Brake calliper cleaning

[Rubyred]

Hi all. What is the best substance to clean the brake callipers on my C Class AMG Line. They have a slightly rough finish with Mercedes stamped and highlighted on the calliper.
They are a bugger to get at through the alloy wheels so it would be a wheel off job.
Thanks,
Keith

 

[W1ghty]

Alloy wheel cleaner and a brush (start with a non acid one first )

 

[Rubyred]

Alloy wheel cleaner and a brush (start with a non acid one first )

Thanks for that, will give that a go. Just hate taking the wheels off. Callipers fairly clean at the moment so will wait until they need a decent clean.
Keith

 

[W1ghty]

Thanks for that, will give that a go. Just hate taking the wheels off. Callipers fairly clean at the moment so will wait until they need a decent clean.
Keith

It’s a good summer job .
Also you can add some iron fallout remover as well .

 

[Gazwould]

Rr what alloys do you have ?

 

[Rubyred]

Rr what alloys do you have ?

I have the 19in AMG close vaned ones. I would put a photo on but have just put the cover on the car.
There is a picture of my car in another section of the forum, think it’s in general discussion bit.
Hyacinth Red C Class.
keith

 

[Rubyred]

Just an update on trying to clean the callipers on the car. They are not particularly dirty but just needed a spruce up. Tried alloy wheel cleaner, no difference. Tried brake cleaner, no difference, so tried fine wire wool, looks better but not brilliant. Not sure what to try now. But wire wooled the brakes back plate and they came up well, makes the discs look bigger.

 

[geoffus]

Take the wheels off and use a rotary wire brush on your drill, when they are really clean de-grease and paint them black or silver with caliper paint.

 

[Rubyred]

That sounds a bit brutal Geoffus and I don’t want to paint them. They are a slightly rough finish with Mercedes etched into the front of the calliper.

 

[Big1Jim]

Do you have any pictures?

 

[et0609]

If they are the same ones I have, they are cast aluminium and the dirty marks on them are in the cast itself and you cant clean them. Nothing will work, I gave up and will one day day get them painted.

 

[Rubyred]

You could be right there. The finish is an unpainted slightly rough bare alloy.
I will try and get a picture up.

 

[Rubyred]

Picture of said calliper, sorry for not taking the wheel off again, they are flipping heavy.
Hope you can see it ok.

 

[et0609]

Yes, mine are the same, to be honest yours do look quite clean, better than mine, but long term I think the only option is painting them. When I do, I will get them done properly than attempt a DIY job myself.

 

[Will]

I would try some alloy wheel cleaner (the colour changing ‘fallout’ remover type), along with a little agitation with a brush and a pressure washer.

It’s going to be mainly brake dust (iron staining from the discs and pad material) bonded to the rough finish - hopefully that should help to shift it.

Should be no need to paint those - would probably look nasty painted as the surface finish is rough?

 

[T5R+]

Whilst waiting, decided to change the discs/pads.

If keeping it quick and simple DIY........

Wipe off calipers with degreaser Gunk/Jizer/Autoglym or even petrol. Allow to dry.
Put/cut a piece of masking tape around the logo.
Hammerite brush on paint.

This is a 1 hour job inc drying time. ( I leave car parked up overnight to allow full cure of paint)

 

[Rubyred]

They are pretty clean after the wire wool treatment et, maybe I’m too fussy.
Would rather not paint them T5R, I like the factory finish as long as I can keep them fairly clean.
Thanks for everyone’s input, appreciated.

 

[MCFastybloke]

First time out you really need to get wheel off, fallout remover,wash off, then i have a foaming cleaner"Geo Gel" and set to with a detailing brush and repeatedly go round product,agitate rinse till you happy with it.I sprayed some hyrophobic coating after, then you can clean them with a brush/wheel woollie as part of your normal clean. I have spoked wheels and do mine day before i wash the body,still take an hour tho to do all four corners.

 

[Rubyred]

Many thanks for that MCFasty

 

[unclebuck]

I use bilt and hamber alloy cleaner on mine with some fine grade wire wool and the green scotch pads, comes up a treat, takes several cleans but does the job. I clean them when i have the wheels off cleaning them also. pics B, C and rear show the calipers after a good clean.

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