There’s no denying it, your vehicle’s brakes can be a very dirty place. Between brake dust, petroleum-based brake fluid, grease, grime and road debris, it’s never long before your brakes are in need of a good cleaning. Keeping your brakes clean not only helps them last a lot longer but it can also significantly improve their ability to stop your vehicle.
It’s as
easy as choosing the right product. Here’s a look at the benefits
of brake cleaner.
With
all the services we perform on our vehicles, cleaning the brakes is
one of the easiest yet most overlooked. By simply spraying cleaner in
the side of the caliper, you can safely and easily remove dust,
grease and debris that could potentially impede your vehicle’s
braking ability. There are no two ways about it, clean brakes
function better and can stop your vehicle in a shorter distance.
Brake
cleaner is made up of chemical compounds that evaporate as they dry,
leaving no residue behind and dissolving grease for perfectly clean
brakes. Because of this property however, it’s also great for
removing grease and oil from other automotive parts too. Whether you
need to remove the grime from the valve cover before you pour fresh
oil in or clean a bearing before you re-grease it, cleaner will
remove everything. Just be careful around rubber gaskets, seals and
the exterior finish of the body — cleaner can dry out or damage
these parts. It’s also safe for metal, ceramic and glass so it can
be used to clean and treat other things in your life like machine
parts and windows. With ever increasing environmental protection
requirements, many makers of brake cleaner are moving over to
non-chlorinated blends. What’s the difference? All cleaners are
made of toxic chemicals but chlorinated cleaners use
perchloroethylene, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene, which
are considered Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). They’re worse for
the environment and have very strong fumes. Non-chlorinated cleaners
replace these chemicals with other less toxic, low-VOC chemicals,
which are better for you and the earth.
Brake cleaner
is one of the most useful automotive products you can get your hands
on. With cleaning properties that leave no residue, they can remove
grease, oil and dirt from your brakes and help them perform at the
top of their game. As more states ban the use of VOC chemicals,
non-chlorinated cleaners are becoming more prevalent and are sure to
do a great job.