Bleeding Brakes, How to protect your caliper?

[X25]

Originally Posted by Destructo09

Rinse the caliper with plain water afterwards.

+1. Water dilutes the fluid, and neutralizes its potential for harm. I always keep a water sprayer with me, and once I am done bleeding, I spray water onto the caliper around the bleeders, regardless of having leaked or not.

[Nighthawk89]

Originally Posted by X25

+1. Water dilutes the fluid, and neutralizes its potential for harm. I always keep a water sprayer with me, and once I am done bleeding, I spray water onto the caliper around the bleeders, regardless of having leaked or not.

I will be taking the advice of the water and using an old spray bottle with some tap water handy.

[bannonm]

Water will work just fine. I was bleeding the brakes on my son's car last night, and the hose on the Motive bleeder burst while under pressure. Seems the brake fluid will eventually eat the hose too. Needless to say, I panicked as the fluid sprayed like a sprinkler missing my Camaro by inches. His car got soaked on the front fender and door. We took water bottles and dumped it on the paint to rinse off the fluid and then wiped it up with a few towels. The only paint that got damaged was the flat black on the mounting plate for the side mirror. The fender and door were fine.

So afterwards I looked at the hose that is connected to the bottle and right were it is connected to the nipple, about two inches of it looked like it had micro cracks. When it was pressurized to 20 pounds, it expanded enough to make pinholes and spit fluid all over. I cutoff about 3 inches and used a new hose clamp and we were back in business. Going to look for some new replacement hoses. My bleeder is about 3 years old and has been well used.

[White_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by X25

+1. Water dilutes the fluid, and neutralizes its potential for harm. I always keep a water sprayer with me, and once I am done bleeding, I spray water onto the caliper around the bleeders, regardless of having leaked or not.

That's a good idea. I always have that little bit that stays in the bleeder and boils off and runs down the caliper.

[Trob85]

Hell I just let it do what it wants and then spray everything down with brake cleaner and called it a day.

[Nighthawk89]

Originally Posted by Trob85

Hell I just let it do what it wants and then spray everything down with brake cleaner and called it a day.

Wonder if brake cleaner would harm the clear or the powdercoating.

[Trob85]

I haven't had any problems.

[aFe POWER]

Personally I wouldn't use brake cleaner, try rubbing alcohol and a rag to get off any stuff that is on paint you don't want damaged. But it also has to do with how well and thick is the layer of clear coat that was applied to your brake calipers as well. But even then it's still iffy, but I wouldn't if I were you nighthawk89.

[Nighthawk89]

Great feedback you guys!