Stubborn brakedust on wheels

[BarryK]

I have an '04 Chevy Tahoe with the factory aluminum wheels. I can't get a LOT of the brakedust off them.

I tried using the Megs Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner and a stiff brush and it barely took anything off. I than tried using the DP Gel Wheel Cleaner and a stiff brush and still nothing.

Here are pics of 2 of the wheels (other side wheels look the same) after attempting to clean them with both the above mentioned products.







Any suggestions on a more effective way of cleaning up these wheels?

[Zuke]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

i have not had a chance to use the all metal polish but i do use mothers, and i swear it takes that crud right off. thats my 2 cents. What time of wheels are they? The pics wont load here @ work

[Tuck91]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

Try Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner again and spray it heavely on the wheel and let it sit for about 30-40 seconds. After this, agitate with a wheel brush dipped in some car wash solution.

[MyFirstES300]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

BarryK, I just saw your post over at AG. Read my post there.

[oldmodman]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

I saw your post on AG and followed the links.

Don't have too much to add. But I have been cleaning the same style of wheels on my 1992 Ford Explorer and Comet has always worked. I wash the wheels with car wash soap to get the loose stuff off then sprinkle on a liberal amount of comet. Then I use a very stiff brush on the rough, bare aluminum inside surface and it always comes out clean.

But once on a friends truck it didn't work. So I used a product that I found on closeout at BigLots. It was EagleOne Wire Wheel Cleaner and it is acid based. Very dangerous and toxic. It is hydrochloric and hydroflouric acid based. Incredibly strong, it removed every trace of brake dust instantly. And it almost sent me to the hospital. As I was spraying it on one wheel the wind changed directions and I inhaled a very tiny "dusting" of it. My lungs instantly filled up with fluid and I nearly suffocated. It took over two hours to cough the last of it out and that was with breathing straight oxygen.

I must admit it was the best wheel cleaner that I have ever used. To bad it's nearly fatal if you make the slightest mistake with it. I still use it, but only wearing a respirator.

[Nappers]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

If you use a stronger cleaner for your wheels, be careful and do a test spot on the wheel. I did spray chrome wheel cleaner on wheels I thought were chrome, they ended up being aluminum clear coated. The chrome cleaner did not harm them, but a good scrubbing with a paint cleaner was needed, then wax.

Your wheels look like aluminum clear coated so be cautious on stronger wheel cleaners.

[BarryK]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

Try Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner again and spray it heavely on the wheel and let it sit for about 30-40 seconds. After this, agitate with a wheel brush dipped in some car wash solution.

that's actually exactly how I did it the first time with both products - sprayed on VERY heavily and let sit for somewhat longer than the bottle said to let it work more (but NOT let it dry on the wheels), than hit it with a wheel brush from my cleaning bucket with car wash shampoo.
I'll try again but not expecting to see any big difference from a 3rd time over first two times.

BarryK, I just saw your post over at AG. Read my post there.

yep, I posted on both sites hoping that between the two i'd get some solutions.
Over on AG they recommended the Megs Wheel Brightner and i'm willing to order some on my next product order to try it but I'm not sure how much stronger it is than what I've already used.

I saw your post on AG and followed the links.

Don't have too much to add. But I have been cleaning the same style of wheels on my 1992 Ford Explorer and Comet has always worked. I wash the wheels with car wash soap to get the loose stuff off then sprinkle on a liberal amount of comet. Then I use a very stiff brush on the rough, bare aluminum inside surface and it always comes out clean.

But once on a friends truck it didn't work. So I used a product that I found on closeout at BigLots. It was EagleOne Wire Wheel Cleaner and it is acid based. Very dangerous and toxic. It is hydrochloric and hydroflouric acid based. Incredibly strong, it removed every trace of brake dust instantly. And it almost sent me to the hospital. As I was spraying it on one wheel the wind changed directions and I inhaled a very tiny "dusting" of it. My lungs instantly filled up with fluid and I nearly suffocated. It took over two hours to cough the last of it out and that was with breathing straight oxygen.

I must admit it was the best wheel cleaner that I have ever used. To bad it's nearly fatal if you make the slightest mistake with it. I still use it, but only wearing a respirator.

yeah... I do try to stay away from the acid based products whenever possible. Between growing up on a farm and cleaning barns, milkrooms, and equipment with acid based cleaners, plus many, many years as a photographer and darkroom tech and working with other liquid acids I've inhaled more than my share of acid fumes in my lifetime that I now do try to avoid the stuff. No doubt acid based cleaners work well, but between my own health and possibly ruining aluminum wheels because of the wrong acid based cleaner I try not to use them.
The Comet is an idea to try - maybe some Softscrub also

[BarryK]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

If you use a stronger cleaner for your wheels, be careful and do a test spot on the wheel. I did spray chrome wheel cleaner on wheels I thought were chrome, they ended up being aluminum clear coated. The chrome cleaner did not harm them, but a good scrubbing with a paint cleaner was needed, then wax.

Your wheels look like aluminum clear coated so be cautious on stronger wheel cleaners.

not sure if they are clear coated or not which is another reason I'm avoiding stronger acid based cleaners.
Something short of that step should work though I would hope

[CieraSL]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

Don't know if you'll like this idea or not, but I'd get some good degreaser like Purple Power and a fine grade of steel wool and have a go at it. I did this once on the wheels of a Chevy Cobalt and it made them look like brand new. If you go with a fine grade of steel wool, you shouldn't have any problems with scratching or marring. You also might try a pot scrubber, but I don't think it will work quite as good as the steel wool. Just my two cents.

[Nappers]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

not sure if they are clear coated or not which is another reason I'm avoiding stronger acid based cleaners.
Something short of that step should work though I would hope

They look like Z71 wheels, look like they are machined and clear coated.

I would try a couple of washes with All Wheel Cleaner, let it soak and scrub with a soft brush so you don't scratch the clear coat.

I had wheels that were nasty and I think I ended up doing three applications of AWC to get the result I wanted.

Edit: It's better to use a cleaner that is safe for the wheel and do multi applications, versus using a harsh cleaner and muck up your wheels.

[ezrre]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

Use VINEGAR mixed 1:1 with water.

It makes wonders with my own.

[Murr1525]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

I'd look at clay, and something like #105/Ultimate Compound.

[dpardo]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

One thing I've found that makes a big difference with wheel cleaners is to make sure you do not wet the wheel prior to applying the cleaner. The water will decrease the effectiveness of the cleaner.

If you did this already then disregard.

After that, I would probably just go to a metal polish as the next step. I usually use the Meguiar's cleaner wax or, for the chrome wheels, Meg's chrome polish.

[Jokeman]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

Those wheels are clear coated. I would get some Meg's Wheel Brightener. Use that and agitate with a brush and it should clean them up nice.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Stubborn brakedust on wheels

well those rims are ruined already
You can buy very strong acid to remove that
Hot rims will work, just let it sit for a minute, scrub and repeat until the grime is gone
The rims are already gone so what ever you do will improve them, but don't expect them to look new.