TOPIC:

The body of my Hilux is shortly going to have a brake fluid bath. Whilst I am doing this, does anyone know if I could soak the axles in the brake fluid? The person that had it before me has pained the axles and hubs a red colour for some reason, which I want to get rid of. As the brake fluid does not ruin the plastic shells, I presume that it would be ok on the cast metal?

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

If the axles are cast iron, then brake fluid will be fine on it. you can even use oven cleaner to remove the paint.

I am not sure what they are made of exactly. They are some kind of cast metal, but as to exactly what, I don't know.

it is cast aluminum to be exact. cast aluminum would do better with a soak in clean strip laquerer thinner and a brush from an old toothbrush, i use laquerer thinner to remove paint from metal, however when it comes to plastic i dont have a clue.

Do not put the cast aluminum bits in Caustic Soda, or Oven Cleaner that cointains caustic soda (it usually does).
The parts will turn black (oxidation), and you will not be able to restore them.

To remove paint, use brake fluid,as mentioned above.

For general cleaning, soak in White Spirit and then use a toothbrush to clean. Then wash in warm soap water. That should do it.

-Lars

But oven cleaner is used to remove anodizing from aluminium parts. And as far as I know, the parts don't turn black. I might be wrong though...

Thanks for the info guys.

I will try one of the axles when I put the body in the brake fluid to soak and see how it turns out. I will attempt to get some pics up at the weekend of where I am with the project at the moment and update it as I go along.

IMO I would use WD40 to wash the body. brake cleaner, I have found, is too harsh.

wildwillyRTR wrote:

IMO I would use WD40 to wash the body. brake cleaner, I have found, is too harsh.

Don't use break cleaner. Use Brake Fluid (the hydraulic oil for the brakes) to remove paint.

-Lars

larbut wrote:

wildwillyRTR wrote:

IMO I would use WD40 to wash the body. brake cleaner, I have found, is too harsh.

Don't use break cleaner. Use Brake Fluid (the hydraulic oil for the brakes) to remove paint.

-Lars

Cheers Lars