Brake Dust ...

PolkWannabie
PolkWannabie Posts: 2,763
edited February 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
Anyone have an effective product or easy method to get brake dust off alloy wheels ?
Rick
HT+ Sunfire TG IV, Dual CG Sig II's, CinePro 1K2, Oppo 981, Audio Technica PL120, Polk SRT's & F/X1000's, Samsung 71" DLP
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2004
    Hmmm,
    I've used various brands of the clear spray on, rinse off products and they all work great. Have you tried any of them? No particular one seems to stand out for me. They all seem to work great, just don't leave them on too long.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,735
    edited July 2004
    Soap and water always works well for me.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • PolkWannabie
    PolkWannabie Posts: 2,763
    edited July 2004
    MM,

    Yes ... I've used several of these in the past with moderate success ... They get some of it but not all ...

    F1,

    I guess I just don't have enough elbow grease to get it done ... either that or I don't do it frequently enough and as a result the toughest parts have been on there for some time ...
    Rick
    HT+ Sunfire TG IV, Dual CG Sig II's, CinePro 1K2, Oppo 981, Audio Technica PL120, Polk SRT's & F/X1000's, Samsung 71" DLP
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    edited July 2004
    Go to Pep Boys or whatever and grab a wheel brush in the car wash section. It's a long skinny brush that looks like a hardcore bottle brush but is made with a softer nylon. When you want to wash the wheels, grab your newly purchased wheel brush, dunk it in to the soapy water and scrub away! It works good for me! Then again, I have huge wheels with wide spokes so it's easy. On my girls' car, I use a wash mitt. However, I don't use the same mitt I used to wash the rest of the car. I use a seperate mitt to wash the dirtier parts of the car. I usually have no problem getting off brake dust with just car wash soap and a teensy bit of scrubbing.

    One thing, wait until you wash the rest of the car with the soapy water before you go washing wheels. The dirt and grime from the wheels will get into the water and washing tool you are using and scratch your paint.

    If the dirt on your wheels is not easy to get off and/or greasy, you may have an issue with your vehicle. If you want to keep brake dust off your wheels, you can get vented guards to protect your wheels from brake dust. They can end up causing problems though so use with care.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited July 2004
    Pee on your wheels.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • PolkWannabie
    PolkWannabie Posts: 2,763
    edited July 2004
    LOL ... Good idea ... and if it works I may have a new income stream :D

    Jstas,

    Thanks ... I have a nylon brush with bristles all around that I use and no problems using it as the wheels are 5 spoke 20"ers ... but it still doesn't get as much off as I'd like ... Guess I just need to keep at it ...
    Rick
    HT+ Sunfire TG IV, Dual CG Sig II's, CinePro 1K2, Oppo 981, Audio Technica PL120, Polk SRT's & F/X1000's, Samsung 71" DLP
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2004
    P21 Wheel Cleaner, non-alkaline, European product....or Mother's/Meguire's which contain more acid, but work real good. There is barely any scrubbing involved with these products....just surface agitation.

    I wouldn't suggest a stiff bristled brush on the face of the alloys. Depending on the alloy finish you will eventually create so many micro scratches that it will become noticeable. I use a nylon brush for the inside rim/outside tire only....and an old mitt for the outside. Audi/VW/BMW aluminum rims typically have a clear coated finish, with a bead blasted inside....just as a reference. I found the aforementioned scratches issue out the hard way I assure you. :(

    F1 - If your brake dust comes off easy with soap and water, then you should think about better pads. :)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • wlrandall
    wlrandall Posts: 440
    edited July 2004
    This is one of the best ones I've found:

    eag1020626003.jpg

    And as others said, if you must use a brush, make sure it's very soft (or just use a cloth).
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2004
    Oh ya, Eagle One is who I was trying to remember...I agree.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Steve@3dai
    Steve@3dai Posts: 983
    edited July 2004
    I recommend the Eagle One A to Z as well, works on my painted wheels (Subaru OEM).

    Some scrubbing too, might check into a microfiber mitt or something like that.
    LSi 9/C/FX
    Arcam AVR-200
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  • superbrett
    superbrett Posts: 106
    edited July 2004
    We have a NAPA store here in town, they have a brush with hundreds of little loops of fabric on it. Kinda cone shaped. Anyway, you attach it to your cordless drill, then polish away, (with something like Mothers, or Eagle One), The chick has some nice wheels on the Tahoe, and they get pretty neglected. about once every few months or so, it takes me about an hour and a sore back, it really takes alot of the "elbow" work out of it.
    Go check it out, Autozone might have them too.
    "Looks good from far, but far from good!"
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,735
    edited July 2004
    Doro, that's because I have American wheels, not those German jobbers.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2004
    F1 - Oh ya, I'm sorry about that ;) I tell you what, you do drive the coolest, cleanest van that I am aware of...when are we gonna get a new suspension put in that ruffian?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,735
    edited July 2004
    As soon as I stop spending money on gear.......in other words, probably never. :D
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2004
    AMEN!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited July 2004
    I found that 'Mean Green' available everywhere in the south, removes brake dust VERY well. It will also remove wax so you have to be careful.

    Give me gear or give me death!!!

    Cars are cars, but a pimpin' 2ch rig, now THAT is something.

    Gotta hand it to doro, though, the Audi is pretty sweet. Even got me a lap dance for Micah...

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited July 2004
    you could always buy black rims:)
    American Racing has teflon wheels now...
    other than that...I agree with Eagle 1
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
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