A properly functioning brake system in your car is essential for maintaining control when driving. And for it to remain in good condition regular maintenance is essential, as with every other vehicle system. For routine maintenance, you should use a brake part cleaner. How to use brake part cleaners properly will be discussed in this article. First is to wear your safety glasses as well as gloves, position the jack to the wheel you will clean first, secure your emergency brake and place the chocks behind your wheels. Loose the lug nuts and raise the vehicle until your tires are off the ground. Proceed to removing the wheels before applying the product as directed in the product’s packaging. Loosen the brake cleaner can's cap and place the plastic tube that came with it into the spray nozzle. Liberally spray the product on all brake parts and that includes the discs and drums, calipers and pads. When the product has thoroughly reached all the parts, wipe it off using a lint-free cloth before repositioning the wheels.
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You can always clean the brake parts without raising the car and removing each wheel, but the job would be less thorough. Instead, use a more cautious approach to ensure that nothing is removed from the equation. Most brake cleaners come in a spray can, which eliminates the need to disassemble the brake parts, making it a very convenient and straightforward project. There isn't much equipment needed to use spray-on brake cleaner except to remove the tire, so make sure you have your car's tire iron or an impact wrench on hand. Remember that you'll also need a set of jack stands to secure the vehicle.
What makes a brake cleaner unique from other cleaning solutions? Brake cleaner is a chemical-based aerosol spray that loosens grease, oil, dust, and debris from brake components, allowing them to easily run off as liquid. It swiftly disappears, leaving no sign of itself or the muck that's been generating annoying noises and maybe affecting the performance of your brakes – anything your brake pads come into contact with that isn't the braking rotor might cause your stops to take longer.
How to use brake part cleaners is rather easy when you follow directions. However, a word of caution: brake cleaner is not something you want to squirt around like air freshener. Some brake cleaners are highly combustible and contain caustic chemicals.
Chlorinated and non-chlorinated brake cleaners are the two most common types of brake cleaners on the market. Both of these products are recommended for cleaning your brakes and other engine components. However, because of its chemical congestion, the chlorinated form is somewhat damaging and aggressive to the human body. It's made with tetrachloroethylene, which is toxic to human skin.
Most brake cleaners also contain hazardous chemicals like acetone and methylene chloride, which you don't want on your skin, near your eyes, or anywhere else you care about. These chemicals can irritate your skin and eyes, induce dizziness and headaches, and long-term exposure can cause lung issues, unconsciousness, vomiting, and a variety of other unpleasant side effects.
If applied incorrectly, some of its chemical components can destroy your paint job, rims, or tires, depending on their chemical composition. As a result, if at all feasible, you should use a precise straw. Many reputable brake cleaners will include one of these to assist you in directing the spray precisely where you need it.
A non-chlorinated brake cleaner, on the other hand, is less active than a chlorinated brake cleaner. It is, however, recommended if you are not wearing gloves. This brake cleaner is less powerful, but no less poisonous, than its chlorinated counterpart, and it takes longer to dry. Non-chlorinated brake cleaners clean using a combination of hydrocarbon solvents and alcohols. Hexane, acetone, toluene, naphtha, benzene, xylene, and methanol can all be found in these mixtures. The chemicals in most non-chlorinated brake cleaners are exceedingly flammable. So be cautious.
Wearing a set of protective gloves and eyeglasses to help protect yourself is a smart idea. You should only use the brake cleaner in a well-ventilated area. Read the warning label on any spray-on cleaner before using it to determine if there are any precautions you should take.
How does brake cleaner work?
Since you want to find out how to use brake part cleaners you may also want to know how brake cleaners work. The road can be a filthy, grimy place; combine that with high friction, a little brake dust, and some old brake fluid from a brake job gone bad, and you've got yourself a lot of muck buildup right where you don't want it. Spray-on brake cleaners are one of the most effective ways to remove pollutants from around your brakes and ensure that nothing is obstructing your braking system.
Cleaning your braking system using a spray-on cleaner is less expensive than other car repairs and doesn't require much preparation time or the removal of important parts. It takes only a few minutes to complete, and most of the necessary tools and equipment can be found in any garage or storage shed. You probably already know how to use brake cleaning if you know how to change a tire and use an aerosol spray can.
Take a check at your brakes the next time you remove your tire to see if any dirt has built up on the braking system. A brake cleaner can be useful not only for cleaning brakes and ensuring that they function properly, but also for allowing you to examine portions of the braking system clearly before performing a repair.
Because of the combination of chemicals used to break down and wash away oil, dirt, and other debris from your vehicle's braking system, brake cleaners are successful in eliminating them. Some of those compounds can be dangerous, as we'll learn on the following pages, so use caution while using most aerosol cleansers.
Because dirt and impurities will wash off the brakes when you apply the brake cleaner, you'll need a pan to capture the surplus cleaner. There may be restrictions on where and how you dispose of the cleaner once you've finished depending on where you reside. Contact your state's environmental protection agency office, a city disposal office, or ask around at a local auto shop to find out how to dispose of the used brake cleaner in a proper container.
