Peaty's Disc Brake Cleaner is a really effective way of getting grease and squeaky filth off your discs, safe in the knowledge that it's not going to contaminate your pads. It's biodegradable, so it won't contaminate anything else – though it's not made from peat, in case you were wondering, but named for legendary downhiller Steve Peat. It's his brand.
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This stubby little 400ml can packs an effective punch of quick-drying solvent which really cleans away muck. One blast takes away a lot of the oils or grease, and a second spray clears almost everything.
It’s got a pretty strong smell of solvent, so it's not for confined spaces, and (as per the instruction), a drip tray is crucial. I experimented with chains and rear cogs in the tray, to see how much grease it’d take off - turns out a fair bit. Whilst not a chain degreaser, it's a handy second use of what is a fairly disposable product.
It’s a handy addition to the workshop/cleaning bucket, and if a spray of this doesn't fix your squealing brakes, then the problem is more serious.
The can lasts well, even with my liberal usage on every bike with discs, as a quick spray does a good job, with a scrub between sprays on really bad brakes being all that's needed. One thing of note, is that it’s best not got on skin – it takes the oils out of that, too, and leaves it dry and prone to cracking. Use gloves or be super careful.
The cans are colour-coded so you don't spray one of Peaty's other products in the wrong place, though it's a fairly subtle coloured ring, so it's probably better to read the label (even if Peaty himself famously seemed fondest of cans with Stella written on them).
Peaty's Disc Brake Cleaner is a pretty cheap and handy product, rapidly scours unwanted filth from your all-important brakes, is biodegradable, and – best of all – will make you world champion-fast. Probably.
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