[SFBLU08STI]

Try soaking the wheels with simple green then use a power washer, try this method a few times.

[DocBlackAdder]

Actually, solutions with a low ph (acidic) remove the brake dust because it neutralizes the alkalinity of the dust. You just don't want anything very acidic to touch the wheels for very long, or when the wheels are hot, or to dry on the wheels. If you are worried about the acidity, by all means scrub away for a long time with something neutral.

[Thejoyofdriving]

Originally Posted by DocBlackAdder

Actually, solutions with a low ph (acidic) remove the brake dust because it neutralizes the alkalinity of the dust. You just don't want anything very acidic to touch the wheels for very long, or when the wheels are hot, or to dry on the wheels. If you are worried about the acidity, by all means scrub away for a long time with something neutral.

Do you have any back round in chemistry? Because............i dont But i do know a bit when it comes to pH. As far as i know, the act of neutralizing is not what cleans. Im not sure at all about this, but also the act of neutralizing may create some sort of unwanted side effects. But donno.....not good at chemistry.

[Peleg]

Original OP or anyone who has caked brake dust, if you want to do this right and achieve great results, take the wheels OFF the car and do them by hand with P21S gold wheel cleaner. You can even set the wheel in a small plastic tub and put in water mixed up with P21S.

I take my wheels off once a year for this type of cleaning and it works really well. It's very had to get to the inside of the wheel while it's mounted.

You then dry them, Poorboy's wheel sealant, buff and they are ready to go back on the car.

[stlb5]

Originally Posted by Peleg

Original OP or anyone who has caked brake dust, if you want to do this right and achieve great results, take the wheels OFF the car and do them by hand with P21S gold wheel cleaner. You can even set the wheel in a small plastic tub and put in water mixed up with P21S.

I take my wheels off once a year for this type of cleaning and it works really well. It's very had to get to the inside of the wheel while it's mounted.

You then dry them, Poorboy's wheel sealant, buff and they are ready to go back on the car.

I clean mine like that at least twice a year, basically each time I rotate them, may as well while they're off. Has P21S worked on baked on dust like in the pictures? I like the idea of soaking them in a tub, if I can find on big enough. What ratio of P21S to water do you use?

[DocBlackAdder]

Originally Posted by Thejoyofdriving

Do you have any back round in chemistry? Because............i dont But i do know a bit when it comes to pH. As far as i know, the act of neutralizing is not what cleans. Im not sure at all about this, but also the act of neutralizing may create some sort of unwanted side effects. But donno.....not good at chemistry.

Actually, some chemistry (by no means an expert). My doctorate degree required a lot of chemistry, but not as much as some degrees do. I think I misspoke when I was explaining it. The wheel cleaners that I've seen do have soaps in them also, you can tell by how much they foam when you spray them. (This is listed on the label as "surfactants".) But the acidity is there to help dissolve the brake dust partially, since the brake dust is alkaline. As far as I know the only side effect is a small amount of heat which is generated by the reaction.
I think where the problem comes in is that there is a lot more acid than base in the reaction, so what is left is still acidic. If you have acid on a hot wheel, like after "brisk" driving, it can react quickly with the wheel itself.

Definitely it is better to use the cleaners sparingly. I just don't think most are as dangerous as some people seem to think.

[DocBlackAdder]

I just tried Griot's Wheel Cleaner (got a sample with my wheels from TireRack.com) and was pretty impressed with it. It worked better than I thought it would for a cleaner without harsh chemicals in it. I'm usually a fan of harsh chemicals.

You still have to scrub with a brush, but it isn't something you have to avoid contact with or breathing the fumes.

[Snowmaniac153]

so the caked on dust near the lug nuts... what i gather is, scrub scrub and try some pressure washer and some PH flat chemical.
I just wish there was an easy way... I guess i just get to spend more time with my car....Not a bad thing