Bicycle Mechanics - cleaner for salmon pads/ machined rims?

bmx brake maintenance question-

what should i use to clean my pads and rim for better braking? Simple Green is not cutting it.

i have "salmon" Kool Stop BMX pads on my Diatech Hombre u-brake and a Sun Rhyno Lite XL rim with a machined sidewall. when i clean my rim and brake shoes with Simple Green, the brake pads tend to get gunked up and loose effectiveness quickly. i have always used Simple Green to clean rims and pads in the past, but i am used to chrome (not machined) rims and black pads. i have been told that, for some reason, Simple Green tends to gunk up on salmon colored brake pads. that seems to be accurate in my experience as well.

1) Lose is spelt with a single o, loose is what you do with arrows
2) Don't clean pads with simple green
3) Clean rims/pads with a little bit of rubbing alcohol

You are already running the best pads on the market on a good rim. The only other thing to look at would be the brake caliper.

Simple Green and a scotch cloth will clean the rims completely. Use a little windex or alcohol to get any soap residue off the rim. A little sandpaper will do the pads. bk

I use Fantastic on my own salmon pads but I also rinse with a water dampened rag after. Whatever you use you want to rinse away any soapy residue.

I'd also suggest get a coarse metal file instead of sandpaper for the rare times you need to dress the pads. With sandpaper the grit breaks down and embbeds itself into the rubber of the pad and then cuts away at the rim.

Scotch Brite pad and water is all I use.

thanks.

i use a fine, flat metal file when i occasionally have to de-glaze my pads, but most of that glaze is coming from the residue from my Simple Green. SG works great for black pads and chrome rims, but not salmons and machined rims. i'll give alcohol and a scotch brite pad a go.


1) Lose is spelt with a single o, loose is what you do with arrows.
thanks, grammar police:rolleyes: