Wheelwell cleaning and dressing process

[Tuck91]

Whats your process when it comes to cleaning and dressing wheelwells?

I am thinking about changing up my process, so what do you guys do?

[Old Pirate]

I have been using Amazing Roll-Off with great success in those area`s. I been using it at full strength with a fender brush and a tire brush. It leaves everything clean and protected too.

[imported_Luster]

For my daily driver, I use my leftover carwash soap (after wash) and wash the wheelwells with a tire brush. Rinse, then air dry. Finally, I spray them with ArmorAll Tire Foam, air dry. They stay clean and black until the next carwash.:thumbup:

For the Corvette and TransAm, same procedure, except I use Adams Undercarriage Spray. It`s a little pricey so that`s the only reason I don`t use it on my DD.

[imported_Mr. Clean]

I pre-spray the wheel wells along with the tires with @ 4:1 APC. The specific APC product varies, I generally have at least 3 different brands mixed in spray bottles on my cart.

From there I wash the wheel wells after the tires and wheels with a fresh bucket of strong car wash in a bucket dedicated to tires/wheels/wells using various brushes and wash mitts.

Scrub the tires a final time with PB`s BnB and rinse.

After the wash and dry I dress the trim areas and the wheel wells. Depending on the wishes of the owner I may or may not re-dress the tires. On my personal vehicle I normally skip an additional dressing application.

[Tuck91]

heres my problem, my process works on some wheelwells and not others.

after I wash the wheels and tires i spray the wheelwells down with water and then spray a lot of Meguiars APC Plus in the wheelwells then wash them with the remiander of car wash soap I have in my bucket and then scrub the well with an old/dedicated wash sponge.

After that I spray them down with No Touch Tire Shine.

This works on most wheelwells but some are dirtier than others and havent been cleaned in years and others are rough texturized and have a hard time coming clean.


anyone ever come across wheelwells that just do not want to come clean?

[imported_User Name]

Spray wells with Megs APC+ diluted 4:1 and let dwell for a minute or two.

Wash with dedicated brush for wells with car wash soap of choice. Rinse with power washer. Let air dry.

Dress wells with either Meguiars Hyper Dressing or Meguiars All Season Dressing, depending on how I`m feeling.

[imported_Luster]

After that I spray them down with No Touch Tire Shine.

This works on most wheelwells but some are dirtier than others and havent been cleaned in years and others are rough texturized and have a hard time coming clean.


anyone ever come across wheelwells that just do not want to come clean?

Smooth textured wells are no problem. The rough wheel wells are stubborn. I`ve had to use a pressure washer on them, then coat with Undercarriage spray or Tire Foam.

[Tuck91]

Smooth textured wells are no problem. The rough wheel wells are stubborn. I`ve had to use a pressure washer on them, then coat with Undercarriage spray or Tire Foam.

yeah, dragging the pressure washer out of the shed is a pain for me.

but i dont want to listen to a customer complain about it either. :smile:

[imported_Luster]

yeah, dragging the pressure washer out of the shed is a pain for me.

but i dont want to listen to a customer complain about it either. :smile:

Haha ... Yeah, I agree! I hate getting out the pressure washer! But I guess there`s a price to pay for everything.......

[egoXtension]

Wash and DRESS the wheel wells?

Thats a new concept to me, course I am not detailing for hire either. :p

Interesting to learn theres such an "art" to this

[TOGWT]

Wheel Wells
Periodically remove the wheels (one at a time utilizing a car jack and / or axle stands) to enable cleaning the back of the wheel, callipers and give better access to the wheel wells. Ensure that the vehicle body is secure by placing on axle stands.
?Rinse wheel well thoroughly with water.
?Use a 1:1 solution of P21 Total Auto Wash a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner and water in a spray bottle, spray the wheel wells and let the solution dwell for 3-5 min
?Agitate and brush the road dirt / grime the wheel well and suspension parts, brake callipers, etc
?Spray the area thoroughly with a high pressure water spray
?Remove any road asphalt with a safe solvent (Stoners Tarminator)
?Repeat if necessary
?Use P21S Polishing Soap on all metal parts (taking care to avoid the brakes)
?Rinse using a high pressure hose / nozzle to remove soap residue
?I recommended wearing rubber gloves, once finished, rinse the wheel wells and dry them with an old terry towel.
?Once they have thoroughly dried spray them with 1z einszett Tiefenpfleger -Vinyl-Rubber Care and Protectant, Adam?s Undercarriage Detailer or Chemical Guys Bare Bones (avoid spraying the brake rotor) which leaves a matt finished look without grease and also provides a protection for the plastic

An extract from one of a series of in-depth detailing articles ? TOGWT ? Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights reserved.

[imported_Luster]

Wash and DRESS the wheel wells?

Thats a new concept to me,

Yes, it`s the finishing touch to the exterior detail. Have you ever seen a nicely detailed car, but the nasty old brown tires were never touched?

Same concept. To make it look like new, the wheelwells should be not only cleaned, but dressed as well.

I don`t have a "before" picture, but this customer was VERY pleased with his cleaned and dressed wheelwells! He said the undercarriage looked "Better than new!"

[imported_gewb]

> Wash/scub tire with method/product of choice
> Spray rinse tire and wheel well with water hose
> Cover tire with garbage bag
> Spray wheel well with Meg`s APC (5:1 solution)
> Scrub with toilet bowl brush
> Rinse with hose, allow to dry (at least 80%)
> Put on eye protection and nitrile gloves
> Spray CD2 Engine Detailer into wheel well
> Use rag with CD2 to get areas missed (don`t want to overspray paint so need to get outer edges of wheel well)
> Allow to dry (at least 50%)
> Remove cover from tire
> Dress tire with product of choice

Regards,
GEWB