Some questions about brakes

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Apologies for this. It must have been the 20 odd years of working on my own brakes including notorious Yamaha's and having not one problem with using WD to clean the brake pistons. As far as i remember oil or grease don't appear in my post and WD is mainly used by people as a penetrating and cleaning solution.

I guess it's lucky old me and i must thank my lucky stars despite being such a stupid

I will go and trap my fingers in the door as a punishment for causing such an reaction...

PS Perhaps I should start a poll

If youv'e been working on brakes for 20 odd years then you should know better.
I do believe WD is petroleum based
Brake manufacturers are quite specific as to what kind of materials are safe to use.
So

despite being such a stupid

why compromise on your own safety

 

[Stewart H]

I just use brake fluid and a worn pan scrubber or an old toothbrush it gets all of the crap off fast and harmlessly, if you change the brake fluid annually you will soon have the odd litre of it lying around,and its good for little else. I have aerosol brake cleaner in the garage, but thats for cleaning the packing grease off new discs,
Stewart

 

[Wrigsby1]

I stand "learnt" even if a little patronised. I have worked on "my" brakes and have used WD as a cleaner for years and years. I have never had a brake problem more than seized pad pins and because of that i have not had to clean them overly much. This has done OK for approx 450,000 miles but obviously it's not good to hand it on.

I withdraw my advice wholeheartedly and gratefully...

Two observations.... Don't expect your calipers to get any sort of a clean at a dealer... and the main cause of brake binding is underuse...

Perhaps enlightening information on cleaning and the use of jetwashes will follow...

 

[Stewart H]

I stand "learnt" even if a little patronised. I have worked on "my" brakes and have used WD as a cleaner for years and years. I have never had a brake problem more than seized pad pins and because of that i have not had to clean them overly much. This has done OK for approx 450,000 miles but obviously it's not good to hand it on.

I withdraw my advice wholeheartedly and gratefully...

Two observations.... Don't expect your calipers to get any sort of a clean at a dealer... and the main cause of brake binding is underuse...

Perhaps enlightening information on cleaning and the use of jetwashes will follow...

My apologies if I put you down, that was not intended, I am sure WD40 is pretty much harmless to the seals, and its solvent, lubricant and water displacment properties are well known, I would fall back on my long experience in the motor trade to back up my other advice
I totally agree about the underuse, guilty of it myself.
Stewart

 

[Packer]

I believe that WD40 is a mixture of white spirit and mineral oil so seal damage will depend on the materials used for the seals.

It's your brakes, your life, your hands. If in doubt don't use it.

Of course it may be a useful fix if your seals are knackered and need a bit of "swelling" to get a few more miles out of them.

 

[Wrigsby1]

I believe that WD40 is a mixture of white spirit and mineral oil so seal damage will depend on the materials used for the seals.

It's your brakes, your life, your hands. If in doubt don't use it.

Of course it may be a useful fix if your seals are knackered and need a bit of "swelling" to get a few more miles out of them.

Nope, used it "by accident" all this time but now stand corrected. As seen many times on the forum, there are the subtle ways of "learning" someone as with many of the regular helpers and the approach where you are treated like a bit of a twt.

I will use my new knowledge in the future thanks to the advice of people like yourself and Stewart H. As for the brigade. I will actively avoid.

Cheers chaps

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

As for the brigade. I will actively avoid.

ME??????

I don't do subtlety, if you want someone to hold your hand and say, there there never mind, santa will bring you a new one, ask your mother.

I will use my new knowledge in the future thanks to the advice of people like

 

[topcat2006]

Is synthetic (purple) brake fluid ok to use. The stuff I am thinking is DOT 5:

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail....itre)&catID=&frostCat=&frostSubCat=&subCatID=

Some people say it is and some not. If it is it sounds good - no corrosion if it is spilt, not hygroscopic so doesn't need to be replaced every couple of years....

Thanks

Tom

 

[Wrigsby1]

ME??????

I don't do subtlety, if you want someone to hold your hand and say, there there never mind, santa will bring you a new one, ask your mother.

QED...

I worked in and around the bike trade (not as a mechanic, Kenny so you can put away the smelling salts) for 15 years and so have met all the know-it-all one-upmans I ever want to meet. I also have worked in bike sales for BMW and have had to put up with the "why don't they use stainless" engineer types. I had to do "the customer is always right" shite but what i really wanted to do was go tell 'em to get a life.

As you wanted to have an apoplexy over my use of WD40 to clean my calipers I have put you in the IAMexpert/BMW Moaners Club/my bike is the best thing since sliced bread brigade.

I ride as much of the year as I can and wave at other bikers, even Goldwings, Harleys and smart arses. I can spot a pub bore at a thousand paces and I actively avoid biker groups. I am done with agreeing with "experts" just to shut them up.

I may use brake cleaner from now on but the mischievious side of me might just keep using WD for the hell of it and post each time I use just to wind you up.

Happy Riding on your R1200 ADV (30th)



PS To the man who started this thread, i hope you fixed your brakes...

 

[Stewart H]

Is synthetic (purple) brake fluid ok to use. The stuff I am thinking is DOT 5:

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail....itre)&catID=&frostCat=&frostSubCat=&subCatID=

Some people say it is and some not. If it is it sounds good - no corrosion if it is spilt, not hygroscopic so doesn't need to be replaced every couple of years....

Thanks

Tom

I think the manual says dot 4
Stewart

 

[Wrigsby1]

Oh gawd I may be ready to die laughing... Dot 5 doesn't mix with 3 or 4 as it may cause damage to seals etc Mind that was in Wikipedia

No honest, that's what I remember also due to the different makeup of 3/4 against 5. Wiki also said it wasn't sutiable for ABS but that's a new one on me.

Dot 4 is what most people use and is still fine.

 

[jaak]

DOT 5

DOT 5 is a newer silicone based formula. It's no good for the older breaking systems.
Use DOT 4!

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

QED...

I worked in and around the bike trade (not as a mechanic, Kenny so you can put away the smelling salts)

No salts but I do have a defib

I have put you in the IAMexpert/

NOPE

BMW Moaners Club/

NOPE

my bike is the best thing since sliced bread brigade.

NOPE, but it is damn good.

I ride as much of the year as I can and wave at other bikers, even Goldwings, Harleys and smart arses.

Me too

I can spot a pub bore

Soz, don't do pubs

I am done with agreeing with "experts" just to shut them up.

Just tell them to shutup without agreeing with them

I may use brake cleaner from now on but the mischievious side of me might just keep using WD for the hell of it and post each time I use just to wind you up.

I would rather you didn't as I fear for your safety and work is busy enough already
Happy Riding on your R1200 ADV (30th) Absolutely loving it

 

[Steptoe]

DOT 5 is a newer silicone based formula. It's no good for the older breaking systems.
Use DOT 4!

It isn't new. I was using dot 5 nearly 30 years ago.

Do not use dot 5 (silicone) fluid in your bmw brake system, or any other braking system unless specified.

But you can use dot 5.1 which is synthetic fluid and not to be confused with dot 5.

 

[topcat2006]

Thanks guys. I only ask as if you read the blurb on the side of the tub its super dooper and compatible with everything!

Regards

Tom