Easy way to clean rotors.

[Stefan Mikes]

A simple automotive brake cleaning spray means several seconds of work and excellent results.

 

[PedalUma]

A simple automotive brake cleaning spray means several seconds of work and excellent results.

With a bit of 220 grit emery paper. Then you can huff the the remaining spray in a paper bag and take a selfie.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Why? Apply the spray and the grime just flows down onto a piece of a paper towel

See the cassette and the brake rotor. All what was needed was the brake cleaner fluid.

 

[fooferdoggie]

18 percent sounds intimidating. How do you ascend? A 450 pound bike would need 368 newtons, or 243 newton meters on a 26" wheel.


is not that bad we have done 22% now that was really hard. bbut we have the tandem geared Low so we can climb anything around.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Why? Apply the spray and the grime just flows down onto a piece of a paper towel


See the cassette and the brake rotor. All what was needed was the brake cleaner fluid.

The cleaner won't remove any of the black streaks. If you use it every time, you have to bed in the pads too. I just use alcohol unless it won't get rid of the noise.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Horses for courses It has worked for me well.
I'll post a close-up photo of my rotors morning my time.

Meanwhile: what amount of black streaks can you see in this photo?

 

[PedalUma]

Also clean the speed magnet or you will not be able to selfie to show that you went 15mph like a seven-year-old girl on a 20" coaster brake bike.

 

[Chargeride]

That brake cleaner is very bad for you.

I suggest alternating nostrils to be safe

 

[fooferdoggie]

HThat brake cleaner is very bad for you.

I suggest alternating nostrils to be safe

ya its nasty I use it once In awhile but not on the drive chain.

 

[stompandgo]

With a bit of 220 grit emery paper. Then you can huff the the remaining spray in a paper bag and take a selfie.

You sound like an expert with this.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Also clean the speed magnet or you will not be able to selfie to show that you went 15mph like a seven-year-old girl on a 20" coaster brake bike.

Cleaned.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Disk brakes are made of friction components (the rotor and brake pads). Good disk brakes do clean themselves as you are applying the brakes. Unless the rotors are stained with some fat or oil (even coming from human fingers), there is hardly any need to clean them.

This rotor was never cleaned since its install (April 9th, 2023).

If you must clean the rotor, a simple automotive brake cleaner will do.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Disk brakes are made of friction components (the rotor and brake pads). Good disk brakes do clean themselves as you are applying the brakes. Unless the rotors are stained with some fat or oil (even coming from human fingers), there is hardly any need to clean them.



This rotor was never cleaned since its install (April 9th, 2023).

If you must clean the rotor, a simple automotive brake cleaner will do.

yes but with a lot of heat any small amount of contaminate becomes the back stuff. or like on my new bike I had a bit of disc rub and the rotors both got the black on them. the brake cleaner wont clean the black off at all.

 

[6zfshdb]

The only time I clean my rotors is when they get noisy. No reason to clean them otherwise.

 

[fooferdoggie]

The only time I clean my rotors is when they get noisy. No reason to clean them otherwise.

yep. though its good to take some alcohol in a spray bottle and flush the dust from the caliper once in awhile. our tandem developed a leak in the caliper. I kept getting black stuff on the rotor I would clean it and it would come back, found the bottom of the caliper had oil on it. that was after about 16,000 miles of hard braking.

 

[PedalUma]

A max speed of 23 mph is great on a girl's 20" $127 bike coaster brake bike for a six-year old going down a hill. Congratulations on the grand achievement. That is your Max speed. 37.8 Kph. I still want a selfie showing you can compete with a six-year-old girl on a $127 bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

yes but with a lot of heat any small amount of contaminate becomes the back stuff. or like on my new bike I had a bit of disc rub and the rotors both got the black on them. the brake cleaner wont clean the black off at all.

How does the "black" affect your braking?

The only time I clean my rotors is when they get noisy. No reason to clean them otherwise.

Well, the brakes get noisy under one or more circumstances:

• During the rain; the heat released during braking makes the brakes silent soon
• Brake contamination, especially during terrain rides. Washing the bike with water usually cleans the brakes, too
• Contamination with oil/fat: the brakes must get cleaned.

There is also the rotor/brake pad contamination. Organic brake pads are usually quieter than the semi-metallic. Still, I use both on my e-bikes and the brakes are silent for most of the time. And well, there are better or worse rotors and pads.
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As long as the braking action is good, there's no need to clean the rotors. Applying sandpaper is just removing a next tiny portion of metal that should be actually rubbed off by brake pads on the braking action.
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Uma, I don't intend to reply to your comments written under influence, only remind me: what are the assisted speed limits in California, especially for the minors?