Cleaning the brake area on a RIM
- sandman
- Posts: 2025
- Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:36 pm
- Location: Alice Springs, NT
Cleaning the brake area on a RIM
Postby sandman » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:02 pm
Hi ALL
I've changed over to Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and put new brake pads on, equiv to an Ultegra/Dura Ace level. As I like to look after the bike, I was looking for some tips and techniques to keep the braking surface clean. Last night I used a bucket of luke warm water, some wax n polish car wash, a kitchen scour pad ( not too aggressive) and wore my fingers down getting rid of the marks.
Is there a better method, tools, cleaning agents for this job ?
Cheers..Pete
I've changed over to Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and put new brake pads on, equiv to an Ultegra/Dura Ace level. As I like to look after the bike, I was looking for some tips and techniques to keep the braking surface clean. Last night I used a bucket of luke warm water, some wax n polish car wash, a kitchen scour pad ( not too aggressive) and wore my fingers down getting rid of the marks.
Is there a better method, tools, cleaning agents for this job ?
Cheers..Pete
- jasimon
- Posts: 1330
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 9:56 am
- Location: Riding
Re: Cleaning the brake area on a RIM
Postby jasimon » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:16 pm
I don't know if it's better. But I have used a rag and some turps/meths and run the rag around the rim. I had been experiencing some grabbing or uneven braking due to some kind of gunk somewhere on one of my rims and this fixed that up nicely. Using one of those green kitchen scourers should work - I've heard of people using fine sandpaper on the rims and blocks as well.sandman wrote:Hi ALL
I've changed over to Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and put new brake pads on, equiv to an Ultegra/Dura Ace level. As I like to look after the bike, I was looking for some tips and techniques to keep the braking surface clean. Last night I used a bucket of luke warm water, some wax n polish car wash, a kitchen scour pad ( not too aggressive) and wore my fingers down getting rid of the marks.
Is there a better method, tools, cleaning agents for this job ?
Cheers..Pete
The wax n polish does not sound good on the rims - you don't want them to be waxed or polished.
- Boognoss
- Super Mod
- Posts: 6879
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:45 am
- Location: Castle Hill, NSW
- Contact:
Postby Boognoss » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:35 pm
I've used some of the aerosol alloy wheel cleaner (for cars) on my rims and that foam cuts through the brake dust like no-one's business. You just leave the foam on for 30 seconds and wipe off. All the gunge wipes off too. So far no damage to the alloy on the Blade's wheels, I haven't needed to do the Corsa yet.
Salsa Casseroll, Avanti Quantum, Specialized Tricross, Specialized Allez, Cell SS
-
- Posts: 298
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:12 am
Postby stevos » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:36 pm
also wondered the same thing however i have carbon rims with alu braking surface so dont really want to put turps on them?
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." -Lance Armstrong
-
- Posts: 1191
- Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:45 pm
- Location: Canberra ACT
Postby thomas_cho » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:57 pm
A bike shop once recommended to me alcohol swabs. The ones used to clean wounds, I think they contain 90% iso-propyl alcohol.
Methalayted spirits supposedly wear the rubber of the tyres.
I just use green scrubbing pads, cut them to size, jam them between the rim and brakes, and ride it for a short distance, while applying gentle pressure on the brakes.
Inspecting and cleaning the brake pads is a must as well. Sometimes there are bits stuck in the compound which can cut into the rim.
Methalayted spirits supposedly wear the rubber of the tyres.
I just use green scrubbing pads, cut them to size, jam them between the rim and brakes, and ride it for a short distance, while applying gentle pressure on the brakes.
Inspecting and cleaning the brake pads is a must as well. Sometimes there are bits stuck in the compound which can cut into the rim.
- Kalgrm
- Super Mod
- Posts: 9653
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 5:21 pm
- Location: Success, WA
- Contact:
- jasimon
- Posts: 1330
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 9:56 am
- Location: Riding
Postby jasimon » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:57 pm
Given that methylated spirits is ~99% ethyl alcohol and 1% methyl alcohol I would be surprised if it has any substantially different effect on rubber than iso-propyl alcohol. (What's a carbon and a few hydrogen atoms between friends after all?)thomas_cho wrote:Methalayted spirits supposedly wear the rubber of the tyres.
At any rate, meths on a rag is recommended in a bike book I have - doesn't mean it's accurate, but it is in print which gives it a minimum level of veracity.
In any case, one wouldn't want to tempt fate by rubbing it on the tyres.
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Postby Mulger bill » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:40 pm
Yep, works a treat. Only a few seconds work and they're gleaming.thomas_cho wrote:A bike shop once recommended to me alcohol swabs. The ones used to clean wounds, I think they contain 90% iso-propyl alcohol.
Shaun
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
London Boy 29/12/2011
-
- Posts: 521
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 7:25 pm
- Location: NW Sydney
Postby mikeg » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:45 pm
The need to frequently clean the braking surface, and pick out bits of rim from the brake pads is dependant on the brand and quality of the braking materials used.
The original brake pads on my Specialised Sirrus Pro had me removing rim chips every few rides. After replacing the pads with some salmon Kool-Stop pads and having done at least 4000 kms on them, there is no grinding from rim chips, because they don't collect bits, and the rims stay clean. I have also put Kool-Stops on the road bikes brakes, with the same good result for the fewer k's that I have done on it, but with about 500 km, the rims are guite clean. Wiping a finger on the braking surface results in a clean finger.
IMHO I believe that the rims will last longer not having flakes and chips continually being removed from the braking surface.
The original brake pads on my Specialised Sirrus Pro had me removing rim chips every few rides. After replacing the pads with some salmon Kool-Stop pads and having done at least 4000 kms on them, there is no grinding from rim chips, because they don't collect bits, and the rims stay clean. I have also put Kool-Stops on the road bikes brakes, with the same good result for the fewer k's that I have done on it, but with about 500 km, the rims are guite clean. Wiping a finger on the braking surface results in a clean finger.
IMHO I believe that the rims will last longer not having flakes and chips continually being removed from the braking surface.
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Postby il padrone » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:16 pm
Methylated spirits doesn't have any harmful effects on the rubber o-ring seal on my Trangia stove burnerthomas_cho wrote:Methalayted spirits supposedly wear the rubber of the tyres.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- Blaze
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 9:59 am
- Location: Knox
- Aushiker
- Posts: 22399
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:55 pm
- Location: Walyalup land
- Contact:
Postby Aushiker » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:23 am
Good point ... maybe bike tires are not rubberil padrone wrote:Methylated spirits doesn't have any harmful effects on the rubber o-ring seal on my Trangia stove burner
Andrew
Andrew
Aushiker.com
Aushiker.com
- toolonglegs
- Posts: 15463
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
- Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!
Postby toolonglegs » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:29 am
clean rims ...whats that.Brake Clean I think is safe on most things...not sure about Carbon or more so the clear coat.When I used to road race motorbikes I would use it on the new tyres to clean of the slippery new surface....bike tyres are a bit thinner I suppose.
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.