What' s the best way to unblock drilled discs

Guest · Sep 1, 2003

I noticed last week that the holes in my front discs are almost blocked with brake dust.
I wondered if other people have seen the same thing and if so, how did they clean them out.
So far I have suggestions along the lines of using a piece of wire, like a coathanger, using a piece of wooden dowel, or jet wash (although seems not to be recommended since the brakes will rust).
I was also told that the holes may not line up on both sides, so you can' t poke it all the way through.

Any comments?

PaulHere · Sep 2, 2003

How about a garage air line - I think I' m right in saying that most modern brake pads are non-asbestos lined, but please mind your eyes if you do this.

Melv · Sep 2, 2003

Jack car up, take off wheels on one side, put axle stands under, select drill bit slightly undersized from hole, get beer out of fridge, gently drill out holes right through (they DO go right through), put wheels back, get another beer, do other side. Sweep up debris and get another beer.

And while you are there you can polish the underside of the wheel arches, calipers, brake lines, shocks etc. Stand back and admire..............

Washing/air hose won' t touch it, the brake dust gets solid sometimes.

Melv

Guest · Sep 2, 2003

or jet wash (although seems not to be recommended since the brakes will rust).

What happens when you drive in the rain, then ?

Grant · Sep 2, 2003

My local OPC did mine on a previous Porker as an " add on" to the service, seems like the minimum stress route, until you get the bill !!!!

Mark_Bennett · Sep 2, 2003

My local OPC did mine on a previous Porker as an " add on" to the service, seems like the minimum stress route, until you get the bill !!!!

Mine did them too - but for free as I complained about the sqealing from the brakes (curiously, only downhill!) Gentle braking seems to be the reason for squealing brakes. The brake dust makes it worse.

It took the OPC about 2 hours to do - and they have all the lifts to make it easy.
It was they who told me that the holes do not line up - on a Boxster S anyway. I guess it is the same for a C4S, and it was I that told Stuart that the holes do not line up because of this information.

Stuart - if you get the Black and Decker out and find they do line up you will tell us won' t you?!

Guest · Sep 2, 2003

The holes in the disc do line up but some of them will be obstructed by the balance clips that are inserted during manufacture to dynamically balance the rotors - don' t go drilling through any of these [

].

Guest · Sep 2, 2003

What happens when you drive in the rain, then ?

They get wet, but not quite as wet as with a jet wash. But mainly you have some warmth in them so they dry out.

I thought about compressed air, but I think it might make a lot of mess, since the brake dust is going to be blown everywhere, and some is bound to end up over the bodywork.

I think Melv has the right idea, although depending on how much beer is consumed I might get half way through and say " stuff it" .

Although I was waiting for some wit to suggest I get " one of my staff" to do it, while I sit back and sip a glass of Bolly and supervise. An appealing mental image, but not very realistic (I have the Bolly and supervisory skills, but no staff to supervise).

A drill bit it is then, and something to look forward to at the weekend. Just hope it is not too wet or a postponement will be in order.

At the risk of asking a stupid question, is it obvious where the axle stand should go and should you put a piece of wood on it to protect the car?
Where I was brought up, I thought bricks were all you needed! [

]

Guest · Sep 2, 2003

They get wet, but not quite as wet as with a jet wash

I' ll bet they do, in heavy rain, at speed, the water will be driven everywhere with some force.
But, I take your point about them being warm.

Where I was brought up, I thought bricks were all you needed!

Have you been nicking wheels when you were being brought up, then ?

Guest · Sep 2, 2003

water will be driven everywhere with some force

Obviously not enough force, else I wouldn' t have to unblock them

For the record I ain' t not not ever nicked any wheels, mister. I weren' t in the country at the time it didn' t ' appen.
Growing up in saaah feast London, cars were on bricks, either when being worked on (as in fixing some old Cortina), or when abandoned, or when the wheels were nicked.
I remember wondering where they got the bricks from.[&:]