How to Clean Mountain Bike Metal Disc Brakes
If you’re wondering “how to clean mountain bike metal disc brakes” you’ve come to the right place!
It’s no longer out of place to see disc brake bikes riding around, from hardcore roadie world championship training grinds to the weekly shop ride, to the townie bar crawl – the metal brakes that were once only a staple on mountain bikes have become the new standard.
While metal disc brakes have an enormous impact on your ride, they can often be heavier and sometimes harder to maintain which means it’s important to have a thorough understanding of how best to care for your metal disc brakes.
In this article we’ll explore what metal disc brakes actually are, how to clean your mountain bike metal disc brakes, the benefits of cleaning your metal disc brakes as well as the best products to use.
What are disc brakes?
Before we discuss how to clean mountain bike metal disc brakes, we first need to understand what metal disc brakes actually are.
There are two main types of metal disc brakes: mechanical, which works with cables and hydraulic, which replaces the cables with hydraulic fluid in a fully sealed line. When you brake, the pressure forces the fluid to move into the caliper, pressing the pads against the disc.
Metal disc brakes sit at the centre of each wheel and stop the bike by squeezing a brake pad against a rotor mounted on the hub. Once found only on mountain bikes and a few road bikes, metal disc brakes are now found on all categories of bikes due to their superior stopping power, especially in sloppy conditions. Aside from superior stopping power, metal disc brakes also deliver consistent braking, reliability in wet weather, a faster ride, reduced wear on wheels and better clearance. On the other hand, metal disc brakes often weigh more, are more expensive, require maintenance and can be dangerous.
Next we’ll talk about how to clean metal disc brakes on a bike.
How to clean mountain bike metal disc brakes
So, what is the best way to clean your mountain bike? You always want to make sure you’re getting quiet, consistent and powerful stopping from your disc brakes, and the best way to do so is by keeping them clean!
The first clue that something isn’t quite right with your metal disc brakes is usually a lot of howling noises and stains on the rotors combined with a reduction in braking power. Often oil and other contaminants making their way into the rotor and pads can reduce friction and as a result, performance. The clear solution here is to make sure you keep your metal disc brakes clean, but what’s the best way to do so?
The general consensus when it comes to cleaning disc brakes is to use a specialist product that doesn’t leave any residue. Metal disc brakes work best when there is a consistent braking surface created by material transfer from the pad to the rotors, so you’ll want to reach for a product that maintains this relationship while removing grime.
Step 1:
The first step when cleaning your metal disc brakes is to remove the brake pads and disc itself by placing the mountain bike on a stand and removing the wheel. Once you’ve removed the wheel, remove the brake pads using an appropriate method for the style brake caliper your bike has:
Pin style: Use needle nose pliers to pull the pin out and then use the head of the pliers to push the brake pads out.
Spring style: Use pliers to compress the pads and then pull them through the back of the caliper to remove them.
Magnet style: Pull out the brake pads with pliers from the front of the caliper.
Clip style: Again, simply pull out the brake pads with pliers.
Step 2:
Next, place the brake pads and disc on a bed of lint free towels and put on a pair of latex gloves – this will prevent any oil transfer to the bakes. You’ll then want to go in with a Specialist product like WD-40 Specialist Brake & Parts Cleaner and spray the metal disc liberally. Wipe away any residue product until the brake cleaner evaporates entirely. From https://steedcycles.com/blog/brake-pads/, contaminated brake pad should not be used.
Step 3:
Finally, use some low grit dry sandpaper to rough up the surface of both the brake pads and the part of the disc which the pads contact. Re-clean the metal disc with the brake and parts cleaner and you’re ready to re-install the brake pads and disc.
The benefits of cleaning your disc brakes
We’ve explained how to clean disc brakes on bikes, but what are the benefits? The last thing you want to do after a ride is clean the disc brakes on your mountain bike, but keeping up with regular maintenance is the best way to ensure your bike stays working in top condition. In fact, after a ride is often the best time to clean your bike – before the dirt, road grime and salt have a chance to set it, dry and do any damage.
Your disc brakes will generally only need sandblasting if they have become contaminated with oils or cleaning products, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye out for when they’re due for a sandblasting.
While disc brakes aren’t exactly the most exciting part of your mountain bike, the ability to stop safely and quickly should never be underestimated. Dirty brakes, no matter what style or the kind of bike they’re attached to, are significantly less efficient. A poorly maintained braking system is bound to increase your stopping distance which means you’ll likely have to brake much earlier than you intend to stop, and is also potentially far more dangerous.
The key take away is that a regularly maintained and cleaned disc brake is a well-functioning disc brake, something we all want!
Choosing your Specialist brake and parts cleaner
As we mentioned previously, the best way to clean your mountain bike is to choose a specialist product. We all know how important it is to keep your brakes well maintained, and when all the associated parts are kept clean, they’ll perform much more smoothly and last longer.
The WD-40 Specialist Brake & Parts Cleaner is fast acting and works with all of your bike’s moving parts meaning you can get the job done quickly and easily without leaving residue.
The formula is a fast-drying, super powerful spray designed to dissolve grease, oil and dust from brakes and parts. Plus, it works fast, dissolving residual oil, grease and brake fluid in minimal time to leave your disc brakes shiny and clean.
We recommend regular use of WD-40 Specialist Brake and Parts Cleaner to help prolong the life of brake discs and pads, and also cut out brake noise for a smoother ride.
The WD-40 Specialist Range
As we’ve mentioned, dirty brakes, regardless of the style or bike they’re attached to, are far less efficient and for something as important as road safety, you can’t really afford to go wrong.
To make sure your mountain bike disc brakes are functioning as best they can, we recommend bringing in a specialist. WD-40 Specialist Brake & Parts Cleaner is a fast-drying, super powerful formula that dissolves grease, oil and dust from your disc brakes, without leaving any residue.
No matter which specialist product you reach for, the decades of science behind WD-40 products and formulas deliver the superior performance you need.