We all know that maintenance is the key to keeping your car running at optimum performance.
One of the essential components to keep in good condition is your car’s brake rotors!
The rotors work together with the brake pads to slow your car, but when they get dirty they work less efficiently.
Over time, brake pads wear down, creating brake dust. Oil, brake fluid, and road debris can also adhere to the rotors, making cleaning them regularly imperative whether you’re an experienced amateur mechanic or new to car maintenance.
While you need to remove your wheel to do a comprehensive clean, that’s just not necessary for an everyday clean!
This guide walks you through how to clean your brake rotors thoroughly without the hassle of removing your wheels. We cover:
- Preparing for the cleaning, including what you’ll need.
- Different cleaning techniques
- Knowing when to seek help from a professional.
Let’s get started!
Preparing for the Clean
Before you start, you need to get set up. There’s nothing more frustrating than being halfway through a mechanical task and realizing you don’t have what you need!
Here are our top tips for everything you need to do the job properly.
High-pressure hose
A high-pressure hose is an essential tool for cleaning your brake rotors, especially in conjunction with a cleaning solution.
It’s great at getting into nooks and crannies and helping to loosen dirt and debris from the rotor surface.
Protective gloves
Safety is key when working with cars, and protective gloves are non-negotiable.
Dust, road debris, and chemicals can easily get on your skin when cleaning the brake rotors, and there is also the potential for cuts and scrapes. They also help you keep a grip on your tools, especially when they’re wet.
A leaf blower or can of compressed air
Compressed air or air from a leaf blower is great for two reasons: it helps to get rid of build-up dust on the rotors, and it helps to dry the rotors out afterward.
If you don’t have a leaf blower, try to borrow one; otherwise, you can purchase a can of compressed air from a hardware store!
Cleaning solution of your choice
In the next section we list different cleaning methods, so ensure you have a plan before you assemble what you’ll need.
To clean your rotors, you can use either a commercial brake cleaning solution, soaping water, or a mixture of water and vinegar.
Cleaning brush
A thin, flexible brush such as a Daytona brush is absolutely crucial if you don’t want to have to take off your wheel.
These brushes are flexible enough to get into small spaces and clean away dust, ensuring your brake rotors are as clean as you can get them without spending hours taking your car apart.
Face mask
Whether you’re using chemical cleaners or just air, a face mask is essential. The process can release fumes or dust particles that are harmful to your health, so you need to protect yourself. Working in a well-ventilated area is also important.
Towel for drying
A clean, dry microfiber towel is great for cleaning excess water off your rims after cleaning the brake rotors. Used in conjunction with a leaf blower, you can get your brakes almost completely dry after you’ve finished cleaning.
Flashlight
A flashlight will come in handy for looking through the wheel spokes and identifying the brake rotors. It also helps you see any areas of dust or grime you might have missed.
Cleaning Techniques
When cleaning your brake rotors without removing the wheel, there are two approaches: basic cleaning and deep cleaning.
Basic cleaning techniques are ‘dry’ cleaning techniques, and are good for removing a light amount of dust.
The deep cleaning techniques are more suitable for a heavier amount of dirt on the rotors, and use a mixture of cleaning solutions and water to get as much grime off the rotors as possible.
Basic Cleaning
Use the Brake Pads
For the easiest technique of all, use the brake pads themselves!
If that sounds confusing, don’t worry - it’s very simple!
It works like this: because the brake pads work by applying pressure to the rotors, gentle, continuous pressure from the pads can remove excess dust from the rotors.
Here’s how to do it:
- Drive your car to a stretch of highway. It’s best to do this when the traffic is light, as you’ll want to be going quite slowly
- As you drive, use soft pressure on the brakes to slow your car. Repeat this action a few times; don’t stop your car, just slow it. This will be enough to remove a light dusting from your brake rotors.
Leaf Blower
Using a leaf blower is a quick and easy way to remove built-up dirt and debris from your rotors.
The blast of air can remove hard-to-reach particles and is far easier than removing the whole wheel for a deep clean!
It also avoids damaging the surface of the rotor as it works without physical contact; it simply blows the debris away.
To use this technique:
- Make sure your vehicle is parked on a flat surface and the brake is engaged
- Aim the leaf blower through the wheel spokes and blast the area with high-pressure air
- Work methodically, making sure you move the nozzle of the leaf blower around the entire area in order to get all the dust
- After you’re finished, use a flashlight to inspect between the spokes and see if there are any areas you missed. Pay special attention to the crevices where dust accumulates
- Inspect and repeat the process until it appears clean.
This method is good for quick cleaning and is also an effective method to use before moving on to a deeper cleaning technique.
Compressed Air
Compressed air is similar to using a leaf blower but more targeted!
