rotharpunc

I know this has been discussed in depth but I must not be searching using the right terms and Im impatient and its bugging me sooooo...what should I use to clean the brake residue off of the braking surfaces? I need to know for both steel and alloy rims.

ginsoakedboy

Rubbing alcohol - on a scotchbrite pad works very well.

poprad

If it's REALLY funked up and the scotchbrite doesn't get the surface smooth I have used the fine grit sandpaper covered foam blocks like they sell at auto parts stores. I go very lightly with the 600 grit and remove as little material as possible. This does take some life out of the rim, so be sure the scotch brite and elbow grease won't do the trick first.

That's for alloy rims, I don't have any steel rims so no idea on those.

rotharpunc

Ill try those, any other ideas? I dont want to take sand paper to my rims! I thought I remembered someone saying use simple green, but I always thought that stuff was bad for alloy parts

rotharpunc

anyone?

Wino Ryder

I still have some of that Blue Magic metal polish thats also a pretty strong cleaner with the ammonia content. I apply the stuff with #0000 steel wool and it does an excellent job of cleaning braking surfaces on rims.

lotek 

Goo gone has worked for me in the past.

mkeller234

I had some alloy rims that were really gunked up, I used some mothers aluminum polish and a old t-shirt to clean them.

I use some chrome polish or something similar and a t-shirt on my steel rims.

sced

Paint stripper? It breaks down everything.

infinityeye

just sand um.

rotharpunc

on the alloy, possibly, on the steel, no way!

infinityeye

well duh...

USAZorro

mineral spirits with the scotch brite - if it's not too bad

Mike Mills

Use grease, very heavy grease so it does not spin off while riding. :-)

Just kidding, sheesh!

RobbieTunes

I had some old anodized rims that the Purple Stuff cleaner messed up. It didn't mess up the newer ones at all.

BengeBoy 

I have never tried this, but - how about trying that stuff you use to clean aluminum car wheels? You spray it on, let it sit for a minute or too, take it off with a rag or cleaning pad?

poprad

I wouldn't sweat the sanding thing if done lightly. Every time you use your brakes with even a small amount of road grime you're doing the same thing, but much harder. Think about it. If you sand it on the bench then you're just doing it as much as needed to bring the brake track back to a good surface. I did this last year to set of very, very gunked up Weinmann concaves that are not known for wall thickness, and they cleaned up very nicely. I had tried everything from the green scrubbee and windex through a brillo pad and auto brake cleaner, nothing but the sandpaper would even touched the 30 year old brake residue. They work like brand new and with the salmon cool stops they bite like a pit bull.

dawes56

I have used acetone (nail polish remover --- get some with no scent or additives) and also lighter fluid with success to clean residue off rims. Do not ask why I had lighter fluid around...that was years ago. Just be careful to avoid getting either on your tire sidewalls.

Pete

Ablaut

...that's what Mothers chrome polish is. Works like a charm for shining things up, but for me it didn't clean up braking surface. So I'm stumped.

Ablaut

I'm trying to clean some rims, too... I tried pure acetone + rag, but even that didn't clean up brake residue. Would 0000 grit steel wool work?

USAZorro

I'd try copper wool, or 300+ grit sandpaper before steel wool. If you do use it, go very lightly.

munski1968

Yeah, and remember not to SMOKE around it too!

Fibber

The solvent cotton wad product Cotton Cleanser works fairly well on rims (alloy & chrome steel).

munski1968

Will normal household cleaners: Simple Green, Formula 409, Clorox, et al., break down alloy rims a lot quicker than the aforementioned cleaners? Just curious.

Mike Mills

The "cleaners" mentioned are mostly pure solvents. The ones mentioned (acetone, alcohol, etc) evaporate and leave no residue. The "normal household cleaners" you mentioned tend to leave junk behind - beware.