brakes

Waspy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 8, 2012
672
276
OK, I've just looked it up and surgical spirit often has a small amount of castor oil, not good obviously.

Apologies Nealh

I'm off to Halfords tomorrow!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nealh

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
21,743
8,838
62
West Sx RH
OK, I've just looked it up and surgical spirit often has a small amount of castor oil, not good obviously.

Apologies Nealh

I'm off to Halfords tomorrow!
Accepted.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
21,743
8,838
62
West Sx RH
Isoproponol is widely used for cleaning PCB's due to it being nigh on neat spirit, being neat it leaves no residues.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
21,743
8,838
62
West Sx RH
Technically surgical spirit is a formulation used in medical terms, it contains castor oil and oil of wintergreen
Rubbing oil can also contain ethyl alcohol.
If one sticks to 99.99% Isoproponol then it is a good brake cleanser .
 

billyboya

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 10, 2016
1,194
102
73
uk
Technically surgical spirit is a formulation used in medical terms, it contains castor oil and oil of wintergreen
Rubbing oil can also contain ethyl alcohol.
If one sticks to 99.99% Isopropanol then it is a good brake cleanser .
Well that's convinced me. so will get some Isopropanol
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
21,743
8,838
62
West Sx RH
Well that's convinced me. so will get some Isopropanol
Use Isoproponol for the rotors , it will clean up the surface which occasionally may pick up grease and road detritus .
Pads shouldn't get contaminated unless one has a fluid leak, sometimes the surface may get a bit shiny and not bite so well or attract pad dust debris. For this one can simply wash them clean with washing up liquid between the surfaces and lightly rub them together and rinse in water. One can also lightly a braid the pad surface with 120 grit sand paper or wet and dry.
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
9,448
4,205
Telford
Well that's convinced me. so will get some Isopropanol
In 15 years of ebiking, I'be never cleaned my brakes with anything. Once, when I was putting in new pads, i took the opportunity to clean all the crud out, then I put a bit of silicone grease around the pistons. From time to time on various bikes, I had groaning noises, especially after rain, but it was gone again after the next ride.

My advice is to save your money and effort. Just use your bike, and as long as the brakes work, wait to see whether the noise goes away. I think you're panicking over nothing.

I'm fixing my friend's bike at the moment. His back brake wasn't working very well with the same brakes as you have. I found that his disc was covered in an oily mess, which seems to have come from his method of lubricating the chain. I just cleaned it all off with a rag, and already it's a lot better. A bit more use will wear all the remaining grease off the pads and disc. I'm not going to use any solvent. What I would say, though, is that it would have been a lot quicker to clean the disc if I'd used solvent.
 

billyboya

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 10, 2016
1,194
102
73
uk
In 15 years of ebiking, I'be never cleaned my brakes with anything. Once, when I was putting in new pads, i took the opportunity to clean all the crud out, then I put a bit of silicone grease around the pistons. From time to time on various bikes, I had groaning noises, especially after rain, but it was gone again after the next ride.

My advice is to save your money and effort. Just use your bike, and as long as the brakes work, wait to see whether the noise goes away. I think you're panicking over nothing.

I'm fixing my friend's bike at the moment. His back brake wasn't working very well with the same brakes as you have. I found that his disc was covered in an oily mess, which seems to have come from his method of lubricating the chain. I just cleaned it all off with a rag, and already it's a lot better. A bit more use will wear all the remaining grease off the pads and disc. I'm not going to use any solvent. What I would say, though, is that it would have been a lot quicker to clean the disc if I'd used solvent.
Well to be honest, I think maybe its because the pads need bedding in more. as they do seem a bit better today, still have a slight squeak when applying front brake at a stop. but will clean the rotor see what that does

Regarding using the walk assist to take my bike up 16 steps. 2 x 8 Im not so sure if the W.A. would be that powerful. but will give it a try, if no good. will just go back to lifting it up stairs.
 

AndyBike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 8, 2020
1,773
761
Regarding using the walk assist to take my bike up 16 steps.
Great wee vid on how easy it is using assist.


If you are buying brake cleaner- the spray type. Get it from an automotive shop rather than out a bike shop as you'll get a humongous sized tin for the same price as a small tin out the bike shop.
You can scoosh it everywhere, not just the rotors, the calipers too.

I use playing cards to align my calipers. Playing cards are a very consistent thickness and when its 4 one side,4 the other you know it is absolutely spot on centered.
 
Last edited:

billyboya

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 10, 2016
1,194
102
73
uk
Great wee vid on how easy it is using assist.


If you are buying brake cleaner- the spray type. Get it from an automotive shop rather than out a bike shop as you'll get a humongous sized tin for the same price as a small tin out the bike shop.
You can scoosh it everywhere, not just the rotors, the calipers too.

I use playing cards to align my calipers. Playing cards are a very consistent thickness and when its 4 one side,4 the other you know it is absolutely spot on centered.

Well lets hope W.A. is powerful enough to take my bike up 16 stairs. I'm a bit worried in case I catch my right leg on left pedal as that would be murder, as got bad legs. I suppose I could fasten pedal out of the way, but don't think you can as they turn with the wheel I think
 

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
4,036
2,855
Winchester
Well lets hope W.A. is powerful enough to take my bike up 16 stairs. I'm a bit worried in case I catch my right leg on left pedal as that would be murder, as got bad legs. I suppose I could fasten pedal out of the way, but don't think you can as they turn with the wheel I think
Usually the pedals will only turn with the wheel if the freewheel is a bit sticky.
You could clip the left pedal to the frame to be sure it stays out of the way; 5 second job with a bungee.
 

billyboya

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 10, 2016
1,194
102
73
uk
Usually the pedals will only turn with the wheel if the freewheel is a bit sticky.
You could clip the left pedal to the frame to be sure it stays out of the way; 5 second job with a bungee.

Yeah will do that then thanks for info
 

Sparksandbangs

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 16, 2025
325
136
Folding pedals will be the next upgrade.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: sjpt

billyboya

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 10, 2016
1,194
102
73
uk
Would using the walk assist then be strong enough to make bike climb my stairs as its 16 steps 2 lots of 8
I have not so far tried it yet as i will do once I have bought some isopropanol to clean my brakes