I’m in the middle of replacing pads and rotors, and I got grease all over one of the new rotors. I’m all out of brakleen, and all I have laying around is throttle body cleaner. Can I use this instead to clean off the new rotors?
Sure, any solvent that evaporates quickly with no or very little residue will work. Long before brakleen appeared brake components were cleaned with something else.
You can also soap and water as a last resort....preferably something like Dawn, that cuts grease well
Probably takes longer to get a response to this question than it takes to hit the parts store and get another can of brake cleaner.
Brakleen is Acetone, Oreilly's 9.49 for 24 ounces. Home Depot Klean Strip Acetone 21.96 for 1 Gal. or 5.333 cans of Brakleen.
Reminds me of what one of my old teachers used to say about getting greasy finger prints on brake shoes. He always said the easiest way is not to put your greasy fingers on the shoes.
I should have added in my first post that there are two formulation of brake cleaning products. One is chlorinated and is drastically different, in price and content, than the more common one that is mostly petroleum based. search for 'chlorinated brakleen msds' then search again without 'chlorinated'. vastly different. Denatured alcohol is also a great degreaser if one wants to be sure all contaminates are gone.
Gearhead confession moment... I keep a bottle of Dawn in the shower. The blue stuff. For those times when I get oil/grease/ATF everywhere, usually my hair, dawn does the trick. I think it works better than the gritty orange crap, TBH.
Hey if it’s good enough for duckies and penguins it’s good enough for me ! I have used dawn with great success for cleaning oil and grease off my concrete driveway . brake clean is awesome for cleaning stuff . But there is a ton of other stuff just as good in a pinch .
I used the throttle body cleaner, went for a drive when I was all done, and I didn’t die. Good enough for me! Thanks!
Just use brake cleaner for brake components and carb cleaner for carbs and throttle body's. Simple and not rocket science issue. WTF!!
That reads like the secret fuel recipe for a 60's gasser. Just needs a touch of hydrazine... Cheers, Harv
Be aware that non-flammable brake clean is now a thing, and it is AWFUL! Avoid at all costs. Unfortunately the can looks incredibly similar so your gonna have to put your reading glasses on.
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