cleaning brake calipers - advice

[edcoyle1]

Hi Folks,

front calipers on the wrx are quite rough, tried seveal off the shelf products to clean them like alloy wheel cleaner, tar remover etc using a tooth brush and other brushes but no joy..... any advice would be appreciated ..

 

[BazGF8]

Only way is freshen them up is paint them really

 

[edcoyle1]

Only way is freshen them up is paint them really

yea i was trying to avoid painting them.... i could remove and have the blasted but was trying to avoid if possible...... cheers

 

[GORDON GT SERIES II]

Have you tried a wore wheel on them maybe take the roughness out of them

 

[edcoyle1]

Have you tried a wore wheel on them maybe take the roughness out of them

Havent gordon but may give that a try, think i have one somewhere...cheers

 

[scoobydave]

get yourself a bottle off iron ph formula, won’t fully clear it but will remove a lot

 

[edcoyle1]

get yourself a bottle off iron ph formula, won’t fully clear it but will remove a lot

Where can you get that Dave? I can try Halfords, maybe they have some.. cheers

 

[Eoinmack]

I done that job on my last car.... tedious but enjoyable lol
Granted, I sprayed them too but the surface under the new paint was much better anyway.
Not saying this is the correct way, but it worked for me.
Clean calipers down with wheel brush to get heavy shite off.
Wire wool also, good stuff to be fair.
Used 2 products, Bilt Hamber Iron Fallout Remover, let it soak for a good bit, but not dry on
Rinse
Then an Autoglym All Purpose Cleaner mixed fairly strong (1:4 I think? Maybe 1:3, can't remember...)
Rinse
Repeat again if needed

I got mine down to a fairly good silvery finish with this, smooth too with the wire wool, they were not perfect, but I was spraying as I said so it wasn't an issue, but I'm sure with enough elbow grease you could get them looking A1

If that fails, you could take them off and get them blasted, but you will probably need new seals and pistons and what not to be safe afterwards in case any sand or glass beads got into those areas
Got that done also before, think was 80 for the blasting

 

[scoobydave]

As Eoin described Halfords yeah. Really good on alloys to remove brake dust aswell

 

[edcoyle1]

I done that job on my last car.... tedious but enjoyable lol
Granted, I sprayed them too but the surface under the new paint was much better anyway.
Not saying this is the correct way, but it worked for me.
Clean calipers down with wheel brush to get heavy shite off.
Wire wool also, good stuff to be fair.
Used 2 products, Bilt Hamber Iron Fallout Remover, let it soak for a good bit, but not dry on
Rinse
Then an Autoglym All Purpose Cleaner mixed fairly strong (1:4 I think? Maybe 1:3, can't remember...)
Rinse
Repeat again if needed

I got mine down to a fairly good silvery finish with this, smooth too with the wire wool, they were not perfect, but I was spraying as I said so it wasn't an issue, but I'm sure with enough elbow grease you could get them looking A1

If that fails, you could take them off and get them blasted, but you will probably need new seals and pistons and what not to be safe afterwards in case any sand or glass beads got into those areas
Got that done also before, think was 80 for the blasting

Tks Eoin, that should keep me busy for a while I’ll give that a go and hopefully they’ll look much better, thanks again.. Ed

 

[Sheriff]

I'd get a non-acidic wheel cleaner but wire wool would be best.

 

[doggy]

Good advice there. I'd say it's a function of the casting of the caliper leaving the finish like that versus a painted/lacquered finish