Caliper Cleaning - Soapy Water or Brake Cleaning Fluid?

[Descolada]

I was wondering what most of you good folks are using to clean your brake calipers. A bucket of soapy water and a toothbrush, or a professional brake caliper cleaning fluid?

Do I need to purchase specific cleaning fluid or will good old elbow grease and soapy water do the same thing?

[Orinoco]

Brake cleaner and a toothbrush... preferably one you don't use any more  

[Descolada]

Brake cleaner and a toothbrush... preferably one you don't use any more  

, very good. Thanks.  

[Strommer]

Bucket of soapy water and floor brush for a quickie.

If I have more time, when dry I squeeze the pistons out a smidgen and wipe, finishing them with a smear of old brake fluid I keep for this purpose alone.  Finish with a pad clean with brake cleaner and general squirt and wipe around before re-greasing.

[Descolada]

Bucket of soapy water and floor brush for a quickie.

If I have more time, when dry I squeeze the pistons out a smidgen and wipe, finishing them with a smear of old brake fluid I keep for this purpose alone.  Finish with a pad clean with brake cleaner and general squirt and wipe around before re-greasing.

Copper Grease?

[Jacko]

Brake cleaner. Then ACF50 on the pistons with a cotton bud, ACF 'creeps' so it works it's way back to the seals and keeps everything moisture and corrosion free..

Copper grease at backplate to caliper meeting points, and on the back player where the pistons sit, naturally..

[Strommer]

Check any copper grease is the high temp variety or you will have problems - otherwise fine as long as kept away from pistons.

Anything in contact with the rubbers should be lubed with red rubber grease (lightly) or the rubbers go to mush.

Pistons should only be lubed with brake fluid - anything else and the outer seals will start to bulge and jam the pistons, I speak from bitter experience.

ACF50 is good on the outers and esp. the nuts and bolts, but as stated it creeps, so it's best wiped on.

If you use one grease use the red rubber stuff - it's bloomin' sticky though.

[Tommytuck]

Agree with Strommer......
ACF50 is top grade stuff on everything else but it will bollix up the piston seals (by experience).
Used ACF50 / tooth brush on the beemer callipers & Hello ho, in the process of fitting new seals as they
rotted clean out of the pistons!

Red rubber grease is the business  

[Jacko]

Red rubber grease is safer, but I've been ACFing the pistons on my zx6r for 3 years with no problems.. They are the notoriously seize-happy Tokico 6 pots, still nice and free.. If in doubt though red rubber grease is the safest option, I've heard of ACF rotting rubber before but I'll keep using it as long as it stops me from having to overhaul the 6 pots every winter..

[Strommer]

I must confess to using ACF50 on the pistons and it does work for a while.  Now, if you know the period when the swelling starts you could change your piston seals before the swell occurs.  Risky business though.

Red rubber is not for the pistons, just the calipers etc.  Pistons are brake fluid wipe only.  Done that one too.....