Hi guys I painted my callipers today but after cleaning sanding/wire brush I used a lot brake cleaner on the callipers to make sure the was spotless while still on the car I was reading that it’s bad for rubber boots and seals. Can any please tell me if I damage anything? I thought brake cleaner could be used on all components of the brakes.

 

 

 Thanks in advance 

Brake cleaner is not friendly to rubber!!

 

Worst case scenario is you’ll end up with deals like shown .... If this is not fixed then the calliper piston will rust, resulting in seizure as water will be able to get by the seal. This may take a while to happen, but eventually it will happen. 
 

This was my calliper, which I’ve since replace all rubber seals. 

 

 

Ah wow how did your rubber end up like that?   When I sprayed the calliper it was still on with pads in place, I thought u could use it to clean the calliper

By using copious amounts of brake cleaner, like you did! 
 

You can use it to clean the calliper, but you have to be carful with the rubbers. If you wipe it straight off it’ll be alright, but letting it dwell on the rubber will feck it up, as we’ve both found!

Ok thankyou I better get those seals and runners changed

Is that some special sort of caliper? It does not appear to have the lugs to locate the opposing brake pad & hence nothing to clamp against.

 

what have I missed?

 

Or is it one half of a disassembled twin opposing piston caliper?

Edited 11 April, 20206 yr by J.R.

Not a special calliper, it’s off a MK1 Octavia vRS?!?

 

The front pad rest against the carrier, which I didn’t need to remove it in order to strip and rebuild the calliper. 

Edited 11 April, 20206 yr by jars

57 minutes ago, Mikeyd1 said:

Ok thankyou I better get those seals and runners changed

 

Check the brake cleaner you used, some are safe for rubber components, I think it depends on the mix/concentration of the solvents used .. ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone etc and many others, not all will cause the swelling of the rubber as in the pics .... check and double check, if the rubber is going to swell it will have done it in a very short time after application.

 

Hope it helps.

Thanks JARS, I have some of those calipers and carriers which I bought as a big brake upgrade for my Yeti but turned out to be incomaptible, I will have a closer look at them when I am allowed to return to the UK.

Halfords brake cleaner it says nothing about rubber

12 minutes ago, Mikeyd1 said:

Halfords brake cleaner it says nothing about rubber

 

 

 

No but it says not to spray onto brake linings, which you will have if you did it in situ.

But it says no need to dismantle 

5 hours ago, Mikeyd1 said:

Halfords brake cleaner it says nothing about rubber

 

I would check the Safety sheet ... it should tell you the ingredients/compounds used ... my guess is its likely to be butane, isobutane and petrol , none of which are likely to be great for rubber in large quantities.

Did you let it flash off or did you wash it off after application?

10 hours ago, TruckbusUK said:

 

I would check the Safety sheet ... it should tell you the ingredients/compounds used ... my guess is its likely to be butane, isobutane and petrol , none of which are likely to be great for rubber in large quantities.

Did you let it flash off or did you wash it off after application?

I didn’t wash off I thought I needed to clean brakes so i used brake cleaner I thought it was the done thing, this what happens when I think I’m doing something right it ends up wrong

This is what I could find 

12 hours ago, TruckbusUK said:

I would check the Safety sheet ... it should tell you the ingredients/compounds used ... my guess is its likely to be butane, isobutane and petrol , none of which are likely to be great for rubber in large quantities.

Nailed it!

 

 

None of the rubbers and seals look swollen or anything,

Now that you have already sprayed everything you have got 2 options. replace everything just in case, or carry on as if it never happened and deal with any premature deterioration further down the line if it causes any issues, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, it will be fine.

13 minutes ago, SuperbTWM said:

Now that you have already sprayed everything you have got 2 options. replace everything just in case, or carry on as if it never happened and deal with any premature deterioration further down the line if it causes any issues, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, it will be fine.

Yeh think u right mate

Apply Red Rubber Grease. At least until the rubber is replaced, and then to the replacements.

1 hour ago, SuperbTWM said:

Now that you have already sprayed everything you have got 2 options. replace everything just in case, or carry on as if it never happened and deal with any premature deterioration further down the line if it causes any issues, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, it will be fine.

 

I would concur, but I would also keep an eye on it and check every so often for deterioration.

 

"Brake Cleaner" covers a multitude of sins ... tbh, you generally get what you pay for (but not always.) Best to check and double check for the future purchases.

I have been using brake cleaner for years. Well over 35 years +.

I have until now, never heard of or seen this happen to dust seals or piston seals.

All seals will deteriorate over the years. 

If your seals weep, its because of other reasons. Dirt in outer seals ect.

My van, now 10 years old has been serviced every year + & sill to date I have not replaced any seals or calipers.

 

So Mickeyd1, dont worry too much, just inspect every 6-8 months, & still spray the cleaner before dismantling.  

 

Edited 12 April, 20206 yr by Carlodiesel

7 minutes ago, Carlodiesel said:

I have been using brake cleaner for years. Well over 35 years +.

I have until now, never heard of or seen this happen to dust seals or piston seals.

All seals will deteriorate over the years. 

If your seals weep, its because of other reasons. Dirt in outer seals ect.

My van, now 10 years old has been serviced every year + & sill to date I have not replaced any seals or calipers.

 

So Mickeyd1, dont worry too much, just inspect every 6-8 months, & still spray the cleaner before dismantling.  

 

Thankyou mate your advice is much appreciated

1 hour ago, TruckbusUK said:

 

I would concur, but I would also keep an eye on it and check every so often for deterioration.

 

"Brake Cleaner" covers a multitude of sins ... tbh, you generally get what you pay for (but not always.) Best to check and double check for the future purchases.

Thankyou

2 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

Apply Red Rubber Grease. At least until the rubber is replaced, and then to the replacements.

I’ll do that thank, so I apply while still on and just apply to what I can see? Or does calliper need to come off? Thanks 

Apply to what you can see now.

When doing a rebuild apply as required.  Loads of information if you just google  red brake grease.