Oil on my new brake pads

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by Red Thunder, Jan 11, 2016.

  1. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
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    okay, hands up I am a complete numpty.
    I was refitting the calipers after replacing all the seals, for some reason I installed the brand new Brembo pads before I refilled and bled the system, resulting in a small splash getting on the pads.
    Have driven the bike for 60 odd miles and there is a dark circle on the disc.
    I have seen elsewhere that the oil can be burn out using petrol/alcohol but that risks the pad detaching from its base.
    Any suggestions on cleaning the pads that is less traumatic?
    I am thinking of soaking the pad in brake cleaner.
     
  2. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
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    Hi RT, the first thing I would be doing is ensuring that the new seals fit properly and there are no leaks. Take the new pads out, put the old ones back in and do a few pulls on the brake lever and check for leaks. If all OK re-install new pads after cleaning as below.

    Cleaning the disc with brake and clutch cleaner is straightforward enough, but cleaning the pads I'm not sure. If the brake fluid has had a chance so 'soak' into the pad material I would be tempted to ditch them and buy new.

    Take the pads out of the callipers and give them a good doing with brake cleaner, allow to dry them then give the surface a scrub with sand paper to clear any glazing and re-install. Just be really careful when you test them after re-installation.
     
  3. Recycled Rocker

    Recycled Rocker Senior Member

    Apr 19, 2014
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    Echo that Big Lad..
     
  4. Sceptic Al

    Sceptic Al Well-Known Member

    Oh Dear Me RT, bit of a school boy error. IF the pads haven't soaked up any oil you might be able to scrub them up ab it with some very rough emery cloth on a file or a bit of pretty stiff flat bar, (used to do that on crane cable drum disc pads as recommended by the manufacturer but there where multiple brake calipers so doing this on one or two didn't matter much), the best bet is to ditch them unfortunately as you will never be 100% confident about the stopping power of your anchors
     
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  5. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
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    I gave all the pads a soak of brake cleaner and a scrub with a tooth brush, then I did it a gain a couple more times.
    Left them over night to dry and braking was much better in the morning.
    I need to do a final bleed of the brakes as there is still a bit of squishyness that wasn't there before.
    The pads will be removed prior to this operation.

    Cheers for the feedback as always guys.
     
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  6. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
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    Why would you remove the pads to bleed your brakes? You need to have the pads in place so you can exert pressure to force the air out.
    When you finish manual bleeding, use a zip-tie to 'gently' hold the brake lever to the 'bar for an overnight. This allows any air left in the circuit to escape via the master cylinder.
     
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  7. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Crème de la Crème

    Dec 12, 2015
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    Personally I'd ditch the pads in favour of new ones, brakes are life savers and I wouldn't trust them if they'd been even slightly contaminated with any kind of oil based fluid. Thoroughly clean the disc with brake cleaner.
    Plus one for zip tying the brake lever back overnight to allow any trapped air to come up through the master cylinder and another tip is to compress the Pistons back into the calipers with the the cover off the reservoir to back bleed the fluid uphill,if that makes sense. just be careful how hard you push the Pistons back and cover the area around the res with lots of rags.
     
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  8. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
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    Even after giving the pads a good scrubbing, after a week the oil is back again.
    So new pads on order.
    Takes 5 min to change them, just a bloody waste of £80, although the nearside pads are fine.
    (I get the Brembo pads from Italy using ebay - half the price of Triumph for a full set)
     
  9. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
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    Having a senior moment there, pads would not be removed of course.
    Using a zip tie is a good call, I will do this tonight.
    I have lots of rags at hand, DOT4 is nasty nasty stuff!
     
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