Cleaning of Rims

SniperX

Is it ok to use degreaser to clean up the rims ?

big_h

Hi Sniper X

You do not say what you want to clean- road grime or residue left by the brake blocks. Road grime yuo wash off when you wash the bike. Be carefull about degreaser it may work its way into your bearings. I normally wash with normal car shampoo. Use a sponge and a stiff brush to get rid of mud and other crud. NEVER EVER USE A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON YOUR BIKE!!!!!!!!!!! Water WILL work its way into your bearings and they WILL rust. To remove rubber and smoothen your braking surface use a Mavic rim rubber erasor. They are expensive and difficult to get hold of but worth while in the end. I use the souring pad of a 3M dish scourer. (that black layer fused to the sponge) Use a lot of water and work very judiciously. Remember you are working with aluminium and you do not want to weaken your rim. It may be unhealthy!!! and Expensive !!!!! Also when you clean the rims inspect your brake block. There might be small pieces of steel and grit embedded in the rubber. These will scratch and gouge marks into your rim that in the end will affect your braking ability. Remove these with a sharp pointed object or replace the brake blocks.

Keep those wheels spinning ...and clean!!!!!

Big H

SniperX

How do I clean the brake pads? Do i take them out of the calipers ? as for the degreaser part. where are the bearing areas to avoid ? i dun squirt the degreaser on the bike . i put it on a cloth and then wipe the dirty area.

big_h

Hi Sniper X

On V-brakes it is easy. I suppose on racing callipers you will have to remove your wheel and try with good lighting to inspect as good as possible. Do not remove the pads if you can because it will stuff up the toe-in alignment to the rims. You will be amazed to see the amount of metal and other that gets picked up. If you use the degreaser on a cloth it will be fine. The bearings are in the hubs and they are not sealed or ipervious to the penetration of moisture. Be very carefull that degreaser does not run down the spokes. Why do you use the degreaser. Does it remove or strip the rubber residue!!!!

Big H

rek

I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the braking surfaces of my wheels.

Seems to do the job real well, and evaporates away very quickly and leaves no residue.

__________________
Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

SniperX

yeah it sure does man all the black stains n whatever rubber thingy thats on the rims are removed even on my tires. my logos arewhite so it becomes dirtied.. upon using the degreaser ... the logo becomes white once again