How to Clean and Install New Brake Rotors on a Car

Good brake rotors are important for safe vehicle driving. When installing a new brake rotor, it's important to make sure that it's clean. If there are particles or oil on the surface, it could affect the friction and the effectiveness of your brakes and create a foul-smelling odour.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Spray the front and back surfaces of the brake rotor to remove the packing oil, called Cosmoline. It prevents it from corroding on the shelf. Use a brake cleaner or a carburetor cleaner.

2. Shoot the cleaner into the cooling fins. The oil turns red as it reacts to the cleaner to let you know that it's working.

3. Wipe down the surface with a paper towel or clean rag. Make sure there are no fuzzies or other pieces of dirt stuck to the surface.

4. Line up the new and freshly cleaned brake rotor on the vehicle's wheel studs and slide the caliper over the new router.

5. Grease the caliper contact area, if instructed in the service manual.

Tips & Warnings

• Carburetor cleaner is typically cheaper than brake cleaner so it can be a better option for cleaning your brake rotors if you're on a budget.
• Always replace brake rotors with top quality ones, since the cheaper ones are made out of inferior metal that doesn't dissipate heat as well.
• Never use petroleum-based solvents to clean rotors or any other brake parts.
• Do not use shop towels to clean a new brake rotor. They are chemically treated and this chemical may leave a residue on the rotor which could cause smoking or affect performance.