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Brake cleaner vs Carb cleaner


unibrook
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Yes they are quite different. Brake cleaner dries clean and fast , leaves no residue, so that the brakes have a nice clean surface so they work properly.

Carb cleaner is generally heavily petroleum based and will leave oils/residue behind that will prevent the brakes from working until the residue is burned off.

 

Use brake cleaner for brakes, carb cleaner for carbs.

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Carb cleaner dries about as residue-free as brake cleaner, and if you're cleaning just unpainted metal parts, that's about all that matters.

 

But as said, carb cleaner is worse for you and might chew the heck out of rubber, plastic, paint, skin, maybe pads and shoes, and sure as hell will wreck your eyes.

 

 

Dave

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Carb cleaner dries about as residue-free as brake cleaner, and if you're cleaning just unpainted metal parts, that's about all that matters.

 

But as said, carb cleaner is worse for you and might chew the heck out of rubber, plastic, paint, skin, maybe pads and shoes, and sure as hell will wreck your eyes.

 

 

Dave

 

Carb cleaner in the eyes BURNS. Don't ask me how I know, but I now always wear safety glasses when using carb cleaner, brake cleaner, or any type of solvent.

 

If you like reading MSDS sheets as much as I do...

 

Carb cleaner:

http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Portals/0/BPI%20MSDS/0101,0105,0116,0155%20%28Blend%201AA-MS%29.pdf

 

Brake cleaner:

http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Portals/0/1420.pdf

 

http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Default.aspx?tabid=120

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  • 7 months later...
Carb cleaner in the eyes BURNS.

 

So does brake cleaner, and gasoline. Motor oil isnt sobad, but beware the metal sparks, as you will need a Dr.'s drill to get the rusty shard out of your cornea.

 

I used brake cleaner on an engine reseal, and i will just say, "Don't use brake cleaner on the oil pump seals!". The seals swelled up and would not fit in the groove on the back of the pump. Never again!

 

Brake cleaner works best sprayed onto a rag if you are just trying to clean off fingerprints and grease for assembly.

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