How to Clean Brake Rotors

With the cost of gasoline, more and more people are looking for ways to save on maintaining their car. Cleaning your brake rotors is tedious, but can be mastered after even just the first time doing it. Set aside at least an hour for this task, and you are all set. Read on to learn how to clean brake rotors.

Things You'll Need

• Car
• Clean, flat, hard surface
• Wheel wedge
• Lug wrench
• Jack
• Socket wrench
• Wire coat hanger
• Soft rubber mallet
• Commercial rotor cleaning spray
• Rag
• Piece of wood
• C-clamp
• Torque wrench

Instructions

1. Park your vehicle on a clean, level, hard surface, such as a driveway.

2. Set the car's emergency brake.

3. Chock the wheel opposite of the wheel you are going to work on with the wheel wedge. For example, chock the passengers side rear wheel if you are working on the drivers side front wheel.

4. Open the hood and locate the brake system master cylinder. This is located on the drivers side of the engine compartment, up against the firewall. It is a clear, plastic container with a plastic cap.

5. Remove the cap from the master cylinder.

6. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you will be working on, but do not remove them.

7. Jack up the side of the vehicle you will be working on, making sure that the tire is completely off the ground.

8. Remove the lug nuts and set them aside.

9. Remove the tire and place it aside with the lug nuts.

10. Remove the two brake caliper mounting bolts using the socket wrench.

11. Remove the brake caliper from the rotor by sliding it up and off.

12. Suspend the brake caliper from the inner wheel well using a coat hanger. This is to ensure that you do not put too much pressure on the brake hose attached to the caliper.

13. Remove the rotor from the wheel by pulling it straight towards you. If you encounter resistance, use a soft rubber mallet to bang on the rotor to loosen it.

14. Inspect the front and back of the rotor surfaces. If they are gouged at all, or uneven, you will need to have them resurfacedat an automotive supply store.

15. Clean the rotor surface using a commercial rotor cleaning spray found at any auto supply store and a rag.

16. Put the rotor back on the wheel.

17. Slide the brake caliper back onto the brake rotor. If the caliper will not fit, the brake pads need to be reset into the caliper. Use a piece of wood and a c-clamp to compress the pads back into the caliper.

18. Re-secure the brake caliper mounting bolts, using the torque wrench.

19. Torque the bolts to your vehicle manufacturer's recommended torque specs.

20. Put tire back on.

21. Install the lug nuts and hand tighten.

22. Lower vehicle.

23. Tighten lug nuts with a torque wrench to the vehicle manufacturers recommended torque specs.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a rag around the master cylinder to catch any brake fluid that may leak out if you re-seat the brake pads.

• Always set the emergency brake.

• Always make sure you use a quality jack to raise the vehicle.

• Never do this without chocking the rear wheel.

• Never let the brake caliper hang by its attached brake hose.