| Author | Message | ||
     Erik Geagan (Geagan) Member Username: Geagan Post Number: 148 Registered: 10-2002 |
My rims have caked on brake dust and was wondering what works really good to have the rims gleeming? | ||
| Nate Jedinak (Ducati) New Member Username: Ducati Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2002 |
If it's caked on they're probably already "bronzed" by the acid in the dust. Not much you can do at that point but remove the blackness. I have always kept my vehicles' rims brake-dust and corrosion free... That is, until I bought the '03 disco. I just can't keep up with the brake dust. Have to wash 2-3 times a week, and even when I was washing them 2 times a week I got some bronzing of the rims. I gave up. BMWs do the same thing. I have a friend, on his 3rd BMW, who has a 2 week old 5 series. The rims are already deteriorating... | ||
| Erik Geagan (Geagan) Member Username: Geagan Post Number: 149 Registered: 10-2002 |
There has to me something. I've always been good about it. But it rain for the last 5 weekends!! | ||
| Tony DiFranco (Nhrover) Member Username: Nhrover Post Number: 61 Registered: 11-2002 |
simplegreen works good but it has to come right off after you apply it | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 14 Registered: 05-2003 |
Bleech White works well too (I think it's called Leslie's Bleech White). You can get it at Wal-mart. It's in a white bottle with red and blue label. I am just guessing, but I wonder if a de-greaser might work? I just used Greased Lighting on my undercarrage (trying to figure out if I have stopped my leaks) to cut the grease (not oil). Worked great with a hose. | ||
| Matthew Gibson (Mattgibson) New Member Username: Mattgibson Post Number: 31 Registered: 06-2003 |
Hey guys, this isn't quite the solution you're looking for, but it works for me. Armour ALL makes an Extreme Tire Shine which goes on really thick and it makes your tires shine. Put a little on your rims and all you have to do every other day is wipe the brake dust off with a good quality paper towel. The dust sticks to the greasy stuff- not the rims! Wipes right off! Even sticks after a rain. Just re-spray after wiping. Now I never have to clean my rims unless I go through mud. | ||
| Sonny (Sonny) New Member Username: Sonny Post Number: 3 Registered: 04-2003 |
Atlantic British sells dust shields that fit behind your wheel and prevent dust from getting onto the finished outside portion of the wheel. They probably affect rotor cooling so you shouldn't get them if you drive aggressively. | ||
| Matt Williams (Ltmatt007) Member Username: Ltmatt007 Post Number: 48 Registered: 02-2003 |
I apply wax to my wheels after I use wheel cleaner. Dry your wheels and then use a cheap car wax,( like KIT Wax) and do a couple of coats. It keeps the brake dust from sticking. I can spray my wheels off with a hose every other day and the dust just comes right off. --Matt | ||
| Christian Kuhtz (Ckuhtz) New Member Username: Ckuhtz Post Number: 24 Registered: 05-2003 |
Just a word of caution, if you use simple green.. make sure it's dilluted decently (1:2 or more simple green:water). That stuff can be very aggressive. | ||
| Brian Goodner (Bluewater) Member Username: Bluewater Post Number: 79 Registered: 03-2003 |
castrol super clean works awesome on my wheels and tires i'd try some of that | ||
| Steve Vines (Stevedsii) New Member Username: Stevedsii Post Number: 39 Registered: 05-2002 |
Do not use Blech-White on your wheels! It is a very strong cleaner that will eventually "etch" the clear coat on your wheels. Trust me, this is experience talking here. I used it primarily as a tire cleaner, but the overspray still got the wheels. BTW, I have never seen wheels get corroded with brake dust the way they do on my Disco. | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 16 Registered: 05-2003 |
Steve that's interesting, I hadn't known Blech White to do that. I have used it on my Merc Benz, Infiniti, Exploder and now our Acura and Disco, and hadn't had that result. How often did you use it? Did you leave it on long? I just apply and spray off fairly quickly. Just curious. | ||
| Anthony Luke (Coolhand) New Member Username: Coolhand Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2003 |
dish detergent works for me. It is cheap and safe for the finish and when using a scrub brush attachment on a hose it could not be easier! | ||
| Steve Vines (Stevedsii) New Member Username: Stevedsii Post Number: 40 Registered: 05-2002 |
Chris, I used it for years on several different vehicles. Mainly on tires. I found that the overspray that landed on the wheels seemed to degrade the clearcoat over time allowing the brake dust to really adhere to the wheel. I also did the spray on, allow to soak for a few seconds and hose off scenario. Maybe it's just something that happens over a long period of time. One vehicle I did this on I owned for 5 years. The wheels looked horrible around the edges when I got rid of it. I've owned my Disco for about a year and a half now. I have used nothing but soap, water and a little wax since I've bought it on the wheels. Seems to clean up OK although it does take some elbow grease. BTW, I also used to clean my rubber floor mats with Bleche-White. Over time it will destroy a set of floor mats. | ||
| Alyssa Brown (Alyssa) Member Username: Alyssa Post Number: 162 Registered: 01-2003 |
Do be very careful how you scrub. the clearcoat can definately peel and that looks AWFUL... way worse than just the dust. | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2003 |
Steve, thanks for the heads up! I'm throwing my bottle away as we speak..HA! Hey, I have used Windex before (it actually worked very well). Any knowledge or experience about long term effects? Just curious. Fortuantely I wash mine enough that soap, water, and a sponge works fine. | ||
| gary pain (Gary_p) New Member Username: Gary_p Post Number: 5 Registered: 04-2003 |
I don't know if you can get it in the states, but i use Mr Muscle oven cleaner. It's a spray on foam that you leave for half an hour, then wash off. No scrubbing and it really works well. | ||
| Anthony Luke (Coolhand) New Member Username: Coolhand Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2003 |
oven cleaner is overkill. It is very corrosive. I would be stay away from using it. Any grease cutting agent will work. A good mild detergent will suffice. If you are skeptical - see what oven cleaner does to uncoated aluminium. |
