Rust removal

[Paul Schmied]

Caliper frame removed, I was about to clean off set of rust covered abutment pads with a wire wheel and thought there had to be an easier way, where I didn’t have to get off the ground and walk to my shop. 

The pads are made of stainless steel. What breaks through rust on metal?  Liquid Wrench, which I had right there in case I neededvto free a rusted fastener.

It works, and coincidentally, cuts through grease and brake dust bettervthan brake cleaner. No more wire wheel on abutment pads.  

The small amount of LW that spilled over to the frame softened the rusted frame beneath the.pads. it could be easily scraped away. Being somewhat enthused by partially clean frames, I looked to my shop shelf for other rust removal ideas.  At the back of the shelf was a jar of Naval Jelly .  

Thirty years old, Naval Jelly dissolved away rust down to the bare metal underneath in while I was cleaning off the rotor hub and inner wheel surfaces.  I plugged the guide pin bores before applying, brushed it on, and put it in a zip lock bag to prevent evaporation. 30 minutes later i flushed the residue down the drain with my garden hose and did a final rinse with brake cleaner. The frame looked like it just came from the foundry.

I realize that few mechanics worry about rust unless it interferes with mechanical operation or body integrity, but for diyers, these 2 rust removal chemicals are worth remembering when a wire wheel or brushes might not be able to get into a tight spot. 

Topic

[William Moore]

It is good.

[Andrew Deney]

I used Hydrochloric acid at 36% dilution… Watch out for the fumes and do not get that shit on your hands and it does a fantastic job of rust removal.
Use it outside and with a mask and gloves… The fumes really are lethal.

[Rod]

HCL doesn’t weaken the metal?

[Author]

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