Sonax FE + Zinc coating = NO NO

**Rocket** · 09-13-2011, 02:27 PM

This may or may not be something that everyone knows but I wanted to post just incase. if I can save someone from ruining a customer`s car then it`s worth it. This may not be an issue for very many people but I`ve seen several that work on modified cars and thought I would let you all know.

I used Sonax FE on my TA the other day for the first time. I let it dwell and used a brush and rinsed without letting it dry. The wheels weren`t really dirty but I though I would use the wheel cleaner anyway. After rinsing I found stains all over my rotors. The rotors are zinc coated and now instead of a nice silver finish they have dark streaks all over the rotor hats. I tried to get pictures but the battery on my camera was dead. I`ll get some this weekend and post.

**Old Pirate** · 09-13-2011, 02:44 PM

Thanks for the heads up Rocket, that`s way I`m still playing with all these wheel products out there because it happen to me a few years back. This one everyone should remember when dealing with any wheel cleaner out there. Sorry to hear this.

**CT3** · 09-13-2011, 03:02 PM

Sorry that happened. Thanks for the heads up.

**Rocket** · 09-13-2011, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by zoomzoom mazda5

Thanks for the heads up Rocket, that`s way I`m still playing with all these wheel products out there because it happen to me a few years back. This one everyone should remember when dealing with any wheel cleaner out there. Sorry to hear this.

When I try new products or even products I`ve never used before I always like to try them on my truck. In this case I had used it on several cars but not on my TA. If it had been a customer`s car I would have been pretty upset but on my car I can have it all fixed and go on my way.

My brother use to laugh at me because I would test everything on my truck for a while before using on any other cars. Now he can see why it`s important. Just because something is "safe" doesn`t mean it`s been tested on everything under the sun

**Old Pirate** · 09-13-2011, 03:15 PM

Yes your right! Someone send me a product to use on my rims about 6 years ago and bingo the caliper`s turn black and turn to rust in a few days. ( I`m 2 miles from the gulf ). Sorry to hear this and hope it doesn`t happen to someone else here on the forum.

**TroyScherer** · 09-13-2011, 07:39 PM

Great info. Thanks Rocket

**flamed03vert** · 09-16-2011, 12:34 PM

I believe you and I mentioned this phenomina in another post where folks were praising the greatness of Sonax FE. Now it work great on my F150 with the factory painted rotor top hats but it jacked my Cobra`s new pretty SSBC zinc plated rotors up. I tried a little collinite metal cleaner on a few small areas and it seems to clean it up, but Im not sure if its removing the spots or removing the zinc as there is a little color difference. I will stick with using soap/ water and a brush and Brown Royale if it gets bad again on the Cobra.

**Rocket** · 09-16-2011, 12:47 PM

I think it removes a little bit of the coating because I have a spot that I used some polish on and I think it looks like some of the coating was removed. I`m sure SSBC uses a quality coating and has tolerances. Mine were done cheaply and to me it shows. Others don`t notice but I can when I compare them to better quality work.

I`m going to pull mine and have them powder coated like everything else is.

**flamed03vert** · 09-16-2011, 05:18 PM

So I am under the assumption you have ssbc rotors too. Maybe its the rotor coating itself? Even so if someone had warned me that this could happen I wouldn`t have used the Sonax. I wonder if it affects the other expensive rotors? Next time I`ll do something with the black plating. Just sucks now they look like crap.

**Rocket** · 09-16-2011, 07:22 PM

Mine are not SSBC, I actually can not remember what brand they are.

**flamed03vert** · 09-16-2011, 10:41 PM

Got it, well there goes the isolated problem theory, back to using FE on painted and plated brake components at your own risk

**ca.detailchick** · 09-21-2011, 12:48 PM

Sorry that happened Rocket! Would like to see pics if you havent fixed it yet.

I always spray my cleaners into a sponge or brush first and the apply to the wheel. Its a safer method for the wheels and your lungs.

I hate to think of some of you guys spraying heavy duty wheel cleaners everyday without respirators and how that could affect your lungs .Be safe!