Contaminated brakes

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Hi all,

On my rear brakes, after the wheel cylinder failed, the brake shoes got soaked in brake fluid.

Should I change them for new ones or will they be okay?

[Hogie]

Hi,
      if it was DOT 3 or 4 wash them with boiling water and when dry play a blow lamp over them. Should be OK.
If silicon - bin them.

Roger

[TedTaylor]

An OLD dodge for cleaning brake shoes contaminated with back axle oil that originated in the 1950s or earlier (saw it in Popular Motorist or something similar from the time).  I used it in the mid 1960s with axle oil contaminated rear shoes on the Morgan +4 in the late 1960s (as an impecunious teacher everything was done on a budget in those days).

Boil the shoes in Harpic (a strong toilet cleaner), then boil them again in fresh water to clean out the Harpic.  It worked a treat but my Mum was not too chuffed ....... I used one of her best saucepans!

MUT

[nang]

Harpic???? Clean round the bend. (eek)(eek)(eek)
Tony.

[Davemate]

Personally,it's brakes,I'd fit new ones

[nicmk1est]

put new ones in   SAFETY FIRST

[sparky_spit]

Cleaning with boiling water/Harpic/etc might be okay for riveted linings but I wouldn't trust it on bonded linings.  You've only got to think what happens on an old motorbike when a brake lining comes adrift to realise it could be a bad idea.

[Hogie]

Hi Folks,
           boiling water only gets to 100'C - I'm sure the brakes get a little bit hotter than that when in use.  Why is brake fluid designed to work up to 450'C

DOT3 & 4 will happily mix with water and will wash off.

Roger

[JohnD]

Isn't meths the usual dilutant/wash off for brake fluid?
Mountain bikers, who use hydraulic brakes, use meths or Isopropyl alcohol.
The latter is what is used in 'medical wipes' and is available in bottles on eBay.

John

[Velocita Rosso]

For what they cost, I personally would fit new
For a handful of notes not worth the hassle

[daver clasper]

Hi

I've used Gunk and braking performance was back (on the rolling road test), as before contamination.

As long as the linings stay bonded to shoes I can't see it's an issue (though this is my DIYers view, not an experts).

Cheers Dave

[Stuart Wilson]

As others have said why bother just buy some new as it is a safety critical part of the car. Yes I suppose if you were really stuck you could, but nowadays parts are available on line with next day delivery

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Hi all,

I'm not going to bother cleaning the old ones - I have a new set in a box somewhere so I'll just use those. I was asking as I didn't know if they actually needed changing or not. I'll keep the old ones for re-lining though.

[Deleted User]

Seriously buy new, is it really that much of an expense to buy them ? as it says above, safety first and at least you have peace of mind.
Rob