How do I get caked on brake dust off of my wheels?

ride_the_pony69 · 03-09-2007, 03:17 PM

Can anybody please tell me how to get the dang built up brake dust in the corners of my wheels off? I tried getting it off with a tooth brush and it ain't working.

MadMan77 · 03-09-2007, 03:22 PM

Claybar and plenty of elbow grease.

H4N · 03-09-2007, 03:24 PM

hm.. clybar works good huh? i got to give that a try when good weather comes.

scubynewbie · 03-09-2007, 03:26 PM

This is why you don't go for a long time w/o washing your rims...haha. Good luck though, claybar worked for me, try it out.

house poor sti · 03-09-2007, 04:01 PM

I can get the stock BBS rims sparkling with a wheel brush, regular car washing soap to loosen the dirt, a spray bottle filled 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% distilled water (normally what you get from a pharmacy right?) to get the greasy, tar-like grime loose, a sacrificial rag per wheel, and one ton of elbow grease. An hour later, and I still can't really get the calipers too clean, but the silver rims do look very nice for about a few minutes before I drive the car and the brake dust piles up again. If you are really dedicated and want to make the dust less sticky for a less time intensive future cleaning, after you finish working out all the dirt, try waxing the rim very carefully. Careful as wax on the tire sidewall tends to look kinda crappy. With a waxed rim, the dirts comes off more easily with just soap and a brush or rag. Just be careful though that the wax will start coming right off if you are using alcohol the next time around. Oh, and your wife will most assuredly think you are absolutely f'in nuts for doing all that for just your wheels.

Real Deal · 03-09-2007, 04:05 PM

mr clean eraser is what ive been using on my two sets of stock alloy wheels
3 years and they still shine like the day i bought the car
(although i dont have BBS wheels, so i dont know if they would eat at the gold paint)
try to apply some protectant afterwards like wheel wax also

***sciolist*** · 03-09-2007, 04:20 PM

It's much easier if you take the wheels off the car.

ride_the_pony69 · 03-09-2007, 11:49 PM

Where do I get claybar from?

H4N · 03-09-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ride_the_pony69

Where do I get claybar from?

at any auto part store or store that sell car cleaning supplies and such. Usually comes in a tall box, the "claybar" and a detailer spray comes in the box.

300hp@6000rpm · 03-10-2007, 12:00 AM

Try a claybar.

If the brake dust has pitted the clearcoat, sadly it's nearly impossible to remove. It actually bonds to the wheel. Only way to truly fix is to sand and repaint the whole wheel. In order to prevent pitting please wash your wheels often.

T3h_Clap · 03-10-2007, 07:09 AM

bead blast and re-paint...

only kidding.

it would work, but i don't think it's what you're looking to do.

Greg · 03-17-2007, 08:14 PM

I'd start with some P21S Then follow up with some Wheel Wax. Once the wheels are waxed, the brake dust should release easliy as long as you don't let it go too long. You won't need aggressive cleaners or to re-wax for months. Only use P21S when it's really needed as it will strip the wax off.

fourseasonsandles · 03-20-2007, 07:32 AM

I have found a quick blast of simple green directly from the bottle and a scrub down works well. I am not picky to get every spot of dust off as I know it is just going to come back..

Best solution.. either paint your rims a dark color or buy a set of that are already dark!

crand002 · 03-20-2007, 08:01 AM

McGwire's paint cleaner works effortlessly.

eurospek · 03-20-2007, 08:43 PM

I have bought Meguiars Wheel Brightener off their website and I tried it on my fifth wheel that I curbed during the winter. It was baked on with dust like always, I mixed that solution with 1:1 with water and it worked amazing, sprayed on, scrubbed a little and repeated the process. The finish is not ruin nor is the clearcoat. Then for normal cleaning I use P21S wheel cleaner.

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...ght=sti+wheels

03-09-2007, 03:17 PM	#1
ride_the_pony69 Spec C Club Car: 04 Blue STi Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,417 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	How do I get caked on brake dust off of my wheels? Can anybody please tell me how to get the dang built up brake dust in the corners of my wheels off? I tried getting it off with a tooth brush and it ain't working. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-20-2007, 08:43 PM	#15
eurospek Professional STI Driver Car: 2005 SAAB 9-2X AERO Location: Chicago Posts: 479 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	I have bought Meguiars Wheel Brightener off their website and I tried it on my fifth wheel that I curbed during the winter. It was baked on with dust like always, I mixed that solution with 1:1 with water and it worked amazing, sprayed on, scrubbed a little and repeated the process. The finish is not ruin nor is the clearcoat. Then for normal cleaning I use P21S wheel cleaner. http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...ght=sti+wheels This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-09-2007, 03:22 PM	#2
MadMan77 Spec C Club Car: '04 WRB STi Location: Centerville, Georgia Posts: 1,526 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (6)	Claybar and plenty of elbow grease.

