FC steering rack rebuild

[RETed]

Originally Posted by Tanj!

An alternative to Purple Power or Simple Green that is friendly to Aluminum would be tide washing detergent (powdered seems to work best) or Pine-Sol. We have had very good luck using both at our shop to degrease aluminum bits.

I do NOT recommend ANY of the above options...
1) Simple Green has been quietly decommissioned by the military, because they found out it actually eats aluminum - do a Google search, and you should find plenty on this.
2) Most metals (including steel, iron, and aluminum, etc.) are porous.
Using a water-based cleaner (which Purple Power, PineSol, and anything detergent + water) will cause the cleaner to get into the metal.
If it can get into the metal, it can get out of the metal.
All those cleaners + grease or oils will cause a foamy mess.

If you're going to use a degreaser where you're going to put back a lubricant like grease or oil, then use some kind of contact cleaner that will evaporate quickly.
Brake cleaner would be ideal.
In a pinch, you can use gasoline.
Acetone is another option, but it'll eat anything plastic or paint!


-Ted