Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 66 Threads: 17
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What do people find best for degreasing hubs and brake drums?
I've soaked everything in diesel to get the bulk of the grease off (there was a lot!), but now, of course, the components are still oily.
Burn off the diesel?
Wash in petrol?
Wash in thinners?
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 381 Threads: 16
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Location: Port Elizabeth, Sunny South Africa
Car type: '26 Chummy, '28 Top Hat, '33 Type "65", single seaters
Paraffin with a degreasing agent added in for really stubborn stuff. We use a small paint brush to work it in. Rinse with water. Brake cleaner or carb cleaner in aerosol form is useful for blowing through small apertures, it's expensive so I use it last and sparingly. Blow dry with compressed air.
In your case I'd wash and dry as above then blast off with brake cleaner to ensure that the drums are properly oil free.
Petrol and thinners are a large fire risk, so I will only used them as last resorts - with a fire extinguisher handy.
Aye
Greig
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 66 Threads: 17
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Thank you both for your advice.
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Location: Auckland, NZ
I havent tried myself but some recommend a turn in the dishwasher. Probaly not for aluminium shoes.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 247 Threads: 30
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Location: Fife
Brake cleaner from a parts store is good stuff, it evaporates off and doesn't leave a residue.
You can buy it in aerosol cans or gallon tins for putting through a spray bottle.
Its also handy for cleaning carbs, and other oily components.
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Location: Cheshire
Surely the only bit that needs to be grease free (apart from the linings) is the inside braking surface of the drum? I just wipe off any excess grease on the rest, but have been known to resort to a very light buffing (with emery paper) of the drum if it has rubbed shiny. Does this seem sensible or am I missing something?
Colin
Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 5,447 Threads: 231
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Location: Scotchland
My preference, in this situation, is to replace the contaminated linings for new ones.