Deciding which brake caliper brush to use depends on the area of the brake you are going to be cleaning.
Brake caliper brushes come with bristles manufactured from different materials. The types of bristles that are available include:
Steel/stainless steel
Brass
Brake caliper brush – steel bristles
Brake caliper brushes that come with steel bristles are much tougher and abrade more aggressively than brass. These types of brushes are suitable for brushing areas of brakes that are less delicate and can withstand aggressive cleaning.
When cleaning disc brakes, they are ideal for brushing the outside of calipers, brackets and brake pad lining. A brake caliper is a part of the brake which slows down vehicle’s wheels by creating friction with the brake disc.
Brake brackets are metal frames that fit around the brake disc and hold the calipers in place.
Brake pad lining is the material coated on the inside of a brake pad. The lining is a friction material which rubs against the brake disc to slow down a vehicle.
When cleaning drum brakes, the steel bristles are suitable for brushing the brake shoe linings and the drum. This is because the shoe lining and drum can withstand aggressive brushing and will not damage easily.
Brake shoe lining is the material on the outside faces of the brake shoes. The lining is a friction material which rubs against the drum when the brake is applied, slowing down the vehicle.
A drum is a cylindrical cover used to protect the components of the drum brake.
Brake caliper brush – brass bristles
Brass is a softer metal compared to steel. The bristles offer a more gentle abrasion when cleaning brakes. This type of brush is ideal for when cleaning the more delicate areas of the brake to ensure they do not become damaged.
The most delicate areas of a brake include the inside of the calipers, the piston housing and the brake disc (rotor).
If you decide to brush the inside of the drum brake, it would be best to use a brass bristle brush as some areas are delicate. These parts will not need to be brushed as aggressively as parts such as the drum or brake shoes linings, so using a brush with soft metal bristles will help reduce the risk of any damage.