cleaning oily brake shoes. Possible ?

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
Instead of changing my rear drive bearings I've bought a second hand one which would be perfect it it hadn't had a failed lip seal which will be replaced this week end.
The brake shoe fitted on the "new" drive is new but packed with gearbox oil.
Do you have a way to clean them or are they toast ?

[steve hawkins]

Petrol or spirit.

Then I would allow them to dry out.  Give them a try and see how you get on.

Please let us know either way.  I would suggest it is at least worth a try.

Give the shoes plenty of time and opportunity to bed in before you try and use them in an emergency situation.

Cheers

Rev. Light.

[Luca]

When my brake cam o-rings failed and soaked my brake shoes, Monte mentioned a technique involving boiling the shoes and then skimming with ice

[georgesgiralt]

OK
I'll do my homework and search the archives.
Will report if I'm successful ...

[montmil]

When my brake cam o-rings failed and soaked my brake shoes, Monte mentioned a technique involving boiling the shoes and then skimming with ice

Usually, the oil will rise to the surface and you can skim it off with a paper towel wrapped around an ice cube -kinda firms up the oil for easier pick up.

Give it a try. You've got nothing to lose and several coins to gain.

[Luca]

Another thing that comes to mind with brake shoes was a suggestion from a parts guy at my local dealership.  He said that trucking companies will re-line brake shoes instead of replacing the entire unit (lots of metal in those things).  If you can find a place that will do them, it might be cheaper than BMW prices.

[jamo]

I have cleaned brake shoes. by boiling in washing powder.
The other new idea is when cleaning oily overalls, jeans etc.  a pint of genuine coke added to the washing machine before washing works wonders it might work on your shoes as well. Something to do with the phosphoric acid in the coke.
Just give them a boil. Do not tell the wife when using her best pans

[georgesgiralt]

Well, I've to shop for a pan...
The missus told me it was a case of divorce if I touch something looking like a cooking pan with my greasy fingers.
Will tell how the day went when done .

[Bob_Roller]

I'm going to give this a try next week, the brake camshaft seals starting leaking again about 8 months after replacing them .

I've got a parts washer at work that I use .

My plan was to put a piece of wire on the shoes and let them sit in 175 F, 79 C water soap solution for a week and see how they turn out .  

Also if you're looking for a container to boil them in, I've got a couple of large metal coffee cans that will hold two brake shoes without any problem, if you have one may work for you .

I'm also going to bevel the edge to the opening in the final drive case that the camshaft goes through, I'm sure I damaged the o-rings when reinstalling the camshaft, needed a good tap with a rubber mallet to get the camshaft into the case .

I did use a wheel bearing grease to lubricate the o-rings before reassembly .

Next time you have the cover off of the final drive, may want to bevel the opening in the cover on the inside .

[Bob_Roller]

Removed the rear wheel off of my '81 R65 this afternoon, the leak isn't from the brake camshaft, the output seal is seeping .

Need to order one tomorrow after I get off of work and stop by the local BMW dealer on my way home .

Brake shoes didn't look that contaminated with oil .

[Luca]

Even though they don't look that bad I'd still go to town on them, as any remaining oil could be driven further into the friction material by the heat and gasses developed during braking.  With that said, if you can lock up the rear wheel then the brakes are good enough IMO.

It will be nice to hear how the both of you make out.   Oil fouled brakes are a write-off for most people, but that aint exactly the airhead way, now is it?  [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

[georgesgiralt]

Still have to find a pan suitable for the job.... and not costing an arm and a leg.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Still have to find a pan suitable for the job.... and not costing an arm and a leg.

2nd hand shops?

[georgesgiralt]

Now, I'm considering using an oil can (5Litre) into which I stored some solvent which evaporated quite totally. Once opened it would make a suitable pan and already dirty ;-)
I wonder how the paint will look once put on the gas stove ...

[Luca]

Georges, it's not the paint on the can you have to worry about, it's the soot on the ceiling and the lovely perfume you will make.

If you've got a flea market nearby you could find a cheap pot or pan.  I once got a cast iron pan for 25 cents at mine.  Wasn't even rusty!