Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

[WaWaZat]

Getting ready to put my Boyd Coddington custom polished alum wheels on for the 2nd season. At the beginning of last season, I polished them, front & back, with a Power Ball & NXT All Metal Polysh, then applied NXT Tech Wax... in the bottle... and removed with a Power Ball. The problem is that it seems that these wheels are a magnet for road grime, etc. Maybe my expectations are a little high but after 1 rainy day, the wheels look like absolute ****. It seems that the rest of the car can withstand the same single rainy day without looking like the car hasn't been washed in weeks. My hopes were that the wax might do the same for the wheels. It doesn't seem that the wax is even adhering to the wheels like it does paint. Is there a better product/technique that does?

Is there anything that can be done to polished alum wheels to make them resist road grime & brake dust?

[Tuck91]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

A good coat of wax will make cleaning the wheels easier in the future, but you have already done that. If you want to maintain your wheels with something then maybe pick up a bottle of Quik Wheel Detailer:

[WaWaZat]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

A good coat of wax will make cleaning the wheels easier in the future, but you have already done that. If you want to maintain your wheels with something then maybe pick up a bottle of Quik Wheel Detailer:

That's a great idea, but the wheels can get grungy enough to need a more thorough cleaning. I really don't think my waxing has been as effective as it could be.

Still looking for suggestions here.

[Murr1525]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

Wax should adhere to metal... maybe the Nxt 2.0 wax would be a little better.

You are cerain there is no other coating on the wheels?

[WaWaZat]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

Wax should adhere to metal... maybe the Nxt 2.0 wax would be a little better.

You are cerain there is no other coating on the wheels?

Yep... they're
straight up polished Alum. I know because the manufacturer offers a polishing service if they ever need it.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

Perhaps the wax with the powerball is too aggressive to remove and is not letting the wax stay on the wheel but rather just remove it right then and there. Try applying your wax by hand and removing it by hand.

[3Fitty]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

I tried everything and the ONLY effective means of reducing brake dust is switching to ceramic pads.

The Lexus IS second generation series is notorious for horrendous brake dust. I tried everything in order that I keep my rims clean. First I was cleaning daily and that was just to much work.

Next, I did internet research and read rave after rave about Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant (a dedicated wheel product). To put it blunt, I thought the product was horrendous. Hard to apply, hard to remove and very little improvement on the clean up.

After two tries with the PB's Wheel Sealant, I used NXT 2.0, a product I love. It was better than the PB's stuff, but still not great either (on account of the wheels just being a "special case").

I've used the Quik Wheel Detailer and it is nice, but still not the answer. Lexus offered a free swap to ceramics and that was the answer. Now my wheels stay clean for weeks. What an improvement.

The only answer I've found.

[WaWaZat]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

Perhaps the wax with the powerball is too aggressive to remove and is not letting the wax stay on the wheel but rather just remove it right then and there. Try applying your wax by hand and removing it by hand.

I've recently thought about that. I wanted to make sure I was using the right product. I'm planning on trying that.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

I tried everything and the ONLY effective means of reducing brake dust is switching to ceramic pads.

The Lexus IS second generation series is notorious for horrendous brake dust. I tried everything in order that I keep my rims clean. First I was cleaning daily and that was just to much work.

Next, I did internet research and read rave after rave about Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant (a dedicated wheel product). To put it blunt, I thought the product was horrendous. Hard to apply, hard to remove and very little improvement on the clean up.

After two tries with the PB's Wheel Sealant, I used NXT 2.0, a product I love. It was better than the PB's stuff, but still not great either (on account of the wheels just being a "special case").

I've used the Quik Wheel Detailer and it is nice, but still not the answer. Lexus offered a free swap to ceramics and that was the answer. Now my wheels stay clean for weeks. What an improvement.

The only answer I've found.

I can see your frustration with the 350's brake dust. My dad has one and it seems like two days after being washed the wheels, front ones especially, are black again. He doesn't care but it bugs the heck out of me seeing the wheels like that

[3Fitty]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

I can see your frustration with the 350's brake dust. My dad has one and it seems like two days after being washed the wheels, front ones especially, are black again. He doesn't care but it bugs the heck out of me seeing the wheels like that

If he's got less than 25k on it, there is a free TSIB.

Just call the dealer, complain about the brake dust and they'll swap them out for FREE!!!!! If they give you any flack, you can just print out the TSIB and they MUST do it.

[WaWaZat]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

After two tries with the PB's Wheel Sealant, I used NXT 2.0, a product I love. It was better than the PB's stuff, but still not great either (on account of the wheels just being a "special case").

The paste NXT 2.0 or liquid? Have you tried both? Is there a difference?

[roushstage2]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

I polish mine with the Mag and Aluminum polish, seemed to work best with mine. Mine usually always look "dull" after being in the rain, but shine as soon as I was them. Some QD and dedicated towels may be your best bet.

[3Fitty]

Re: Polished Aluminum Wheels - Cleaning and Keeping Clean

The paste NXT 2.0 or liquid? Have you tried both? Is there a difference?

Liquid.