Fenwick's Disc Brake Cleaner 500ml – Triple Solvent Formula for Rotors, Pads & Callipers

Fenwick's Disc Brake Cleaner 500ml is a dedicated triple-solvent disc brake cleaning formula designed to remove oil, grease, brake dust, and contamination from disc brake rotors, pad backing plates, and callipers — the most common causes of brake squeal, reduced braking power, and inconsistent feel. Brake contamination is one of the most performance-critical maintenance issues on any bike with hydraulic disc brakes: even a small amount of chain lube, suspension fluid, or finger grease on a rotor or pad can significantly reduce braking power and cause persistent squealing. Fenwick's Disc Brake Cleaner removes contamination thoroughly and leaves components completely dry and degreased.

The triple solvent formula is specifically formulated with a slower evaporation rate than standard brake cleaners, giving the solvents more time to penetrate and dissolve contamination before evaporating — resulting in a more thorough clean than fast-evaporating alternatives. Apply to the rotor, pad backing plate, and calliper body, allow to dwell briefly, then wipe away or allow to evaporate completely before riding. The cleaner leaves no residue — components are left completely dry and degreased, ready for immediate use. It can also be used to clean brake pads that have been lightly contaminated — though severely contaminated pads (those that have absorbed oil into the friction material) will need to be replaced.

Important safety note: always allow the cleaner to evaporate completely before riding. Never apply to brake pad friction surfaces while the pads are installed in the calliper without removing them first. Keep away from painted surfaces — solvent-based formula. For anti-seize protection on brake pad backing plates, see the Fenwick's Copper Anti-Seize or PTFE Anti-Seize. Browse the full Fenwick's range or our workshop and maintenance collection.

What It's Good For

• Removing oil, grease, brake dust, and contamination from disc brake rotors
• Cleaning brake pad backing plates and calliper bodies
• Reducing or eliminating brake squeal caused by contamination
• Restoring braking power after contamination from chain lube, suspension fluid, or handling
• Triple solvent formula with slower evaporation for deeper, more thorough cleaning
• Leaves components completely dry and residue-free

What It's NOT Good For

• Painted surfaces — solvent-based formula; keep away from frame paintwork and decals
• Brake pads with oil absorbed into the friction material — surface cleaning won't restore heavily contaminated pads; replacement is required
• General-purpose cleaning of non-brake components — use the Drivetrain Degreaser for drivetrain components or the Bike Cleaner Concentrate for frames
• Use while brakes are hot — allow brakes to cool before applying

Frequently Asked Questions

My brakes are squealing — will this fix it?
Brake squeal caused by contamination (oil, grease, or brake dust on the rotor or pad surface) can often be resolved by cleaning with disc brake cleaner. Apply to the rotor and the pad backing plate (with pads removed from the calliper), allow to evaporate, and reinstall. If the pads have absorbed oil into the friction material itself, cleaning won't help — the pads will need to be replaced. If squeal persists after cleaning, the pads are likely contaminated beyond recovery.

What is the slower evaporation rate and why does it matter?
Many brake cleaners use fast-evaporating solvents that flash off before they've had time to fully dissolve contamination. Fenwick's triple solvent formula evaporates more slowly, giving the solvents more contact time with the contamination before evaporating — resulting in a more thorough clean, particularly on heavily soiled rotors and callipers.

Can I use it on brake pads?
You can clean the metal backing plate of brake pads with disc brake cleaner. For the friction material (the pad face), light surface contamination can sometimes be cleaned, but if oil has soaked into the pad material, cleaning won't restore braking performance and the pads should be replaced. When cleaning pads, remove them from the calliper first and allow to dry completely before reinstalling.

How often should I clean my disc brakes?
Clean rotors and callipers whenever you notice reduced braking power, brake squeal, or visible contamination. As a preventive measure, clean rotors after any maintenance that involves chain lube, suspension fluid, or other lubricants near the brake system — these are the most common sources of brake contamination. Avoid touching rotors with bare hands, as skin oils can cause contamination.