Can't Get the Wheel Insides Clean

I

imported_phareous

New member
I just can't seem to get the inside of my wheels clean...we're talking 5 years of accumlated brake dust.



I've tried the following:

Hi-Temp Wheel Cleaner

Blackfire Wheel Cleaner

Amazing RollOff

Hi-Intensity

PS21 Gel

Eagle1 A2Z

Nu-Finish

WD-40



Does anyone have any ideas? I am tempted to take some steel wool to it but they are alloy wheels and no doubt clear coated (though perhaps it wouldn't matter on the backside)



Here is what I am talking about:

wontclean.jpg




Also just for fun:



BEFORE:

before.jpg




AFTER:

after1.jpg


after2.jpg




Used Wheel Wax covered by Collinite Insulator Wax.



Also I dremmeled my lug nuts (left is done, right is untouched):

dremel.jpg
 
Wow, they look great.



If all the products you tried on them don't work. I think you'll have to live with them or get a new set of rims.



I remember David B's concours wheels and tires and after cleaning some spots were not removed (road paint I think.)
 
I took one of the felt tips and that red metal polish and put it on about 5 or 6 speed and just buffed them. I think that stuff comes standard with the dremel but if not there is a seperate dremel polishing kit you can buy at lowes or wherever that comes with the felt and the polish.
 

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Maybe it is an obvious question, but, did you use Eagle One's A2Z WITH the Dremel tool?



Try ValuGard's "ABC" system with aggressive agitation (Dremel).



Don't forget 2 basic concepts:



Dwell time.

Rinse and repeat.



Jim
 
Well I briefly tried the dremel inside and found that while it did take the brake dust off, it also took off my clearcoat. Also it was not even and put light and dark spots in the metal which I couldn't get out by hand. Lesson learned...



See the first pic and look to the top left. Well its so small you can't see it as well as in person but didn't work too well. Now that was on a dry wheel...I didn't try it with any kind of cleaner. I guess I could use something like a nylon brush attachment which would not damage anything and use it with the cleaner. Though I wonder about splatter...I might try that next month on a used car I have to prep to be sold.
 
I had the same kind of "fungus" on a set of old wheels(1996 Cadillac-Aluminum Clear/Coated). Wesley's Bleechwhite worked for me, after several applications. I sprayed it on, let it set for awhile(not long enough to dry out) and hit it with a wheel brush. It got all of it off. Then I put 3 coats of NuFinish on. They looked almost new. If yours won't clean up, maybe having them "Bead Blasted" and Re-Cleared, would work. If you don't want to go the BB way, Scotch-Brite and Simple Green would probably work, just dilute it so it won't etch the aluminum. Then , re-clear/coat the puppies.
 
phareous- As you're finding, sometimes they can't really be brought back as well as we'd like. ABC is always worth a try, using clay during the "B" step. I've had decent results scrubbing with a non-stick-safe scotchbrite. TOL sells a similar thing (coarse, yellow, open cell foam on a stick). Yeah, it'll abrade the clear a bit, what what're you gonna do?



But sometimes the brakedust is too far into the clear to REALLY clean up. Fortunately the back sides don't show THAT clearly. Get some good clear for wheels (like Wurth's stuff) for when you cut through and just get as medieval as you have to in order to reach the point where you're satisfied.
 
oo I have seen that stuff alot. Doing daily drive show cars after winter sucks. Thats everywhere!!



My method:



what's needed.



Dirty Wheels

Super Clean (walmart auto isle)

Stiff bristle brush



1. Take off the wheels.



2. Wet wheels



3. Spray superclean in them at 3:1 ratio. 3 superclean 1 water.



4. Use stiff bristled brush and scrub for a few mins.



I have done that to mustangs and lightnings. It has worked every time.



Good Luck
 
dunno the ph of it or anything. I don't have any ph strips, or phenophaline(sp?) to tell if it either an acid or base.



I can trell you i have used it bare hands and all. Didn't hurt, or have any affects.



It also did not hurt the wheels I used the wheels on. They still look perfect.
 
Anybody tried Lane's New Aluminum cleaner?





New Aluminum (32oz) is the strongest aluminum wheel cleaner on the professional market today. New Aluminum is a strong acidic wheel cleaner for cleaning aluminum wheels instantly upon application. New Aluminum is the number one wheel cleaner among professional detailers and dealerships.



http://www.car-waxes.com/wheelcleaner.htm
 
I've cleaned wheels like that before. My trick?



Gunk Engine Cleaner

-or-

EZ Off Oven Cleaner.

Yes, really.



Worth a try before you use some horrific acid.
 
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