Correct way to deglaze brake rotors/pads?

[Solo]

I've heard of several ways to deglaze brake rotors and pads from sanding them in a figure eight pattern to baking them in the oven.

I'm currently running Avid Juicy 5's with stock pads for about 200 miles or so and noticed a dramatic decrease in braking power from the rear as well as dark black streaks on the rotor.

Does anyone know the correct way to fix this?

[foofighter]

i just take fine grit sandpaper sping the wheel on the bike and pinch the sandpaper over the rotor to clean the glaze off...worked for me for a few rides.

[northshore]

Originally Posted by foofighter

i just take fine grit sandpaper sping the wheel on the bike and pinch the sandpaper over the rotor to clean the glaze off...worked for me for a few rides.

+1..fine grit sandpaper and then finish it off with a mild towel soaked with a bit of brake cleaner and you should be golden.

[Red Hot Sloth]

The pads themselves can develop a glaze on them as well. I give them a quick sanding with a fine grit as well..not as vigorous as its done on the rotor though, just enough to break away the glaze. And don't use any fluids on the pads, just blow 'em off

[Uncle Rico]

I just take the pads out and do a light file on them.

The rotors, use fine sandpaper. Then follow up with rubbing alcohol on a clean towel. If Im out of alcohol I have even used windex.

[un-kola]

What Foo and RHS said,but make sure you don't touch them with your fingers and get oil on them.- Lloyd

[Solo]

Thanks guys, I'll try that when I get home. Looking out the window, I'll have a few days to mess around with this (among other things).

[kanga]

The "baking in the oven" option isn't for de-glazing, in my understanding. I did it once when a bottle of oil-based lubricant (3 in 1) leaked in my tool case and my new replacement pads got oil on them. After doing some research, I baked them to burn off the oil, gave them a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, blew off the carbon with compressed air, then put them on the bike and had no real problems. I can't remember the settings but I think it was about 400 deg for 30 minutes or so, until toasty brown... They were magura pads and it also baked the paint off the backing plates, but that never caused a problem.

[jschwart73]

For motorcycles, we used to use ScotchBrite pads to deglaze rotors. Worked like a charm, just spin the wheel and squeeze the rotor.

[Solo]

Originally Posted by jschwart73

For motorcycles, we used to use ScotchBrite pads to deglaze rotors. Worked like a charm, just spin the wheel and squeeze the rotor.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking instead of sandpaper. I still have some of the good ones from Uncle Sam that I may dip in alcohol and give them a spin.

[Red Hot Sloth]

I have used sandpaper, steel wool, and emery cloth and krokus cloth. I prefer the emery cloth, but will use any of these materials

[GP_pilot]

Brake pads - Belt sander
Rotors - Never had glazing, but they'll warp or get high points. Once they do, you're buying new rotors anyway

[92se-r]

200 grit sandpaper and brake cleaner. DONE.

[Torque Wrench]

For the pads I use a diamond encrusted flat metal plate intended for sharpening woodworking chisels. For the rotors I use a palm sander with 320 grit sandpaper.

[crazyjeys]

for the pads i sand the top layer that looks like oily. and for the rotors i usually just wipe it with rubbing alcohol. works for me!

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by crazyjeys

for the pads i sand the top layer that looks like oily. and for the rotors i usually just wipe it with rubbing alcohol. works for me!

Also my method