can you clean a disc brake pad?

[ifrider]

Is there a way to clean a disc pad? I have heard both, yes and no. Which one is it? I have some resin shimano pads off my xtr hydros, and they make all kinds (I MEAN ALL KINDS) of noise when braking. Yep, they are aligned, shimmed, etc. Anyone got anything that works? I thought about sanding, but wonder about alcohol, or something...will that dry em out too much?

Thanks!

[cMc]

Rubbing alcohol on a terry cloth towel. ;)

[myron]

I would clean them with emery or crocus cloth...

sincerely,
Glazed and Confused
Lee's Summit, Mo

[brown group]

if the pad has been contaminated with an oil then nothing you do will help. how old are they? do fresh pads make the squeeking go away?
these folks:

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/MountainBike.html

make some good pad options

[tryandgetme]

automotive or motorcycle brake cleaner. the pads are made out of the same stuff. works great.

[cMc]

Whoops. I suck at reading comp.

To clean your pads, bake 'en in the oven at 450F for 20 minutes or so. That'll do it.

Or, just buy new ones.

[bitchslapmadman]

i put them in the dishwasher and theni apply fire.

or

buy disc doctor.

[Spatafore]

Did they sound this way the whole time you have owned them or did the noise just start recently?

[Mauriceman]

Motorex or other brake cleaner and a wire brush, yeaaa...

[RIC0]

Clean the rotor really, really good with alcohol or brake cleaner.

[cMc]

If you're just trying to cure the squeaky/noicy brakes, try the iPod solution. It works wonders on squeaky bike parts.

[tryandgetme]

hey, that's how I fix the rattles and bangs from my dad's '77 ford...

[ifrider]

Thanks for the advice. No, the pads didn't always sound like that, I think someone at a shop got something on them. The good news is that I had some metallic pads that were new, so I just put them on. They were the resin shimano xtr 960 series. I would prefer the resin, but hey, no big deal.

I do clean my rotors with both alcohol and with brake cleaner, for those of you who misread. But that's good to know I was doing that right.

I was just playing around the other day, threw the older resin pads on, and they sure enough still made that god awful sound again, the reason I changed them out.

So really, I can put them in the oven???

Thanks.

[ifrider]

cMc

I can't believe it, but it worked. I threw my resin shimano pads in the oven at 450 for 20 min., and it baked whatever contaminated them completely off. My wife asked what the horrible smell was, but other than that they work as silent as the day I bought em. I think the shop got something on em, but now they are good. Great advice! Thanks!

[cMc]

Told you! :D

[Shkenblke]

whats the "iPod solution"?

[tryandgetme]

I'm tellin ya, everyone needs a toaster oven in the garage.

[rockyrider]

whats the "iPod solution"?That's where you turn you iPod up until you can't hear the bike's noises

Of course then you can't hear the bears in the bushes either...