of pushing  expensive oversold proprietary products in fluorescent plastic trigger-head bottles! Soap and water, or meths!

2 years 5 months ago

organic pads can sometimes be baked to neutralise the effect of a comtaminant. maybe dont use the kitchen oven though.

for sintered pads .. remove from caliper, spray with window cleaner, wait a few seconds and rinse. clears most comtaminants and surface glaze effortlessly.

for rotors .. remove from wheel and carefully wipe down / wash with neat household bleach or oven cleaner. rinse thoroughly and dry completely. reinstall and proceed with brake-in process.

3 years 4 months ago

"If using brake cleaners make sure you use bicycle specific ones as car brake cleaners sometimes include oil to stop cast iron discs from rusting."

I call bullshit on that.