De-greasing old brake shoes??

[Yorkshire_Jon]

All,
I have a set of 11" x 3" brake shoes - all have plenty of meat left on them but are rather oily / greasy.

Is it possible to successfully de-grease them or should I replace them?

I had thought about bringing the oil to the surface with a blow-lamp and wiping it off, or perhaps de-greasing and then boiling in a strong washing up liquid / detergent but aren't sure if any of these methods would work or are dangerous.

Thoughts please.


Also, re new brake shoes. Bearmeach have new sets for about $60, my local old-school brake specialist has suggested that new shoes made of new compounds may not pull the car up very well (friction material too hard) and that he could re-line them with a more traditional (softer and asbestos free) lining that would stop the car much more satisfactorily... but this would probably be around $100.


Any thoughts on any of the above?

Thanks
J

[debruiser]

I was told by a mechanic that you 'can't remove the oil' but then an old school dude told me something about setting them on fire or something... I don't remember.

I have replaced my 11x3" brake shoes with off the shelf stuff, they stopped ok.

[landy]

I'm not saying that I recommend this but when I was an apprentice we used to soak them in petrol and set fire to them.
I was young and gullible and just did as I was told. Seemed to work though!

Try this at your own risk.

[debruiser]

Am I correct that they work ok for a while; until they get good and hot and the oil works it's way back to the surface????

[landy]

I really can't remember. It was the mid 80s. It was a VERY common 'fix' in the used car workshop.
If what you've heard is true I don't suppose the used car manager cared as long as it lasted the 3 months statutory warranty.

[isuzurover]

I can't believe you guys haven't heard of Brakekleen - made by crc i recall. It will make the linings like new.

As for new linings not being as good, let me guess, the guy who told you that was over 65?
If anything new linings are better. Just buy good quality.

[B92 8NW]

I can't believe you guys haven't heard of Brakekleen - made by crc i recall. It will make the linings like new.

As for new linings not being as good, let me guess, the guy who told you that was over 65?
If anything new linings are better. Just buy good quality.

CRC Brākleen, great stuff, but only when it's got the macron to sound like the French Swedish doctor on South Park

Also good for blowing up dustbins

[Blknight.aus]

Generally, bbrake shoes come in two basic compounds.


Hard which lasts forever but eats up your drums, doesn't fafadas badly as the soft but doesn't pull up as well and suffers badly if the drums are wet.
Soft, which dint last anywhere near as long, make llots of dust but pull up firmly and disintegrate at the slightest hint of oil or foreign matter goin round inside the drum.

What you fit depends on what you value most and in my book so 've I drive the box not the brakes the softer compound is the go.

Oh the softer compound shoes are a little pricier than the more cheaply produced hard ones.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Generally, bbrake shoes come in two basic compounds.


Hard which lasts forever but eats up your drums, doesn't fafadas badly as the soft but doesn't pull up as well and suffers badly if the drums are wet.
Soft, which dint last anywhere near as long, make llots of dust but pull up firmly and disintegrate at the slightest hint of oil or foreign matter goin round inside the drum.

What you fit depends on what you value most and in my book so 've I drive the box not the brakes the softer compound is the go.

Oh the softer compound shoes are a little pricier than the more cheaply produced hard ones.

So when the choice is Bearmach or re-lined... what would you choice be? Or is it more appropriate to say, are the Bearmach ones hard or soft?


Personally Id rather soft shoes that work - engine braking is normally plenty for me...

Thx
Jon

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Am I correct that they work ok for a while; until they get good and hot and the oil works it's way back to the surface????

This is exactly what my old man told me last night - he reckons 30 years ago he spent years as and when required trying to get the oil out and said he never could manage to get them like new again.

Looks like new ones are in order... just which ones???

J