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Author Topic: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)  (Read 2186 times)

Offline boytoys

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Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« on: April 14, 2006, 09:58:59 pm »
I was recommended WONDER WHEELS for cleaning the brake dust accumulated at my wifes' alloy wheels. apparently the brake pads for Mercedes are really soft.. ..so the battle against brake dust continues.. So i search high and low for any dealers in Ontario that sells WONDER WHEELS, to no avail...

So i went to Canadian Tire website and use "Wheels Cleaner" as a search string and about 14 items come up and wonder if any of you have any experience with them..

like Meguair, Simoniz, Black Magic, Eagle One, Michellin, Dupont, Armor All, etc..

Once i cleaned it, what would be the best for keeping it easy to clean...

Tks in advance.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2006, 10:03:13 pm by boytoys »
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2006, 10:05:30 pm »
I usually wax the wheels and just clean the rims by hand with soap and water and they look nice.
I have tried all the sprays, they are just a waste of money
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Offline 84im

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2006, 07:08:00 pm »
I've used 'No Touch' from Costco, with good results.  When I'm lazy, car soap works fine too.
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Offline The Fuzz

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2006, 07:11:46 pm »
I use Eagle One aluminum rim cleaner and a brush made for scrubbing wheels with good results. I noticed a yellow/brown mess after the winter that I couldn't get off (also on wifey's rims) so I broke out an old can of 'Never-Dull' and it took it off with some elbow grease. The can is about 10 years old so I don't know if they still sell it but it's worth checking out. It's like a fabric soaked in something that smells like you probably shouldn't drink it.
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Offline boytoys

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2006, 09:33:32 pm »
OK. I finally went to CT and bought the Dupont branded ones and either the wheel's dirt stuff was very stubborn or the dupont wasn't any good. The Dupont brand emphasize Rinse afterwards and i was using a SIMONZ special brush and i was literally brushing and stroking the rims more persistent than brushing my teeth..still there were some brake dusts clearly still stubbornly attached.. I will try again when it gets warm again.

From this week onwards, I am determined to try out each brand and provide my IMHO review here..
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Offline safristi

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2006, 04:55:00 pm »
Hmmm..."brushing and strokin' ma rim & nothing"......I'm just hazarding a guess here.....BUT.........the Philips SONICARE toothbrush would be  a Guaranteed  SMILE INDUCER!!!!! 8) :o :-* >:D :nono:
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Offline Craig

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2006, 05:52:54 pm »
Quote from: boytoys on April 24, 2006, 09:33:32 pm
From this week onwards, I am determined to try out each brand and provide my IMHO review here..

I'm a little concerned that we haven't heard back from boytoys.  I hope his methodology did not include a taste test.
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Offline boytoys

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2006, 10:50:42 pm »
Saturday, i will get another brand of the cleaner, and will try in the afternoon. My wife's C-class brake dust is stubborn....!!
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2006, 08:24:23 am »
How often do you was your wheels? Once a year?
Wax your wheels, wash then once a week, you wii not have to buy the other stuff.
I have 2 bottles that wheel cleaner sitting around.
The only time I use wheel cleaner is when I switch over the tires and want to give them a good cleaning before I put them away
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Offline boytoys

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2006, 08:08:35 am »
I found a store in Dixie Rd, some kind of discount merchandiser and they are selling the ARMOUR ALL brand of wheels cleaner with 30% more. for $4. I bought one and went home on cleaning it . When i sprayed them, it was all foam and immediately i see it reacting with some of the dusts from last week (the week before I used Dupont)... and instructions says 30 second wait, i waited and again use my brushes that i bought to clean the wheels of my Element first and then wife's car.

I have shot some pics and will attach them either today or later tonite.. Come back later to check pic..!!

airbalancer, i clean wheels whenever i handwashed the cars, but brake dusts and road tar sometimes stick more for the wife's benz.. when she had hub caps, that was all easy...but last year, i bought a set of OEM alloys and the fight against the brake dusts .....ppl told me the pads for benz are softer...indeed we changed from pads after 30k.

On my Honda Element, i dont find the rims collecting/sticking a lot of brake dusts..I also like 5 spoke rims as they are so easy to clean. I remember i had a 86 320i and the rims were awfully hard to clean and BMW brake dust are also as bad..

Keep watch this thread for pictures.
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2006, 08:27:47 am »
I guess we need to see the pix
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Offline Craig

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2006, 11:37:47 am »
Just don't drink it.  I don't care how good it smells - don't drink it.
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Offline boytoys

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2006, 09:02:10 pm »
This particular brand of Armor All comes in a aerosol can spray of foam (different from Dupont)

Brush Time, most instructions says just wait for 30 sec to 60 sec. But a little brushing won't hurt

Rinse

For the Element, it is as clean as new..

Look it actually shines like new

A closer look at the brake dust collected from last week

Overall, i am happy...

Much better, but can see some stubborn

Oops ... A little accident
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Offline airbalancer

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2006, 09:19:29 pm »
they didnt look to bad to start with
BMW get a lot worst
They sure do look nice cleaned uo
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Offline locutusx

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2006, 12:46:16 pm »
Nice review! I'm going to have to look into trying that out.

My rims are like 12-spoke or something... going to be a pain in the ass to clean :P
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Offline safristi

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Re: Wheels Cleaner (brake dust, salt, etc)
« Reply #15 on: May 24, 2006, 01:05:23 pm »
NOT if yer steady with the DRILL......!!!!! ::) 8) :D
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