A can of compressed air shoots out a concentrated and powerful stream of air that can get right into the little crevices that a leaf blower might not be powerful enough to reach.
It also has the advantage of being gentle on the rotors themselves as it removes the dust without scratching.
To use this method:
- Make sure your car is parked securely, and wear safety glasses and a dust mask to ensure you don’t breathe in any dust
- Following the instructions on the can of compressed air, hold it at a safe distance from the rotor and press the button
- Direct the steam of air across the rotor, paying particular attention to where the dust is thickest. Use a flashlight to guide you if needed
- Inspect the rotor and repeat if necessary.
Deep Cleaning
Daytona Brush
One of the simplest deep-cleaning methods for your brake rotors is to combine a Daytona brush with a high-pressure hose.
A Daytona brush has soft yet strong bristles, which makes it ideal for cleaning your rotors without causing damage and scratching the surface.
This method is best followed up with water from a high-pressure hose, as this helps to get rid of the debris that the brush loosens.
For this method:
- Park your vehicle safely, and make sure the brake rotors are cooled down.
- Use a low-pressure setting on your hose to wet the rotors
- Use the Daytona brush to clean the rotor thoroughly, focusing on particularly dirty areas
- Switch your hose to a high-pressure setting and clean away all the loosened dust
- Use a flashlight to inspect your progress, and repeat if there is still visible dust on the rotor
- Use an old towel to dry up any excess water.
The Daytona brush method can be used in conjunction with any of the below cleaning solutions if your brake rotors need a little extra help getting clean.
Brake Cleaner
Brake cleaning solution is purpose-made for cleaning dirt on brake rotors.
It’s particularly good at breaking down oily residue and is easy to use! You can find brake cleaners at any auto supply store or hardware store.
To use brake cleaner:
- Make sure your vehicle is parked safely, cool, and in a well-ventilated area
- Spray brake cleaner onto the surface of the rotor, covering as much of the surface area as possible
- Let it sit for a few minutes. Check the instructions on the can for the specific time frame for the cleaner you have
- Use your hose to clean away the cleaner and the grime
- Inspect the rotor with a flashlight to see if it’s clean. If dirt remains, repeat the process.
Soapy Water
This is a great way to clean your brake rotors using only ingredients you already have in your home!
Soapy water is perfect for breaking down oil and grease and is also gentle on your rotor and brake pads.
To use this method:
- Take a bucket and mix mild dish soap with lukewarm water to make your cleaning solution
- Place the soapy solution in a spray bottle and use this to apply it to the rotor
- Let the cleaning solution sit on the rotor for a few minutes so it can break down the grease
- Use a high-pressure hose to wash the soapy water and the grime and grease off the rotors
- Check to see if they appear clean, and if not, repeat the process
- You can either let everything air dry or use your leaf blower to try to speed up the process.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is an environmentally friendly cleaning solution and is also particularly effective at breaking down rust and grime.
This is thanks to the acetic acid content, which is a powerful natural cleaning agent! It’s also great for dissolving mineral deposits and can get rid of salt residue.
To use:
- Make a solution of half vinegar and half water and put it in a spray bottle
- After ensuring your car is safely parked, spray the vinegar solution onto the brake rotors
- Let the solution sit for at least 10 minutes to do its work!
- Clean it off with a high-pressure hose, then repeat if needed.
When to Seek Professional Help
While it’s totally possible to keep your brake rotors clean by using the above method, there are some instances when it just won’t be sufficient.
It’s always essential to prioritize safety in car maintenance and repair – and if you are ever unsure, it’s always better to seek professional assistance!
This is particularly true if you’re experiencing additional issues regarding your car’s performance:
- Severe dirt or rust buildup: While it may be possible to improve things slightly with the above methods, severe dirt or rust buildup usually means a more in-depth rotor clean is needed.
This is best done by a professional, who can assess if your rotors or brake pads need replacing altogether
- Reduced braking response: Dodgy brakes are not something to mess around with!
If your brakes feel less responsive than they were, it’s best to take the car to a mechanic rather than try to fix it yourself
- Visible damage to rotors: Cracks, deep scratches, or thick rust are all issues that a quick clean won’t fix. In these cases, you’ll probably need the rotors replaced
- Persistent issues after cleaning: If you cleaned the rotors because you noticed your brakes were noisy, but the noises persist after cleaning, it could mean more serious issues!
Taking the car to a mechanic is the best course of action.
- Vibrations when you brake: A vibrating sensation indicates that the brake pads are warped or bent – something that definitely can’t be fixed with a quick clean!
In general, the approach to seeking professional help should be ‘better safe than sorry’.
If you’re unsure about any step of the process, seeking professional advice is the best course of action!