03-09-2007, 03:24 PM	#3
H4N The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: EWG, T 2'S Location: Mass-hole Posts: 921 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (6)	hm.. clybar works good huh? i got to give that a try when good weather comes.

03-09-2007, 03:26 PM	#4
scubynewbie Professional STI Racer Car: 06 Galaxy Gray RX-8 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 653 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	This is why you don't go for a long time w/o washing your rims...haha. Good luck though, claybar worked for me, try it out.

03-09-2007, 04:01 PM	#5
house poor sti Amateur STI Driver Car: 04 JBP STi Location: SoCal Posts: 9 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	I can get the stock BBS rims sparkling with a wheel brush, regular car washing soap to loosen the dirt, a spray bottle filled 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% distilled water (normally what you get from a pharmacy right?) to get the greasy, tar-like grime loose, a sacrificial rag per wheel, and one ton of elbow grease. An hour later, and I still can't really get the calipers too clean, but the silver rims do look very nice for about a few minutes before I drive the car and the brake dust piles up again. If you are really dedicated and want to make the dust less sticky for a less time intensive future cleaning, after you finish working out all the dirt, try waxing the rim very carefully. Careful as wax on the tire sidewall tends to look kinda crappy. With a waxed rim, the dirts comes off more easily with just soap and a brush or rag. Just be careful though that the wax will start coming right off if you are using alcohol the next time around. Oh, and your wife will most assuredly think you are absolutely f'in nuts for doing all that for just your wheels.

03-09-2007, 04:05 PM	#6
Real Deal STI Driver Car: 06 WRX Limited Fav Mod: Removal of DRL Location: Seatown Posts: 290 Join Date: Oct 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	mr clean eraser is what ive been using on my two sets of stock alloy wheels 3 years and they still shine like the day i bought the car (although i dont have BBS wheels, so i dont know if they would eat at the gold paint) try to apply some protectant afterwards like wheel wax also

03-09-2007, 04:20 PM	#7
*sciolist* Spiteful Old Codger Location: Bend, OR Posts: 2,345 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	It's much easier if you take the wheels off the car.

03-09-2007, 11:49 PM	#8
ride_the_pony69 Spec C Club Car: 04 Blue STi Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,417 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Where do I get claybar from?

03-10-2007, 12:00 AM	#10
300hp@6000rpm Grassroots STI Racer Car: 2004.3 PSM STi Fav Mod: JDM STi Performance Muffler Location: NJ Posts: 523 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Try a claybar. If the brake dust has pitted the clearcoat, sadly it's nearly impossible to remove. It actually bonds to the wheel. Only way to truly fix is to sand and repaint the whole wheel. In order to prevent pitting please wash your wheels often.

03-10-2007, 07:09 AM	#11
T3h_Clap Wheel33tist Whore Car: Aspen White GDF-D Fav Mod: Pastelito Racing / SFSOC Location: Pompano Beach Posts: 21,216 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (4)	bead blast and re-paint... only kidding. it would work, but i don't think it's what you're looking to do.

03-17-2007, 08:14 PM	#12
Greg Silver Member Car: 2006 - CGM Location: Western Washington Posts: 829 Join Date: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I'd start with some P21S Then follow up with some Wheel Wax. Once the wheels are waxed, the brake dust should release easliy as long as you don't let it go too long. You won't need aggressive cleaners or to re-wax for months. Only use P21S when it's really needed as it will strip the wax off.

03-20-2007, 07:32 AM	#13
fourseasonsandles Silver Member Car: 06 CGM Wingless Fav Mod: The Newest One! Location: Ra cha cha NY Posts: 3,128 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I have found a quick blast of simple green directly from the bottle and a scrub down works well. I am not picky to get every spot of dust off as I know it is just going to come back.. Best solution.. either paint your rims a dark color or buy a set of that are already dark!

03-20-2007, 08:01 AM	#14
crand002 The Next Petter Solberg Car: 06 WRX STI Fav Mod: Front license plate delete Location: San Diego Posts: 869 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (2)	McGwire's paint cleaner works effortlessly.