Best Brake Parts Cleaner: 14 Brands Put to the Test

Introduction

Brake parts cleaner looks like one of those products where any can will do, but side-by-side testing shows otherwise. Fourteen brands, ranging from about $4 to $23, were put through the same four challenges: how quickly each evaporates, how well each wipes away grease, how much baked-on sludge each blasts off a steel plate in eight seconds, and how much residue each leaves behind on glass. The differences turned out to be surprisingly large.

How the Cleaners Were Evaluated

Each test used a weighted squeegee with a folded, saturated paper towel to keep downward force identical across brands. Evaporation was timed on a flat surface, grease removal was measured in passes across a marked test area, sludge removal was weighed to a tenth of a gram on a steel plate, and residue was judged on glass with powder applied to reveal what was left behind.

Gumout Brake Parts Cleaner

At around $4, Gumout is a carbon choke cleaner that also claims to work on carburetors, brakes, and unpainted metal, tackling gum, varnish, and oil. It evaporated in about 14 seconds, but it struggled badly with grease, needing nine passes with marker still remaining, and removed under half a gram of sludge. It also left behind a noticeable oily residue.

Super Tech Brake Parts Cleaner

Walmart’s Super Tech, around $5, is a non-chlorinated formula claiming to remove oil, grease, brake fluid, and contaminants with no residue. It was slightly faster than Gumout at 13.3 seconds and much better at grease, finishing in six passes. Sludge removal was weak at 0.28 g, though it used more product than most, and its residue was better than Gumout but still significant.

CRC Chlorinated Brake Clean

The chlorinated CRC formula, around $6, delivered excellent cleaning power: about 90 percent of grease gone after two passes, finished in three, and nearly 59 g of sludge removed. The big caveats: it took four minutes and four seconds to evaporate, more than eight times slower than the leaders, left almost no residue, and carries a safety concern worth taking seriously. Chlorinated formulas can form hydrogen chloride and possibly phosgene gas if exposed to heat, so many people avoid them entirely.

Berryman Brake Parts Cleaner

At around $8, Berryman claims very low odor, quick drying, and no residue, and it backed up the speed claim with an 8.8 second evaporation time, among the best in the group. Grease removal was slower than expected, taking eight passes, and sludge removal was similarly unimpressive at 1.9 g. Residue was better than Gumout but roughly on par with Super Tech.

CRC Non-Chlorinated Brake Parts Cleaner

CRC’s non-chlorinated option, around $8, claims to be their strongest 45 percent VOC formula with ultra-fast drying. Evaporation came in at 15 seconds, grease removal tied for third at four passes, and sludge removal hit 28.2 g, second only to the chlorinated CRC. Residue was minimal and not oily, making this a strong all-around non-chlorinated choice.

Denco Brake Parts Cleaner

Denco, around $8, claims a high-power spray that removes brake fluid, grease, and oil instantly. Instead of forming a liquid sheet it beaded up on the surface and evaporated in 30 seconds, the slowest non-chlorinated time recorded. It removed all grease after eight passes but did little to the marker stain, and sludge removal was a middling 15.42 g.

Penray Brake Parts Cleaner

Penray, around $10, claims maximum-strength solvents, a 53 percent VOC formula, no residue, and non-staining performance. It evaporated quickly at 12.5 seconds, but grease removal stalled after nine passes, the same as Gumout, and sludge removal was nearly zero at 0.17 g despite using 63 g of product. Residue was a thin layer, better than average.

Sprayway Brake Parts Cleaner

Sprayway, around $10, is a 50-state formula claiming high-pressure spray and fast evaporation. In practice it evaporated slowly at 22.4 seconds and sprayed with relatively little force, managing only 0.45 g of sludge removal. The payoff came in grease removal, finished in five passes, and very low residue on glass, one of the best residue results among non-chlorinated cleaners.

Permatex Brake Parts Cleaner

Permatex, around $12, claims to penetrate and dissolve dirt and oil. It was slow to evaporate at 33.1 seconds, but that dwell time helped: it tied for the grease-removal lead at four passes and delivered the best non-chlorinated sludge result at 59.27 g, absolutely destroying the test sludge with a very powerful spray blast. It tied for fourth overall, and when evaporation speed and residue were removed from the scoring, it tied for first. Per gram of sludge, it was the efficiency leader at 0.67 g removed per gram of cleaner.

