Baked on brake dust

[camino70]

1998 LX that's probably had very little cleaning from new has done serious brake dust baked in. Some mild car wash, mild agitation and pressure washing didn't even dent it.

Brake dust

• camino70
• Jan 3, 2016

Can anyone recommend a product to use?

Its so bad I think they may need to be professionally refinished. I'm thinking I may plasti-dip them if I can't clean them.

Thanks again.

 

[Dwight S]

Meguiar's DUB wheel cleaner. Spray it on, out of the sun, let it dwell for a minute or two and agitate with a brush then rinse. You may have to repeat a couple of times. Those wheels look bad. They may be etched beyond cleaning.

 

[camino70]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

[jclarke450]

You could also pull the tires off and have them hot dipped at a machine shop if simple green won't make a difference

 

[ponytl]

AFTER you have exhausted all other cleaners go by an HVAC supply store (johnstone supply maybe) and get some coil clean or coil bright... you can get in a spray can or get a gallon and use a garden sprayer... if they have the NON acidic you might try that... I use the acidic just because I have / use it all the time... even kept the pontoons on the boat bright ... plus you can always clean the coils on your a/c unit

 

[ton504]

The clear coat was already gone on my 100 from the PO and it had serious baked on brake dust. I bought some Eagle One chrome wheel cleaner(spray bottle) which is acidic. Spray on, lightly brush the crevices, and hose off. This stuff will do some damage. Use with caution.

 

[spaber05]

I've had very good luck with Sonax wheel cleaner. It's a very popular option in the detailing world and I'd put it up against anything out there. Very potent stuff. I'd throw that on, let it work a bit and agitate then rinse. If that doesn't get the job done, I don't know what will!

SONAX Wheel Cleaner PLUS

 

[joe dirt]

I have tried most all wheel cleaners to maintain 6 vehicles . The only one I use is.
Amazon.com: Acid Mag N Wire Wheel Cleaner 1 Gallon: Automotive


Makes many gallons and dilute strength to your needs. I am half through one gallon at 13 months of use. Cheap price with excellent results.

 

[phippsj]

Soak them in Castrol purple power cleaner, scrub with a nylon brush and rinse. That stuff will probably get the black out of the tires as well!

 

[camino70]

I am apprehensive about the unconventional cleaners and too impatient to order something, so I tried Dub.

I am pleasantly surprised (not by the smell, this stuff smells horrendously!). Three applications and aggressive agitation (I needed brushes, never had or let a wheel get this bad):

Dub wheel cleaner

• camino70
• Jan 6, 2016

Sorry, I made some changes to my camera, hopefully this pic is less awful...

I can't wait to pull it and clean the back too!

 

[camino70]

Some dripping liquefied brake dust:

 

[camino70]

Three out of four came out pretty good. Number four looks like there is some etching.

Etched wheel

• camino70
• Jan 6, 2016

 

[Warde]

Tried the Meguiars and it literally did nothing, maybe its not brake dust on my 06? They look blackend, ill try to get a pick tomorrow when the sun is out

 

[camino70]

Which meguiars product did you use? I wasn't expecting the dub to do anything either.

 

[HFDPNL]

Tried the Meguiars and it literally did nothing, maybe its not brake dust on my 06? They look blackend, ill try to get a pick tomorrow when the sun is out

Careful,....might not be brake dust...I thought I had some serious baked on brake dust.....it was just the primer showing through....oops

 

[Warde]

Careful,....might not be brake dust...I thought I had some serious baked on brake dust.....it was just the primer showing through....oops

yeah looks more like that. Any solutions?

 

[camino70]

yeah looks more like that. Any solutions?

That looks like he went through the paint and primer, time to refinish. Maybe time to play with plastidip?

 

[HFDPNL]

Yeah, I got way too aggressive with what I thought was the worst brake dust I've ever seen...I went with Plastidip for a temporary solution and 2 years later I'm finally looking at powder coating.

 

[Warde]

Yeah, I got way too aggressive with what I thought was the worst brake dust I've ever seen...I went with Plastidip for a temporary solution and 2 years later I'm finally looking at powder coating.

Mine must have been done by the P.O. 2 wheels are worse off than the others
Its not like it looks horrible but I'd like the wheels to be 1 color, can't I just sand these and rattle can them dark grey?

 

[PabloCruise]

Mine must have been done by the P.O. 2 wheels are worse off than the others
Its not like it looks horrible but I'd like the wheels to be 1 color, can't I just sand these and rattle can them dark grey?

It looks like you can: What have you done to your 100 Series this week?