Can I clean brake rotors with white spirit?

Does it work? In the cash strapped days i’d rather use something that i’ve already got in the shed.

You can do what you like mate, but I wouldn’t.

White Spirit is oil based.

Vodka would be better. Or Whisky. Or water and mud.

Hot soapy water will be as good as anything

Washing powder

Ta.

meths

I use Boots surgical spirit (recommended by the local motorcycle store) without any problems . . . comes in handy when I stack too 😉

Why not pinch a few of those alcohol wipes from the first aid kit at work?

surgical spirit has castor oil in it – isopropyl alcohol is “cleaner”

(or mud/water/soap/.. but maybe it’s unimportant)

Whats on them that needs cleaned off ?

GT85 overspray and assorted other rubbish.

Scotchbrite will clean them up beautifully.

Use rubbing alcohol-it evaporates and doesn’t leave any residue or anything that contaminates the pads.

If in doubt go to LBS and buy disc brake cleaner.

Don’t use GT85 or washing up liquid ffs.

mamadirt – Member

I use Boots surgical spirit (recommended by the local motorcycle store) without any problems . . . comes in handy when I stack too

You’re not sposed to drink it, love!!! 😉

Don’t use GT85 or washing up liquid ffs.

I don’t think anyone suggested GT85 – what’s wrong with washing up liquid?

lotta salt in that

I use some horrid schnapps I brought back from Austria – seems to work and better than drinking it.

I use meths which seems to do the job nicely.

Well, it does a fantastic job on chains, remove the chain, cover it in a tub, give it a shake a few times over half and hour… dry, relube, like new every time.

While I have peoples attention… what about Muckoff / Sh1t shifter?

Just get some brake disc cleaner, STP motorbike & car stuff is about £3 and in a bit bigger spray can than the normal £6 mountain bike tins are too, get to a car store.

Get some panel wipe, it’s only about £7 for a gallon from any decent motor factors.

lotta salt in that

Are you worried about it’s blood pressure or something?

Big box of alchohol wpies from the Chemist (they will think you are smackhhead) or get a job in a hospital and borrow some. Works well on decal glue, cleanign paintwork befor puttign on heli tape etc and all sorts of things.

I’ve got some absynthe you could use.

I use glass cleaner (windolene type stuff)

While I have peoples attention… what about Muckoff / Sh1t shifter?

Muck off shouldn’t be used anywhere near a bike! Terrible, nasty stuff…

I have to clean and degrease polished metal surfaces for work – the best stuff that’s cheap and easy to get on the High St is methylated spirit (meths). If they’re really greasy, you could use acetone (don’t get it on any paintwork), which you should be able to buy from a dispensing chemist – or as ‘cellulose thinners’ from car accessory shops.

I wouldn’t use white spirit, turps or petrol.

Just ride the bike – the rotors will be cleaned by the pads when you apply brakes. A *bit* of GT85 on the rotors will burn off with the heat generated.

I use a bottle of baby rabbit tears, some say this is wrong but I dont care

meths is what you need to use.
I can’t believe this has prompted a debate to be honest.

Meths – got a big red Sigg bottle of the stuff, comes in handy for everything!

As well as meths, IPA is also suitable i believe.

I have had in invite to go round to Terrahawks for a swig of meths.

At MM a few years back a certain bike designer from here and a mate of mine were using Jim Beam to degrease their rotors. Very Keef Richards.

were using Jim Beam to degrease their rotors

About all I would use it for.

Right then.

Cleaned rotors and pads with Fairy powder (non bio) and a bit of water then re-bedded them with a lot of drag induced heat and water.

Worked a treat.

10ft skid mark from the back brake. Other sort of skid mark from the rather spectacular stoppie caused by the front brake.

If I tried that with my front brake, i’d have another type of skid mark!!