KBS Coatings Is Proudly Made In The USA!
Call: (219) 263-0073
Text: (219) 531-7797
SHIPPING: Under $75, as low as $5 | Over $75, FREE*!
KBS Coatings Accepts Credit Cards, PayPal and Venmo

Can KBS Klean Be Used as a Brake Cleaner?

Yes. KBS Klean is a concentrated, industrial strength, water based cleaner and degreaser, and it breaks down the contaminants brake work leaves behind: grease, oil, brake fluid, brake dust and road grime. Because it is water based, the part that matters most is the finish: rinse thoroughly and dry completely, since water left on bare ferrous brake components will flash rust.

KBS Klean for Brake Work: Quick Facts

Removes: grease, oil, brake fluid, brake dust, road grime
Type: water based concentrate, not a solvent aerosol
Critical step: rinse thoroughly, then dry completely
Before coating: treat metal with RustBlast
Water based means you must dry it. A solvent brake cleaner flashes off on its own. KBS Klean is rinsed with water, and bare ferrous metal left damp will flash rust. Dry the components right away rather than letting them air dry.

Why Clean Brake Components at All

Oils, grease, brake fluid and road contaminants left on brake components can compromise braking performance and stop a coating from bonding correctly. Before any brake service or coating work the surfaces need to be free of contaminants, and even trace amounts of oil or residue can interfere with performance and durability.

KBS Klean is designed to remove grease, oil and brake fluid, lift brake dust and road grime, clean metal thoroughly prior to coating, and prepare surfaces for maximum adhesion.

How to Use It on Brake Parts

  1. Dilute with hot water at the ratio matching the contamination. Heavy grease and brake fluid is the heavily soiled case at 1 part hot water to 1 part KBS Klean; lighter dust is 5 to 1 or 10 to 1. See the dilution ratios.
  2. Shake well and apply liberally. Wash for 5 to 10 minutes, or longer on badly contaminated parts.
  3. Use a bristle brush on caked brake dust. Removed components can be soaked; extended soaking of up to 24 hours or more may be necessary on heavily contaminated parts.
  4. Do not allow KBS Klean to dry before rinsing. Rinse thoroughly with water.
  5. Dry completely and promptly. This is the step a solvent cleaner does not require and this one does.

Wear protective rubber gloves and safety glasses at all times. Follow the vehicle or component manufacturer's service procedure for anything involving the hydraulic system, friction material or wheel bearings.

If You Are Coating Calipers or Brackets

Cleaning is the first step, not the whole job. Metal surfaces cleaned with KBS Klean should be treated with RustBlast before painting to ensure proper adhesion. For caliper and bracket coating, Motor Coater is the KBS high heat enamel used on calipers; check its own product and directions pages for its heat rating and application detail.

How It Differs From an Aerosol Brake Cleaner

The usual shop brake cleaner is a solvent in an aerosol can: it flashes off with no rinse and no drying step, and it leaves behind whatever the solvent redeposited. KBS Klean is the opposite trade: it needs a water rinse and a drying step, and in exchange it leaves nothing behind, which is what matters if the next thing touching that metal is a coating. Solvent based cleaners can leave an invisible residue which can interfere with paint adhesion and appearance.

For a part being cleaned and immediately reassembled, the aerosol is the faster tool. For a part being cleaned and then coated, the water based cleaner is the correct one.

Frequently Asked Questions: KBS Klean for Brake Work

Can KBS Klean be used as a brake cleaner?

Yes. KBS Klean is a concentrated, industrial strength, water based cleaner formulated to break down heavy automotive contaminants, including grease, oil, brake fluid, brake dust and road grime, without relying on harsh solvents.

Yes, and the drying step is the important one. KBS Klean is rinsed with water, and bare ferrous brake components left damp will flash rust. Rinse thoroughly, then dry the parts promptly rather than letting them air dry.

An aerosol solvent cleaner flashes off with no rinse and no drying step, but can leave an invisible residue that interferes with paint adhesion and appearance. KBS Klean needs a rinse and a dry, and leaves nothing behind, which is what matters if the part is going to be coated.

Match it to the contamination. Heavy grease and brake fluid is the heavily soiled case at 1 part hot water to 1 part KBS Klean; lighter brake dust goes at 5 to 1 or 10 to 1. Hotter water improves the cleaning action.

Yes. For heavy duty cleaning, extended soaking times of up to 24 hours or more may be necessary. Use a bristle brush on caked brake dust and retreat with fresh solution until the surface is clean.

Yes. Metal surfaces cleaned with KBS Klean should be treated with RustBlast before painting to ensure proper adhesion. Cleaning removes contamination; the etch step creates the profile the coating grips.

Follow the vehicle or component manufacturer's service procedure for anything involving the hydraulic system, friction material or wheel bearings. KBS Klean's published role here is cleaning and degreasing metal surfaces prior to service or coating.

Still have questions about using KBS Klean on brake components? Contact us for help.

Logo