Is it worth it?
Just been looking at this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Muc-Off_Re-Hydrating_Disc_Brake_Cleaner_400ml_Aerosol/5360016302/
Usually I just clean them when I clean the rest of the bike, with normal bike cleaner. Should I be using special stuff as well?
In the unlikely event that you need to clean your discs (e.g. if you got oil on them) Halfords bog standard car disc brake cleaner is cheaper and IPA is even cheaper and more effective IME.
If I get anything nefarious on my rotors soapy water suffices.
IPA/Brake cleaner - 99p for 500ml aerosol.
But generally, unless they get oil on them the pads do a pretty good job of cleaning them.
Car brake cleaner is no good - it leaves a residue on the discs which gets burnt off at car temperatures but not at bike temperatures. I use IPA
In the unlikely event that you need to clean your discs (e.g. if you got oil on them) Halfords bog standard car disc brake cleaner is cheaper and IPA is even cheaper and more effective IME.
DO NOT use car disc brake cleaner. It has rust inhibitors in it (cast iron discs on cars rust quickly and readily) which can not only limit the power of MTB disc brakes, but even worse can contaminate your brake pads.
Personally, soap and water and then a rag to wipe them dry... But if you do get something nasty (chain lube or GT85 or the like) on them, then MTB specific disc brake cleaner is what you want to use...
Though how often should you clean them? Practically never TBH. Disc brakes work better when they've got a thin coating of pad material on them, so to clean this off will reduce the power. You only want to clean them if you've got something undesirable on them in the first place...
Tried a few things to clean my discs, so eventually took them off, and placed them on a hot plate ring on the cooker and heated them up both sides, the crap that burnt off, also works for pads, but dont get them to hot,dont forget theyre very hot so move them with a set of pliers, and be carefull where you put them down, i used a plate.
Oh and they stink a bit, so switch on the cooker hood.
I find Uvex Lens cleaning solution excellent for cleaning brake rotors and brake fluid spillages, and best of all I get it for free.
[url= http://www.buckandhickman.com/find/category-is-L0JA+Janitorial/category-is-CH+Chemicals+and+Cleaning+Agents/category-is-CH13+Surface+Cleaners/product-is-1120635 ]Uvex[/url]
Just find a big, long steep descent. I don't think I've ever purposefully cleaned my discs and never had a problem with the rotors.
DO NOT use car disc brake cleaner. It has rust inhibitors in it
I suspect this is an urban myth put about to sell more expensive bike products, especially as it's also sold as a general purpose degreaser and in some cases a clutch cleaner. I've just sprayed some on some glass and let it eveporate and there's nothing visible left. Any disc brake cleaner manufacturers on here? Anyway, use IPA if you're worried.
Rotor cleaning = pointless* and possibly a bad idea if you use organic pads (which supposedly need go coat the rotor).
* unless you get oil or similar on them, in which case some soapy water will sort them.