Wheel cleaning question

G

gannet

Lifer
 Surrey
Apologies if this has been asked before but I couldnt find anything on a quick search...

Cleaned my car yesterday and also decided to clean the wheels with some wheel cleaner (meguiars alloy cleaner or some such...). Anyway I couldnt get what I can only assume is brake dust off the wheel, what should I use etc?

Here is a picture - hope it comes out ok! Surface is rough to the touch :(

DSC00236.jpg


Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
 
Try a clay then polish followed by a wheel wax or good sealant should sort things.

This is supposed to be a very good LSP on wheels http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/chemical-guys-jet-seal-109/prod_484.html
 
Thanks for that... never used a clay before, bought a starter kit the other week but havemt plucked up the courage yet :o

Think I should clay the car before the wheels though right?
 
gannet said:
Thanks for that... never used a clay before, bought a starter kit the other week but havemt plucked up the courage yet :o

Think I should clay the car before the wheels though right?
Click to expand...

Would not use clay on the bodywork after using it for wheels

Claying is very easy just make sure you keep the area soaked in QD so the clay cannot grab and its a doddle i use the Sonus green clay and Megs LT as lube mine is due this weekend weather permitting.

Remember if you ever drop the clay never ever use it again bin it.

A pain as i have done this but you must bin it.

Normally mould a small handle into the clay like below to stop dropping it

clay003.jpg
 
GAZA62 said:
Remember if you ever drop the clay never ever use it again bin it. A pain as i have done this but you must bin it.
Click to expand...

Or put a piece of hardboard or whatever on the floor under the bit you're claying so if you drop the clay it it doesn't pick up grit.
 
If its particulary ingrained brake dust you may even struggle with clay so something like Megs Wheel Brightner would be the only other option, very acidic though so really for one off uses but can be diluted.

Finis Kare 1000P is also supposed to be the dogs nads for wheels and good on paintwork:- http://www.seriousperformance.co.uk/Products,52,toView_402.html
 
Thanks guys :thumbsup:

Ive used Wonder Wheels before but never on anything so stubborn... anybody have experience with that?

duckson - is that link for a sealant similar to GAZA's earlier?

Sorry for the dumb questions :oops: Ive never detailed a car beyond a regular wash and occasional wax :o
 
Finish Kare 1000P is a wax, i use my Collinite 476s wax to seal my wheels after a clean. Makes cleaning them 10 times easier next time.
 
From the picture that looks more like paint overspray, unless I'm looking at the wrong area, have the wheels been refurbished?
As already mentioned clay should remove this.
 
Bought the wheels brand new from BMW about a year ago and have managed to keep them damage free so no refurb. Bodyshop recently but they took the bumper off to respray (I saw it). It is blacker than the picture suggests also...

I will have a go at clay when I get a chance :D
 
Remember, that microscopic particles of both brake dust and iron fileings in a hot cloud blast the wheel at speed and under hard braking. Etching into the finish can sometimes take place and no amount of cleaning can suffice and a refurb is the only option IMO
 
Mik said:
Remember, that microscopic particles of both brake dust and iron fileings in a hot cloud blast the wheel at speed and under hard braking. Etching into the finish can sometimes take place and no amount of cleaning can suffice and a refurb is the only option IMO
Click to expand...

:o

fair comment I suppose but I just hope I can get it off without a refurb. I've never had any problem before with any of my wheels :?
 
Turtle wax liquid clay? Think its more like a chemical paint cleaner like Meguairs Deep Crystal #1, if Megs Wheel Brightner doesnt remove it nothing will.
 
Thanks to all the advice given and more than a little bit of elbow grease I now have brake dust free wheels :trampoline:

I used Bilberry safe wheel cleaner - removed some but not all of it :(
Meguairs Quick Detail Kit (or some such) - Clay bar after doing the car finished with the wheel and it eventually came off :D

Wheels have now been treated with Chemical Guys wheel protector so hopefully wont suffer the same fate...

I will post some picks of my shiny car in another thread, but here is a shot of the newly cleaned wheel...

DSC00018.jpg


Thanks again :D

Edit: To add shot of wheel...
 
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