[ST] Easy Caliper Douche

[David Earl <dlearl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We're all aware (I hope) of the issues surrounding the build up of brake dust on the front pistons and it's cure.  I discovered something by accident that may help a lot. The ST was looking a little long in the tooth after some recent rains and it needed a chain adjustment.  After adjusting the chain I set out for a wash and wax.  I use a wheel cleaner from WURTH called, appropriately enough "Wheel Cleaner", to clean the wheels on all my vehicles.  I like it because it makes short work of brake dust and grime but leaves the adhesive for the wheel weights unmolested.  (Unlike Castrol "Purple Power" or "Simple Green")  Generally I spray it on first thing, then set about getting all my cleaning materials lined up.  As I was finishing the wash cycle, I noticed a pretty fair amount of brake dust had drained out of the calipers and dried on the disc.  
DING, the light goes on.  I'm thinking I had sprayed just enough of the cleaner in there to begin to break up some of the dust.  As a child of the 60's who learned a LONG time ago "if a little works well, a LOT will work GREAT, I set the Wheel Cleaner to "STREAM" and blasted a bunch in the gap between the pads and the caliplers, let it set for a minute or two, then sprayed it out with my rinse water stream.
Lo and behold, the front brakes are working as well as they do after a complete removal and tear-down of the pads and scrubbing of the pistons with brake cleaner (the solvent kind) and a toothbrush.
Soo, if you've got that mushy feeling, try some wheel cleaner before you resort to tearing your calipers off.  It just may do the trick.  btw, I don't think the WURTH brand is essential.  I think any aluminum alloy-safe brand would work, as long as it dissolves brake dust.

David
'99ST

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