Cleaning up brakes

I've got a pair of brakes which after a couple of years of riding are gunked up. I'm keen to avoid taking them apart and wondering if it's a good idea to soak them in a solution, and if so, what solution is best (water and mild detergent/spirits etc). Any advice gratefully received.

Remove caliper. Remove pads. Drop into ice-cream bucket full of diesel. leave over night. move all pivots; clean with toothbrush. mild soapy warm water rinse. fit pads. fit brake. ride.

I've found white spirit works great on my chains... don't see why it wouldn't work on brakes.

I've never used diesel to clean parts. Unleaded fuel, mineral turpentine, metholated spirits maybe but never diesel. That would be explained by not owning any diesel powered vehicles not that it's super shit or anything. It is super shit though, right?

Anyway, citrus desgreaser all the way.

Any particular reason that you would use diesel (in all it's toxic & carcinogenic glory) & not white spirit (which can be mixed with milk & drunk after)?

Diesel works well, white spirit is carcinogenic too.

The good thing about diesel is that it's less volitle, I would not want a ice cream tub of petrol sat in my flat.

Petrol is carcinogenic. I used it a lot. Might explains some things..

This is in Oz.. I'd set fire to some shit with it afterwards. Happy days.

carcinogenic - as in vapours - or in soak into the skin?

carcinogenic means any contact with it increases the possibilty of cancer. But, diesel and petrol fumes are carcinogenic, and with a lot of that around it's not worth worrying about.

yes - i should probably stop smoking before worrying about that!