how to clean brake dust

[Waldo]

I have a serious brake dust problem on my wheels, how can I remove them? These is brake dust from racing brakes (hawk blue) pads.

[hal9000]

Eagle One A to Z Wheel Cleaner ~ $5 is probally the cheapest and most available one. Very mild citrus based cleaner. You may need to scrub on bad wheels (I run stock pads and I've gotta just run as sponge over the fronts, but the backs are just spray and rinse).

For harder problems, you can try P21S Wheel Cleaners. the Gel is stronger than the spray.

[Motorsport]

no matter how bad mine get I always just use soap and water. I heard any of the other wheel cleaners are bad for your wheels finish and will make them fade. Maybe there are some safe ones out there?

[Ben Carufel]

Many wheels cleaners claim they are safe for wheels. However, I really don't like taking chances. On crappy wheels, such as my bottlecaps (which are now my track wheels) I use Eagle 1 A2Z, but for my new wheels and/or any other wheels I detail I use soap and water.

Putting several coats of Klasse Sealant Glaze on the wheels after they've been cleaned thoroughly will keep the wax from sticking. Then, just use carsoap and water to clean them.

The wheels I just bought to replace my track wheels currently have 14 coats of Klasse SG on them. I'm not going to have tires mounted for another week so I'll just keep putting another coat of SG on every night.

[hal9000]

Originally posted by Ben Carufel

Putting several coats of Klasse Sealant Glaze on the wheels after they've been cleaned thoroughly will keep the wax from sticking. Then, just use carsoap and water to clean them.


Wax Ben?:eek: Neet brake pads you have there :evil2

Someone's got waxing on the brain.

[Ben Carufel]

LOL. I meant brake dust, I swear!

I'm watching Austin Powers III while I type this so excuse the typos :).

Hoping to have 20 coats of SG on my new wheels by the time they're mounted.

[henry47]

if you have black spots on your rims, the brake dust has been baked onto your rims. What you should do is take some clay bar and scrubb at it until it comes off. I had some 4 year old brake dust baked onto my old rims that are hardly ever washed and they look brand new. After you're done claying, use some polish and then wax. Then about 1-2 times a week, use water/car shampoo and a microfiber/100% cotton terry cloth to clean them. If you have chrome or high polished rims, try not to use towels that have been used before because it might scratch the finish. Every time I wash my rims, I used a new terry cloth to wash down, and another new one to dry.

[///AlpinePower]

i use simple green diluted with water + soft brush. a 15:1 ratio works fine. the little spots on my rims are from tar--- so a couple dabs with 3M adhesive remover is jigga-awesome.

[SilverBeam]

claybar and a lot of wax.

I've been really good about my wheels, but still, some brake dust has been imbedded. I spent about an hour and a half to two hours on one wheel right now. It's so smooth and uber shiney. It hasn't looked this good since I got them put on.

It's time consuming but well worth the effort.

[hal9000]

Originally posted by little740girl
claybar and a lot of wax.

I've been really good about my wheels, but still, some brake dust has been imbedded. I spent about an hour and a half to two hours on one wheel right now. It's so smooth and uber shiney. It hasn't looked this good since I got them put on.

It's time consuming but well worth the effort.

Lauren!!!....smack....wax isn't going to last on the rims, esp the front ones...brakes heat it up tooooooo much. Go mug Ben and steal some Klasse AIO or DPS.

[Ben Carufel]

Yeah, sheesh, c'mon Lauren, get with the program! :)

[SilverBeam]

Hey now, I spent all my money on other stuff :( I can't afford anything special like Klasse. I'll mug him for it tomorrow.

[hal9000]

Originally posted by little740girl
Hey now, I spent all my money on other stuff :( I can't afford anything special like Klasse. I'll mug him for it tomorrow.
]

Oh come on....I heard Ben goes for cheap...bat you eyes, wiggle those hips....you can probally walk off with those two plastic bins he claims are full of detailing goodies....:evil2

Actually for 4 rims, I'm sure he might even be convinced to help you do them...

[Ben Carufel]

Haha...Nah, those two bins are like a grand in detailing supplies. No way she's getting those!

Lauren I can't come up tomorrow...as you know...but yeah go to the $tealership and try to get some Klasse there...and then Dawn wash your wheels to get all of the wax off of them, and polish them with Klasse AIO, and seal them with Klasse SG.

:)

[hal9000]

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
Haha...Nah, those two bins are like a grand in detailing supplies. No way she's getting those!


So it's daddy's shotgun and a ring?:biglaughb

[Ben Carufel]

Whatever that saying means, I'm 99% sure it went "out" before I was even born -- explain!

[hal9000]

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
Whatever that saying means, I'm 99% sure it went "out" before I was even born -- explain!

Ask Jim what a shotgun wedding is....I wanna hear about the look on your face when he explains it.

[Ben Carufel]

LOL. I'll do that next time I see him...

[dbarberic]

I've been using "Wheel Wax" on my BBS RK's and the brake dust washes off with soap and water.

I have yet to have the need for any special cleaners.

[hal9000]

Originally posted by dbarberic
I've been using "Wheel Wax" on my BBS RK's and the brake dust washes off with soap and water.

I have yet to have the need for any special cleaners.

I've used it. Great on the backs, but doesn't last more than a week on the fronts. As long as you keep ahead of it, you shouldn't ever not be able to get off brake dust with just soap/water. It's when it sits and bakes that you have issues.

A2Z just makes it alot easier to get into the crevices...no need to use a brush/fingers to get in there.