In the process of doing a full strip down of the Hope Mono M4 from my wife's bike after it kept sticking. Realised the brass barrel in the lever was seized and causing the problem. Plenty of gunk around the piston and I've bought the seals so thought I'd crack in anyway.
Just cleaning the alloy lever reservoir before reassembly. Want to get it clean. Was wondering if GT85 on a cotton bud is ok as it contains PTFE or does it have some mineral oil contact which will cause the seals to swell? Would soap and water be better?
Also wondering if there is a handy 'bodge' for undoing the bore cover screws- I'm a bit reluctant to spend £12 on the two different tools to use once and then clutter up my tool box.
Radical, I know, but why not use brake cleaner?
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) With brakes and suspension just use the right stuff so you don't have to worry.
Radical, I know, but why not use brake cleaner?
I was aware of disc brake cleaner and it's use for removing contaminants from rotors (which the use it appears to be marketed for). I wasn't sure if using it to clean internals would leave any residue or cause any problem with the brake fluid. My thought were if I can use a product I have already it'll save buying a more specific product which I'll have less frequent use for.
I'll get some Isopropyl alcohol (although my patient cotton budding seems to done a pretty good job!)
I think the job is on hold for tonight: can't get the bore caps off and when refitting the dust cover clip it pinged off the end of my cir lip pliers into a bookcase. Not a chance of finding it. Looks like I'll need to get a replacement when I buy the bore cap tools!
Just realised that neither of the bore caps are the same size as my Minis- so I'll need 3 tools (unless someone wants to swap a set of hope mono M4s for a set of minis!
Brake (and clutch) cleaner is, as far as I know, mostly IPA and possibly some other light solvents. I've used it for cleaning all kinds of things, it evaporates quickly and doesn't appear to leave any nasty residues.
Electrical contact cleaner is very similar.
I wouldn't use soap for brake internals.
Job done now. Thanks to Altrincham Bike Shak who removed and replaced the bore caps for me.
It's amazing the difference it's made to the modulation of the brake. It's made me realise that the other brake will need similar treatment.
I managed to remove in inboard pistons with a blast of air from a track pump. Mode me think it should be possible to replace seals and service without removing the bore caps.
It's a sod of a job to clean the seal grooves, and replace the seals and pistons with the bore caps off when they're as small as the M4's,let alone with them still on, good luck 🙂