Brake and Clutch Cleaner
Why and when do brakes and clutches need cleaning?
As a rule, cleaning is done when replacing brake pads and rotors (drums) or the clutch disc and pressure plate assembly.
When you replace brake pads, fingerprints are bound to remain on the brake rotors or drums, and they need to be removed. New brake rotors or drums even come coated with grease that protects them from corrosion. On the first brake application, grease-coated friction surfaces may not provide proper deceleration: the car simply will not stop. To avoid such problems, after installing the pads be sure to clean the grease off the friction surfaces with brake and clutch parts cleaner.
The same applies to clutch parts. When replacing the clutch disc and pressure plate assembly, be sure to treat the flywheel and the pressure plate with brake and clutch parts cleaner before installation, and then install the new parts, trying not to touch the friction surfaces with your hands. If the parts are not degreased, the clutch may slip, overheat and fail.
Do friction surfaces need to be wiped with a rag after treatment with brake and clutch parts cleaner?
After treatment with brake and clutch parts cleaner, there is no need to wipe the friction surfaces with a rag: the strong spray and the solvent in the cleaner remove contamination very well. A rag may not be perfectly clean and will only put oil and grease back on the surfaces they have just been removed from.
Can brake and clutch parts cleaner be used to clean other parts, or is it only for friction surfaces?
Brake and clutch parts cleaner can be used to clean not only friction surfaces but also other parts of the brake system or clutch mechanism. It can also be used as a general-purpose degreaser.
Can brake and clutch parts cleaner damage a car’s paintwork?
Brake and clutch parts cleaner contains solvents that do not attack automotive paintwork. So you need not worry if it gets on painted surfaces.
Can brake and clutch parts cleaner be used at low temperatures?
A can of brake and clutch parts cleaner contains not only propane-butane but also carbon dioxide. Compared with propane-butane alone, this mixture keeps the pressure inside the can more stable when the temperature changes, so the spray stays strong enough even below freezing.
