Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

[larry0071]

I just purchased a 2004 Grand Prix and one wheel is absolutely horrible. The wheels are aluminum with a silver paint coating, and one is about 75% covered in a very rough, hard and thick layer of sediment that I suspect is related to use with the brake pads worn to metal for some time and then never cleaned.

I tried two wheel cleaners that I've had for years, one was from a company, Eagle something. The other is from Zep. Both products hardly touched the deposits and now I'm afraid that whatever this is, it may have eaten through the paint and permanently affixed itself to the wheel. Is there a product for severe wheel cleaning? I'm afraid to try steel wool and ruin what finish may be hiding under this heavy coat of crud.

Please help with any suggestions. This sediment is about as rough as 80 grit sand paper and does not want to leave! There is barely any of wheel finish left visible and the closer you go to the center, the more thick and rough it is.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

Hey larry, have you got any pics?

Ya don't use any steel wool!

You said that the 2 rim cleaners you've tried you've had for years so that could be one reason. did you let the product set and saturate for a minute or two and scrub with any whell brushes?

[The Guz]

Re: Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

0000 steel wool would not harm the wheel but perhaps a clay bar would be the best option to start with. Pics would help.

[larry0071]

0000 steel wool would not harm the wheel but perhaps a clay bar would be the best option to start with. Pics would help.

This is so far beyond clay. I'm eating through Grey 3M Scotch Brite pads and using a 50/50 mix of water and purple power. After about 2 hours, and 1.5 sheets of 3m, I got about a 4" swath semi cleaned.

The 3M is what's doing it. The purple power and a tooth brush don't even turn Brown. All the purple power is doing is lubricating.

There has to a product, acid or not, that can get into this.

[larry0071]

These are what I started working with yesterday. These and a tooth brush. That was a waste of time.

[larry0071]

This is what I'm fighting against.





And this is the total result of yesterday and today, today going to the purple power and 3M. This is unacceptable. Way to much time invested for a few inches of cleared area.

[larry0071]

Just a note. I got this car yesterday and went to the salvage yard and got this one rim. I questioned this stuff and the dude at the yard was like "no big deal, it just needs a quick cleaning. ". Well I'm here to tell you, this wheel is likely going to consume 40 hours of cleaning time to make it right unless I find a silver bullet that can eat into it. I can just order a new wheel from the online reman wheel places for about $150, it might just come to that. Also note that I over paid at $75 for a wheel in this condition. Kill me please.

[owendavidj]

I've always used straight people power to clean tough rims, no dilution. I spray it on, and wait 2 min, spray more on, wait another 2 min, start scrubbing. Also have you tried an industrial pressure washer turned up to maximum pressure? Like 5k-7k?

[STRIFE]

Re: Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

Think IronX or IronX paste and a brush would make the process a tad easier? Likely need a few applications

[larry0071]

I'm going to autoality tomorrow morning to see what T recommends. I'll let you know if he had the silver bullet.

[Murr1525]

Re: Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

Yeah... maybe ironx.

[The Guz]

Re: Factory wheel with hard/rough deposits?

With this much caked on gunk I would go ahead and use 0000 steel wool. I have used it on my dad's 02 camaro wheels on the inside of the wheels to remove years of brake dust build up. I used it with D103 and D143. His wheels are chrome.

[larry0071]

I went and spoke to T and he says that in his opinion, nothing currently on the market is stronger and yet safe on wheel finishes than Meguiares Wheel Brightener. So I'm the proud owner of enough concentrate to lay my life I bet.

He does say that part of the trick with this product is that folks don't mix at 4:1 and think that using it full strength is better. He says that the chemistry of the product is most effective at 4:1 and useless at full strength, as waste is part off the required chemistry to make the product activate. Iron is another required part of the activating chemistry.

I'll try it out tomorrow. I accidentally stopped at the local bar and I'm stuck for the evening.

Every time I stop at Autoality I end up with another $100-$200 missing from my checking account! That guy T is a passive/aggressive thief with the way he stocks every product known to man! Today was $140, all because I wanted a wheel cleaner.

[cleanspotdetailing]

I have had people asl me to clean wheels like this. I have use simple green and 0000 steel wool pads. It ate up pads..but it did the job nicely. And didn't harm the finish on the wheels..

[Jarhead0754]

Any updAtes on the results????