DIY Brake Shoe Cleaning Solution

In the early 1980s, asbestos was banned from brake pad and shoe friction materials to help prevent lung damage and disease. Cleaning and adjusting your rear drum brakes--or cleaning brake dust from the front disc brakes--doesn't have to involve breathing airborne brake dust or chemicals from an aerosol brake parts cleaner. A simple-to-make cleaning solution can provide both cleaning and particle suspension, making brake services cleaner and less hazardous.

Instructions

1

Unscrew the spray nozzle from the bottle, and remove it from the bottle. Fill the bottle with 1 quart of clean water.

2

Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Use a liquid soap designed for hand washing dishes and not soap designed for use in a dishwasher.

3

Insert the spray nozzle into the bottle, and screw it on tightly. Shake the bottle to mix the soap and water thoroughly. This solution is safe to use on all automotive brake systems and will remove brake dust and oil, suspending it in the solution so it can be wiped off.