Cleaning the stock wheels

[sawdust123]

I'll have to admit that I don't keep my car very clean. Since I park outside, it really needs to be washed at least once a week but I probably only get to it about every three weeks. Needless to say, the brake dust build up gets pretty bad and it creates those black spots that look like corrosion. I can remove the spots with lots of elbow grease but there has got to be a simpler way to remove them. Can anyone recommend a good brand of cleaner?

[mervay]

quote:Originally posted by sawdust123

I'll have to admit that I don't keep my car very clean. Since I park outside, it really needs to be washed at least once a week but I probably only get to it about every three weeks. Needless to say, the brake dust build up gets pretty bad and it creates those black spots that look like corrosion. I can remove the spots with lots of elbow grease but there has got to be a simpler way to remove them. Can anyone recommend a good brand of cleaner?

I have a 2005 limited lite turbo with the 6 spoke chrome clad wheels. I just got dust shields for all 4 wheels. When I ordered them I ordered the 6 spoke for the 2004. They fit fine. Yes, you can no longer see the front disc brake rotors but my wheels stay nice and shiny for a long time. When I do clean them, it is just dirt not brake dust. Go to www.kleenwheels.com I got 4 of them even though the drums in the back don't need them. When you rotate the tires, you won't have to try to remove them. Next time you put on brake pads, use ceramic ones. They produce very little dust.

[NikDFish]

I've been using the turtle wax spray-on chrome wheel cleaner with good results (it's the one in the flourescent green bottle). The only thing I do differently from what is on the label is to use a shop rag (or a terry washcloth) rather than a brush for working on the more stubborn areas. It works much much much better than a brush.

Regardless of the blurb on the front of the bottle, if you want them really clean you can't expect to just spray on, rinse off ... you have to do some rubbing!

Nick

[sawdust123]

It would seem to me that dust shields would make it more difficult for the brakes to cool down. I'm wondering if there could be other issues too.

[Mean Green]

quote:Originally posted by sawdust123

It would seem to me that dust shields would make it more difficult for the brakes to cool down. I'm wondering if there could be other issues too.

Kleen Wheels have been known to warp the cheap Chrysler rotors. Not a good thing.

[SteelBlueGT]

Slightly off topic but I get no brake dust build up with my Raybestos ceramic pads. I wash them with my wash mit and now the mit is not even dirty!!

[Cal Cruzer]

I want to try that new polish ball that Chip Foose is advertising for Mothers. Just chuck it into a drill and it looks like it cleans the wheels in no time and no elbow grease.

[MichaelDay]

I use Gary's http://www.perfectautofinish.com Chrome Cleaner on my wheels. Works better than anything else I have tried.

[Dragula]

I bought the Mothers Powerball. It works pretty good, but my cordless drill was barely up to the task. It is an older (maybe 10 years) Dewalt 12v drill though. I ended up using the Mothers Polish on a rag to finish up. The wheels look fantastic since I used that Mothers Polish.

For simple clean up I use Meguires Spray on Wheel Cleaner. I've used other brands, and I think the Meguires does the best job of all those I've tried hands down.

[Gary04GT]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelDay

I use Gary's http://www.perfectautofinish.com Chrome Cleaner on my wheels. Works better than anything else I have tried.

I agree. [8] This is great stuff and, from my experience, does a fantastic job on chrome wheels. [|)]