The Complete Preparation Guide on How to Use Brake Part Cleaners
How to use brake part cleaners the right way also includes preparation. While the brake linings, brake shoes, drums, rotors, caliper units, pads, and other parts of the braking mechanism are still intact, the cleaner can be used on them. As previously stated, brake cleaner can contain dangerous compounds, so you must not only make sure you're in a well-ventilated place and wearing the appropriate safety gear, but you must also make sure the car is protected.
These chemicals can destroy your vehicle's paint, final coat finish, and any plastics. Before you apply the brake cleaner, it's a good idea to cover any portions of the automobile that might be exposed to it. If you're going to use the cleaner outside, make sure you do so on a day when the wind won't cause the cleaner to spray on anything other than the brakes.
Aside from covering up regions of the vehicle, another precaution to take is to make sure that the brakes and any surrounding parts are absolutely cool before applying any brake cleaning. Because the chemicals in brake cleaner have the potential to suddenly combust, they should never be applied to any hot metal on the car. This combustion has the potential to unleash harmful substances into the air that are even more dangerous than they were when the container was first opened. Apart from these preparations, there aren't many measures to perform before applying the cleaner, as many brake cleaners don't require the brake parts to be dismantled first.
What should you not use brake cleaner on?
Avoid applying brake cleaner on plastics, rubber, or any painted surface that you want to keep looking good. How to use brake part cleaners when these components are present includes protecting these surfaces by applying a tiny amount of product at a time and applying it carefully. Additionally, before using any product, read the product's safety information.
When chlorinated brake cleaner comes into contact with heat or certain chemicals, it can produce lethal fumes. This is especially true when it comes to welding. Chlorinated solvent vapors can decompose into phosgene gas, a very hazardous gas that can cause low blood pressure, emphysema, heart failure, and even death if inhaled. Brake cleaner, when used appropriately, can be a low-cost, multi-purpose solvent for the shop or the home. When using brake cleaner for the first time, make sure you take caution with all chemicals and put safety first.
Now that you know where brake part cleaners should not be used, it's time to figure out where else other than brake parts they can be used instead. Brake part cleaners can be used to remove stains from clothing, remove ink and paint, clean surfaces, and even maintain firearms.
So, why may they be used to get rid of stains on clothes? The chemical perchloroethylene, which is often used in dry cleaners, is also utilized in chlorinated brake cleaners. Brake pad cleansers can thus be used to remove oil stains from greasy foods. Simply apply brake cleaner on the garments, stain with a small amount of brake cleaner, and put on gloves.
If you're removing a stain from carpets, spritz it with a diluted brake cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before brushing it away. Because brake cleaner can cut through glue and adhesives, don't let it get too far into the adhesive that holds the carpeting and the floor together.
Brake cleaner may be used to remove stubborn contaminants from most surfaces, whether you've spilt oil on your shop floor or your carpets have been soiled. If you have an oil leak in the shop, clean it up with an absorbent first, then scrub the residue with brake cleaner. Stains on concrete driveways and patios can be removed by scrubbing with brake cleaner.
Permanent markers, paint, and nail polish that have gotten on counters, tables, or walls can be successfully removed using brake cleaner. Non-chlorinated brake cleaners frequently contain acetone and other chemicals that aid in the removal of markings or spills caused by you or your children. As a cheaper alternative to famous gun scrubbers on the market, many gun owners swear by brake cleaner to keep the metal parts of their firearms pristine.
What's the difference between carb cleaner and brake cleaner?
A carburetor is an engine component that is responsible for mixing fuel and air in the combustion chamber. The carburetor not only mixes your air and fuel, but it must also do so in a balanced ratio in order for the combustion process to work properly. The carburetor's exact location varies from vehicle to vehicle, however it should be close to the intake manifold. Fuel lines should be attached to it, so that's a good method to find it.
So what is the difference between what is being used to clean carburetors vs the brakes? Brake cleaners are designed to clean your brake drums, shoes, and pads, whilst carb cleaners are primarily designed to clean carburetors and throttle bodies. Also, if you're cleaning your brakes while wearing gloves, the brake cleaner will work nicely. Carburetor cleaner, on the other hand, will quickly transform the process into sludge.
Carburetor cleaners, on the other hand, are designed to remove dirt, debris, and oily fluids from your cleansed component, leaving the surface clean and dry, whereas brake cleaners are designed to remove dirt, debris, and brake hardened carbons, which may leave a little oil towards the end of the day. Clean components are left dry and clean, which is bad for seals and gaskets. Carb cleaners leave a small amount of oil on your cleaned components, extending the life of your seals and gaskets.
How to use brake part cleaners properly includes not only knowing the step by step process but also has got something to do with understanding how the cleaning solution can affect your health and other surrounding parts of the brake system. Hope this article has been helpful.