Brake Fluid for Cleaning Bolts?
Elle
them with a rag, apply, say, anti-seize, then re-install?
My concern would be the water absorbing properties of brake
fluid. But if others routinely do this, then I won't be
concerned.
TIA
Al Bundy
this anyway. You could use a regular degreaser or kerosene. I'd just
spray them with Liquid Wrench or something similar. People have used
all sorts of things including vinegar, but I prefer regular old
petroleum distilates.
Elle
> The biggest reason is WHY.
Because (1) it's darn effective at removing, for example,
paint; and (2) presumably it has some lubricating
properties; (3) beats just throwing out old brake fluid.
H...@nospam.nix
"Elle" <honda....@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:hR6ag.2614$x4....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> Because (1) it's darn effective at removing, for example,
> paint; and (2) presumably it has some lubricating
> properties; (3) beats just throwing out old brake fluid.
Actually, it is not very good at removing paint...at least, not most paint.
It might
damage auto finishes, but without a little caustic added to it, it isn't a
powerful
paint remover.
It slicks up bolts, but - as mentioned earlier - picks up water and could
promote
rusting, I guess.
Nate Nagel
I'm not sure why you'd want to do this; brake fluid also eats paint
which is not a concern on bolts, but can be a concern if the parts the
bolts connect are painted. Also there are better parts cleaning
solutions available, kerosene works well and is cheap although it is
more easily flammable so more care should be taken.
nate
--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel
G-Man
motor oil. Personally, if the bolt is that far gone, I replace it. I
always use Anti-Seize on most of my bolts.
G-Man
"Elle" <honda....@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:zD6ag.2606$x4....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Al Bundy
use. He only wanted us to tell him how great it would be. He knows
everything and simply wants validation.
Mike Romain
take some out and trickle into a rim's holes to get the rim to come free
from the hub. Driving on it with loose lug nuts and using the back end
of a log splitter maul didn't budge it but a soak in brake fluid let it
pop loose.
It seems to eat rust, never thought of using old fluid on my old rusty
nut and bolt collection that got caught in a rainstorm. I think I might
try it and see. I will post back about it.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
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Grumpy AuContraire
JT
Elle
of concerns about the water absorption. I really don't know.
Congratulations, anyway.
"Al Bundy" <MSfo...@mcpmail.com> wrote
Elle
> Brake fluid acts as a great penetrating fluid in a pinch.
> I have had to
> take some out and trickle into a rim's holes to get the
> rim to come free
> from the hub. Driving on it with loose lug nuts and using
> the back end
> of a log splitter maul didn't budge it but a soak in brake
> fluid let it
> pop loose.
>
> It seems to eat rust, never thought of using old fluid on
> my old rusty
> nut and bolt collection that got caught in a rainstorm. I
> think I might
> try it and see. I will post back about it.
Lots of folks report similar stories to yours, but no one
talks about routinely using it to clean old rusty bolts. So
I'm hesitant, like maybe I'm missing something.
Maybe the stuff is so hard on the hands that people avoid
it. Dunno. Just thought I'd ask, since I'm in the middle or
a suspension renovation job and have come across some pretty
beat up nuts and bolts (many of which I'm replacing).
jim beam
in a paper bag, saturate with brake fluid, then leave out in the garage
a while. the only time it can be used in contact with ferrous metals is
where it's sealed and moisture absorption is minimized. otherwise, it's
a great way to return iron to its original ore.
John S.
I'm confused. Are you really looking for information or just looking
for someone to justify what you have already decided to do. Someone
gives you several well thought out reasons why it isn't a good idea and
you respond with your own pre-conceived justifications.
If you want to use brake fluid as a cleaner then go ahead but it is a
poor choice. Just don't ask for opinions if you don't want to hear
them.
Elle
Because?
> Just don't ask for opinions if you don't want to hear
> them.