Lucas Brake Parts Cleaner

Lucas, around $13, claims none better, with fast drying and no residue. It evaporated in 8.3 seconds, finished grease in five passes, and removed 37.22 g of sludge with a powerful blast. On glass it left less residue than Permatex. Overall it finished second among all brands with an average ranking of 4.3, above average in every category, and it is not chlorinated.

Johnson’s Brake Parts Cleaner

Johnson’s, around $13, claims a 45 percent VOC compliant, nonflammable, high-power spray. It was the fastest cleaner early on at 6.4 seconds, tied for third in grease removal at four passes, and removed 27.48 g of sludge. Residue was slightly worse than Permatex but still solid, and it tied with Permatex for fourth overall.

Gunk Chlorinated Brake Parts Cleaner

Gunk, around $14, is chlorinated and claims nonflammable, fast drying, no-residue performance. Its power was undeniable: nearly all grease gone in one pass, sludge removal of 75.01 g, the best in the test, and the cleanest glass with just one tiny spot of residue. The downside is evaporation, at one minute 24 seconds, and the same chlorinated safety concern as other chlorinated formulas. It still won the overall ranking with an average finish of 3.7, top three in every category except evaporation.

Detroit Axle Brake Parts Cleaner

Detroit Axle, around $19, is a 50-state formula claiming instant removal of brake fluid, grease, and oil. It was the fastest evaporator by a wide margin, close to 3 seconds, more than twice as fast as anything else. That speed cost it cleaning power: grease took six passes with smearing, and sludge removal was a poor 0.24 g. Residue was more than the chlorinated CRC, about the same as Johnson’s.

3M Brake Parts Cleaner

At around $23, 3M claims a high-power cleaner with a tight spray pattern, low residue, and no chlorinated solvents. It evaporated at 8.5 seconds, faster than average, finished grease in five passes, and removed 39.41 g of sludge, second best per gram of product at 0.57 g. Residue was slightly more than Detroit Axle. It is a refined, well-balanced performer, but the price is the highest in the group.

Residue on Glass: The Mess Factor

Some cleaners evaporate fast but leave an oily film behind, which matters if you are working on brakes where a clean surface is the whole point. The chlorinated Gunk and CRC left the least residue, followed closely by Sprayway and Lucas among non-chlorinated options. Gumout left the most, with a distinctly oily feel, and Super Tech was not far behind.

Heavy-Duty Sludge Test: Where Power Matters

A mix of grease, motor oil, brake fluid, and sand was applied to a steel plate, and each cleaner got an eight-second blast with a fresh can. The chlorinated Gunk led at 75.01 g removed, Permatex took second among non-chlorinated formulas at 59.27 g, and chlorinated CRC third at 58.56 g. At the other extreme, Penray and Detroit Axle barely moved the needle despite spending plenty of product.

Cost efficiency told an interesting story: the chlorinated CRC was the cheapest per gram of sludge removed at about 3 cents, Permatex followed at 4 cents, and Gunk and non-chlorinated CRC tied at 5 cents.

Overall Buying Advice

The final rankings put chlorinated Gunk first at an average finish of 3.7, Lucas second at 4.3, chlorinated CRC third at 4.7, and Permatex and Johnson’s tied for fourth at 4.8. If chlorinated products are off the table for safety reasons, Lucas is the best all-around pick, while Permatex ties for first once evaporation speed and residue are de-weighted in favor of raw cleaning effectiveness. For a typical garage use case where cleaning power matters more than how fast the can dries, Permatex is the standout value, and Super Tech remains a decent budget option while Gumout and Penray are best avoided.

Conclusion

No single brake parts cleaner wins everything. Gunk and chlorinated CRC clean hardest but dry slowly and carry chlorinated safety concerns, Lucas balances every category well, Permatex offers the best power-per-dollar for typical garage work, and Detroit Axle suits anyone who prioritizes instant evaporation above all else. Matching the cleaner to how you actually use it matters far more than the price on the can.