Learn the proper way to clean new brake rotors
How to clean new brake rotors before installation
New brake rotors are not ready to be used outside of the box. Most have an anti-rust coating applied at the factory to prevent rust during shipping and storage. In addition, there’s always a small amount of machining debris left on the surface of the rotor. If not cleaned properly, the metallic particles will embed into the brake pad, causing noise problems. This aritcle will show you how to best clean new brake rotors before installing them on your vehicle.
This article is part of a series. Read these other two important brake job “musts” before installing new brakes.
How to clean hub surfaces to prevent lateral runout, disc thickness variation, and brake pedal pulsation
Use the correct brake grease
What parts to replace during a brake job
Remove any anti-rust coatings with aerosol brake cleaner and a shop towel
Spray the entire rotor with brake clean. Then, wipe off all the anti-rust coatings.
Next, wash the brake rotor with hot, soapy water and a brush
Yes, you read that right. Never heard of that step? Welcome to the club. Brake parts manufacturers now require this step to remove any residual metal filing left in the rotor finishing grooves. If you skip this step, those metallic particles will embed into the brake pads and cause noise.
Fill a tub with hot, soapy water and use a scrub brush to remove cleaner residue. You may not think this step is important, but it is. Aerosol brake cleaner does NOT remove these metallic particles. It actually drives them deeper into the machined grooves.
Think I’m “full of it?” Watch this training video from Federal Modul’s Wagner brake division. This is now the official prepare new brake rotors advice from all manufacturers.
Prepare new brakes rotors by washing with hot soapy water and a brush
Take a look at these cleaning images showing how much metallic debris is left on a new rotor after cleaning with just aerosol brake cleaner.
New brake rotor coated with anti-rust varnish like substance
Here’s the same rotor after removing the anti-rust coating with aerosol brake cleaner
Here’s how much metallic dust was still left on the rotor after cleaning with aerosol cleaner. This was the first wipe after washing with hot water and soap
Here’s the result of three rounds of scrubbing with hot water and soap. See how much extra machining residue came off?
©, 2015 Rick Muscoplat
Posted on by Rick Muscoplat