Wheel seal vs brakes shoes

Depends. If they're fairly new shoes, yeah, I'll take them to the solvent tank, although I will replace the brake parts kit. If they've got a decent amount of wear to them, I'll just replace them, and typically the other side, as well. I'm a fleet mechanic, so as long as I can make the justification look good on my R.O. notes, nobody's going to question it.
Now when it comes to disc brakes, if the pads are contaminated, I'm tossing them and replacing them. I'm familiar enough with s-cams and comfortable enough cleaning the shoes and rolling with it.... less so with discs.

You do realize that we use solvent tanks and steam tanks for that sort of thing, right? Yeah, brake wash for small, quick things, but something the size of brake shoes would go into the solvent tank. Now I did run a service truck, so the brake wash was the only thing to use there, but we're talking about situations being outside and in open air, and I have enough sense not to spray in a direction where it's going to blow back at me, so you're really citing a non-issue there.

 

You do realize that "brake cleaner" was invented for a reason. Because, most solvents are petroleum based and absorb in the the brake pad/shoe much like oil/gease does. They leave an oily residue in the pores of the lining much like the oil that you are trying to clean off. Most solvents will have the same effect on the lining as the oil you are trying to clean off. That is why all cans of "brake cleaner" advertise they "leave no oily residue" and are "quick drying."

Overall, I was making the point that mechanics have expenses too. Too many people, even drivers, do not realize the overhead a shop has. If a shop has to waste several of cans of brake clean, a couple gallons of solvent, a bundle of rags, and a bunch of shop time cleaning up your service part, everybody might be miles ahead in just tossing the part even if it is #### near new.

While I understand trying to keep the bill low, there is a point where you are chasing a penny by throwing away a dollar. All brake manufactures recommend tossing the lining when it gets oil soaked or even solvent soaked. It not hard to prove that to a customer either.

At the end of the day, no one wants to clean that solvent tank, pay for solvent service, rag service, or order another case of brake clean. Just who pays for all that when saving a cheap part.

Which brings me to the other point I was trying to make. Mechanics have lives too. Cleaning your crappy parts sucks. A flat rate mechanic needs to get paid for that. Motivation and health of the mechanics is big part of the operation when running a shop. Solvents, fumes, and used oil are hazards. No need to subject a worker to them without need.

Then, as CAT said, the liability too.

 

power washer takes most of it off then hit with brake clean