MTFCA Forum

My new AC brakes were apparently dragging a bit on the passenger side and after a long drive i discovered that it had heated the hub enough that the seal failed and i had bearing and axle grease all inside the hub. It migrated outside enough that the AC brake lining is also contaminated. I tried cleaning it up carefully with brake cleaner and also doing a bit of sanding but it is still not good. Any suggestions? Do i have to have them re-lined?

Thanks in advance.

Take a propane torch and wave the flame over the lining until the grease pops out. Then take either a rag or a wire brush and wipe the grease off. Continue doing this until no more grease pops up. Do not let the flame linger in anyone spot on the brake linings.

Jerry

Would it be possible to get a big soup bowl and boil the grease out? That blue with white speckles bowl your wife has in the basement and never uses.

The big bowl I could probably get away with using, but she won’t let me near her stove after I used the oven to help fast dry some painted bolts.

I have filled a steel oil drain pan with gasoline, covered & let soak overnight. Wire brush the lining & wash in the gas the next day.
Gas has turned black from the old leached out grease. Dump out the fuel & repeat another night or 2 until the remnant fuel is clean the following day.

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 13, 2024 12:09 pm

The big bowl I could probably get away with using, but she won’t let me near her stove after I used the oven to help fast dry some painted bolts.

But she will let you use the gas grill RIGHT???
Works almost the same a a gas oven and stove if you have a side burner.

Warms up ring gears to easily go onto the carrier!

I used paint thinner to clean mine. Scrubbed with a paint brush. Followed up with brake cleaner spray. Hung to dry in the sun. Quick and easy and my brakes work great now.

I know John states he uses gas, but I would be afraid of a fire. I use kerosene. Works great. Put on a pair of latex gloves as well.

Back in the day when all we had were drum brakes and this happened it was death sentence for shoes. There was no cleaning them . Only replacement.

I'm with Dan,
I know of no MFG. that recommends any procedure for cleaning oil contaminated linings. I have cleaned lightly contaminated woven linings
with lots of chlorinated brake clean, soak, dry, soak, dry again until they look new. If they don't look like new discard & replace. It comes down
to how much do you like those in your car with you if the brakes fail. & how good is your insurance if you hurt someone because you saved some
money? Two wheel brakes are sketchy @ best lets not take chances to save a few dollars. Please.
Craig.