Brake cleaners have a simple design with a single purpose in mind — to clean your brakes. These solutions are designed to make cleaning the brake assembly one of the simplest tasks you can attempt for your car’s maintenance. In addition, these same cleaners can be used on various other vehicles that use disc or drum brakes. These solutions are also fairly easy to use and offer the best 2-in-1 value as a single bottle can work as a cleaner and lubricant.
Here are the best brake cleaner on the market.
Editor’s Pick-Brake Cleaner
Best Brake Cleaner Reviews In 2023
1. CRC BRAKLEEN Brake Parts Cleaner
CRC Brakleen brake parts cleaner is non-flammable and formulated to quickly and effectively remove grease, dust, fluids, oils, and other contaminants from brake parts, lining, and pads. CRC is a worldwide leader in producing specialty chemicals for maintenance and repair professionals, serving automotive, marine, electrical, industrial, and aviation markets.
CRC Brakleen is the original brake parts cleaner that quickly & easily cleans dirt, grease, oil, and other contaminants from brake parts, linings, and pads. The unique blend of solvents in Brakleen safely dissolves oils and greases quickly, so they are easily wiped away. There is no need to rinse them off repeatedly like other products to remove them.
CRC Brake Parts Cleaner is a unique formula that dissolves the grease, carbon, and road grime that come in contact with your car’s brake parts. Brake Parts Cleaner is made to be safe on the most sensitive plastic and rubber parts, yet strong enough to remove stubborn build-up from your car’s brakes.
2. Brakleen Non-Chlorinated Brake Parts Cleaner
Brake Parts Cleaner is formulated to quickly and effectively remove grease, dust, fluids, oils, and other contaminants from brake parts, linings, and pads. Brake Parts Cleaner is ideal for a quick turnaround between brake cleanings – without diluting the effectiveness of your cleaning solution.
Brake Parts Cleaner is a non-chlorinated formula that gently removes grease, oil, water, and rust from brake parts and motor vehicles. The Brake Parts Cleaner can be applied on brake cylinders, brake drums, brake linings, brake shoes, calipers, and clutch discs to remove stubborn grease, oil, and rust deposits safely.
Buy it by the case and save! Use where compliance calls for a chlorine-free product. Quickly removes brake fluid, grease, oil, and other contaminants from brake linings and pads. Cleans fast/Dries fast/No residue. Decreases instantly. Contains no chlorinated solvents.
3. Finish Line Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner Aerosol
Keep your brakes working smoothly with the Finish Line Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner. This aerosol cleaner is specifically formulated to decontaminate and revitalize soiled bicycle brake pads and rotors while at the same time being tough on grime. Safe for use around paint, carbon, and plastic, this formula removes organic dirt and grime without damaging delicate parts like disc pads.
Cycling can be tough on your bike. The Finish Line Cleaning Brush is the perfect companion to remove dirt, grime, and other buildup from deep within your disc brakes while achieving a superior level of performance compared to traditional cleaning methods. Only needed once or twice per season and affordable enough not to break the bank, you can save time and money that would otherwise be spent on replacement parts.
Finish Line’s Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner is engineered to rapidly clean disc brake rotors and pads to optimize disc brake performance. Using an acetone-free formula, Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner decontaminates braking surfaces by flushing out dirt and oil residue and melting away baked-on brake glaze.
Designed to leave zero residues after application, Finish Line’s Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner displaces any moisture built up on the pad or rotor, resulting in improved and predictable braking and reduced brake squeal. With the unique characteristic of being acetone-free, Finish Line’s Bicycle Disc Brake Cleaner is strong enough to clean the dirtiest rotors yet safe enough to use around the paint, carbon fiber, and plastic parts. Available in a recyclable steel 10oz. Ozone-safe aerosol can.
4. High Power Brake Cleaner
Keep your brakes clean and working efficiently with the power of the High Power Brake Cleaner. This premium formula quickly breaks down deposits from braking system parts like shoes, drums, discs, and hoses. The powerful degreaser removes brake dust, solvents, greases, and oils without leaving residue behind. The large ergonomic actuator creates a high-powered stream that easily reaches all corners of your brake assembly. It ensures you remove all of the tough dirt before it damages critical components.
High Power Brake Cleaner is formulated to remove all brake dust, grease, and oil. This ready-to-use solution will not harm metal surfaces or paint finishes or leave any residue when properly used. For industrial/occupational use only – not for consumer sale or use.
3M High Power Brake Cleaner 08180 quickly and efficiently cleans dirt, dust, oil, tar, grease, brake fluid, and other residue from vehicle braking systems. A high-pressure delivery system flushes contaminants off the brake assembly with ease. Because this one product cleans away so many contaminants, it reduces the need to stock multiple cleaners.
The cleaner is recommended for brake linings, shoes, drums, cylinders, caliper units, disc brake pads, and all other related parts. Newly cleaned brakes are less likely to squeal and chatter, making the car ride more enjoyable. The cleaner dries quickly and leaves no residue. 3M has made this brake cleaner easy to use. Simply hold the can approximately 12 to 24 inches from the surface to be cleaned. Starting at the top, wash the contamination down and off the cleaned area. If parts are extremely contaminated, repeat the application.
