WD40 on brakes

[The Tot]

Hi all,

after neglecting to spray my bike with WD40 over the snow period, i've tried to make up for it and spray every exposed metallic part on my bike. Somehow, i've been a bit of a raasclut and i managed to liberally spray lashings of the stuff onto my front disk while i was cleaning my spokes. I've noticed that my braking power is significantly reduced and squeaking noises are being made from the front.

So far i've tried to ride with the front disk dragging, i.e. with front applied at low speed to "burn off" the WD, but i can still feel traces there, been over the disk with a sponge & white spirit to remove (i don't think a good idea too, but white spirit dries off and evaporates quikckly). Bearing in mind i don't really have much knowledge on how to strip and rebuild my calipers, what other things can i do in this situation?

Many thanks

Titot
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Scotsman37]

Buy a product designed to clean brakes/calipers.

https://www.710supplies.com/shop/silkaerosols.htm

Plus buy a rubber mallet too as to help with shifting stubburn brake calipers on/off without damaging the caliper itself or any other part of it surrounding it.

https://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=13296

Also, get this Draper Caliper Wind Back Tool too to help push back brake calipers so as to remove the brake pads and get something like a hard bristled toothbrush or something similar to aid with cleaning off the road crap from the calipers.

Draper Caliper Wind Back Tool

https://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=16508


Warning: Do NOT pull on the brake lever while the caliper is off the brake disk because the caliper's pistons will eventually pop out if pushed out beyond 25mm or more and if that happens all the brake fluid will pour out and that stuff can eat through paint if not cleaned up immediately.

[Bendy]

Just off the top of my head... have you tried sticking some kitchen towel in between the disc and the pads and pulling the brakes on so that it might absorb some of the oilyness?

[stinkwheel]

"Brake cleaner spray" does exactly what it says on the tin.

Do not smoke whilst using it!
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[mchaggis]

I hate to be a doom merchant, but you've perhaps contaminated the pads too. I'm not sure if there's much way to get it off those if they're sintered, but if they're normal organic ones, perhaps a sand might shift it.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[cagiva gezzer]

My mate put easing fluid on my front disk for a "laugh". Never took his local corner soo fast in my life!

I managed to burn most of it off by doing 50-0mph down a hill a couple of times.

Your pads won't be as good as they were before you lubed them, but i would wait until the roads dry out and you won't miss the lack of ultimate power until the roads get grippy again.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[loply]

I spray tons of WD40 on my brake discs all the time. I even cleaned the discs with it a few times.

It wears off after about 30 meters of medium to hard braking. It just burns completely off from the friction.

Your braking problem must be unrelated.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[loply]

I do the odd stoppie as I halt the bike for fun btw so I know my brakes work fine, they certainly stop me at whatever rate I need them to, so there is no concern that they are tainted.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[G]

I used to have fork oil dripping on my brake disc, could still stoppy it, providing the brake had been used hardish before.
However that doesn't make it good.


It is generally considered a bad thing to spray the discs with anything with lubricating properties.
It is absorbed into the pads and reduces their efficiency, also will make it relatively worse in the wet I suspect.

You can get specific brake cleaner made for the job.

[Guest]