This thread is beyond your reasoning abilities.
larry moe 'n curly
H...@nospam.nix wrote:
> "Elle" <honda....@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:hR6ag.2614$x4....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> >
> > Because (1) it's darn effective at removing, for example,
> > paint;
> Actually, it is not very good at removing paint...at least, not most paint.
> It might damage auto finishes, but without a little caustic added to it,
> it isn't a powerful paint remover.
Is there any other chemical that will remove paint from plastic without
damaging the plastic? Brake fluid did a good job stripping the paint
form my ABS/polycarbonate wheel covers.
H...@nospam.nix
"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymo...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> Is there any other chemical that will remove paint from plastic without
> damaging the plastic? Brake fluid did a good job stripping the paint
> form my ABS/polycarbonate wheel covers.
Depends on the plastic, and on the type of paint. Brake fluid is not
normally
a good paint remover for GOOD paint.
Acrylonitrile/Butadiene/Styrene is a pretty tough polymer. Used in athletic
helmets
and a number of other high impact applications. Although it is not
impervious to
solvents, it often tolerates them pretty well without softening.
Michael Pardee
news:1147737364.7...@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Don't even bother. He wants to use brake fluid and that's what he will
> use. He only wanted us to tell him how great it would be. He knows
> everything and simply wants validation.
>
going to do something bad rather than the good I am hoping for?" and seeking
the experience of others. I believe learning from the experience of others
is a good thing and the main reason we are here - most of us, anyway.
For myself, I've never tried it and am curious how it works out. Since Elle
doesn't know everything, and knows she doesn't know (thus the question) but
has a good reputation here it has my interest.
Mike
SoCalMike
>>
>> If you want to use brake fluid as a cleaner then go ahead
>> but it is a
>> poor choice.
>
> Because?
berrymans chem-dip is much better. takes off *everything*
Elle
> "Al Bundy" <MSfo...@mcpmail.com> wrote
>> Don't even bother. He wants to use brake fluid and that's
>> what he will
>> use. He only wanted us to tell him how great it would be.
>> He knows
>> everything and simply wants validation.
>>
> I think you are misinterpreting the question. She is
> asking: "is this idea going to do something bad rather
> than the good I am hoping for?"
Yes, that's precisely it.
> and seeking the experience of others. I believe learning
> from the experience of others is a good thing and the main
> reason we are here - most of us, anyway.
> For myself, I've never tried it and am curious how it
> works out. Since Elle doesn't know everything, and knows
> she doesn't know (thus the question) but has a good
> reputation here it has my interest.
Thanks. But on this one, I am not inclined to experiment. It
just seemed like people would do it a lot, or they never do
it. In which case I don't want to be the guinea pig. :-)
Alex Rodriguez
honda....@nospam.earthlink.net says...
The real question is why? What are you trying to do by soaking the bolts
in brake fluid?
------------
Alex
Alex Rodriguez
honda....@nospam.earthlink.net says...
>Because (1) it's darn effective at removing, for example,
>paint; and
do you have paint on the bolts that you want to remove?
>(2) presumably it has some lubricating properties;
Regular motor oil is a better lubricant.
>(3) beats just throwing out old brake fluid.
What were you planning on doing with the fluid after you soaked the
bolts in it?
Makes no sense.
--------------
Alex
Stewart DIBBS
>I won't be using brake fluid if no one else uses it, because of concerns
>about the water absorption.
Time for my 0.02 ...
Yes, water absorption IS the problem, as this causes the normally inert
fluid to become contaminated with acidic compounds. Leaving a residue of
brake fluid will cause rust to start in double quick time as the acidic
compounds expose raw iron to oxygen. If you doubt this, look what happens
to, say, a cast iron clutch slave cylinder that leaks: it gets covered with
a layer of rust.
Much better to replace a rusty bolt with a new one, and use an anti-sieze
compound. If you must wipe bolts with something, use WD40 or engine oil.
--
Stewart DIBBS
www.pixcl.com/lancerproject.htm