Then wipe up excess with a paper towel and dispose of it properly. Brake cleaner comes in a 14-ounce aerosol can that delivers a high-pressure spray to remove residue from brake assemblies. This formula contains 45% VOC. Keeping your brake components in top-working condition should be an important part of your ongoing vehicle maintenance. Under normal road conditions, residue builds up on vehicle braking systems. Using this brake cleaner is a simple step that can be taken to restore the cleanliness of brakes. For more than a century, 3M has applied innovation and technology to improving our customers’ lives and supporting their business goals.
Today the company, from its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, serves industrial and commercial customers and consumers in nearly 200 countries. 3M Automotive Aftermarket products provide paint and body shops, auto glass shops, mechanics, and do-it-yourselfers solutions ranging from abrasive sheets and striping tapes to spray-paint respirators. The 3M brand represents consistency, superior quality, and value across thousands of products.
5. Brake Parts Cleaner
This brake cleaner spray is easy to use and will clean your brakes and pads. This is the best cleaner for brake dust, as it ensures that all residue is removed. Keep your car working properly with our brake cleaner spray.
We formulated our clean brake spray to make it easy and convenient to apply, regardless of whether you’re cleaning calipers, drums, rotors or drums. Thanks to our special spray system, the cleaner can be applied in any position (horizontal, vertical, and upside down), and the wide spray pattern ensures it covers more area quickly.
When using our brake cleaner spray to clean your brakes and brake components, you don’t need to worry about grease, dirt, or dust is left behind. This spray will remove all residue so that your brakes work properly.
We formulated our clean brake spray and designed the can so that the cleaner could be applied in multiple ways for your convenience. Thanks to our special spray system, it can be applied horizontally, vertically, & upside down.
When used, our brake parts cleaner removes the dust and oil on the brake system’s metal parts, including the pads, cylinders, drums, and more. This improves traction as well as safety.
This brake cleaner is better for your health. The brake parts cleaner spray doesn’t contain ingredients known to be harmful to humans. Our brake clean is free from acetone and halogenated solvents, and it is non-chlorinated.
Our brake parts cleaner is made to be used on brake system components like calipers, springs, pads, and discs, but it can also work in other areas as well. Use this brake clean to remove dust, oil, and dirt from motor parts, too.
How To Choose The Best Brake Cleaner Before Purchasing
Regulations and Rules
To comply with national and state regulations, brake cleaner compositions are evolving. Conventional wisdom might not apply to newer formulae, so make sure you’re using what you’re supposed to by reading the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet.
Deadlier than Dead
Like deciding between a lion or a tiger to battle, choosing between chlorinated and non-chlorinated brake cleaner is difficult. You will be killed by both, probably in separate ways. Put on safety gear so you may continue to wrench.
Parts and Guns
Even while people swear by brake cleaner for cleaning various things, including weapons, that doesn’t mean you won’t also swear at it. While non-chlorinated brake cleaner solvents can harm paint, plastics, and non-brake parts, chlorinated brake cleaner chemicals may be suitable for other parts and firearms.
Volume Cost
Before buying, confirm the listed volume and calculate the cost per ounce. Frequently, a $5 can of superior chlorinated brake cleaner is more cost-effective than a $2 can of inferior non-chlorinated brake cleaner.
Frequently Asked Question
Is chlorinated or non-chlorinated brake cleaner better?
Chlorinated brake cleaners are very effective, and a single spray does away with most of the grime. To clean the car parts, you will need to do the job with non-chlorinated variants repeatedly. Also, chlorinated products do not leave residue and dry up fast. Non-chlorinated utilities may leave a thin residue.
Where should you not spray brake cleaner?
Avoid using brake cleaner on plastics, rubber, and any painted surface you want to maintain to prevent ruining certain surfaces. Protect these surfaces with careful application and small amounts of product at one time.
What should I clean my brakes with?
“We recommend a mild soap and water to clean disc brakes. This is to help avoid contamination of the pads and rotor. Brake cleaners and other sprays are unnecessary. Do not use compressed sprays to clean brakes as these can cause seal swell.
Can I use brake cleaner without removing the wheel?
Cleaning the brake rotors without removing the vehicle’s wheel is somewhat challenging. You can apply a brake cleaner spray on the surface of soapy water and then a quick brushing, followed by cleaning the surface. Also, use a blower or a Daytona brush to blow off the dust from the rotors.
Will brake cleaner ruin my wheels?
Brake cleaner is harsh and will quickly eat through any coatings on the aluminum wheels. This is what causes the white streaks or spots. While removing these spots is impossible, it may be possible to repair the damage or at least hide it.
Conclusion
In the end, finding a good brake cleaner might come down to personal preference. Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top few choices, let your nose and eyes decide from there. Does it smell and burn slightly or not at all? A good brake cleaner should have little or no odor, and should not leave residue on your hands or clothing.