Cleaning complex wheel designs
#1
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Cleaning complex wheel designs
Up till now my detailing experience involved a Prelude SH with pretty, simple five-spoke alloy rims. The fairly simple wheel design made it easy for me to clean out all the nooks and crannies without spraining all ten fingers.
My 2004 S has much more complex rims and after trying to wipe away first-200-miles brake dust (there's a LOT!?) I found myself taking fifteen minutes to get to all of the spots! And, I see people going after those BMW-style rims with fifty-odd spokes. Yikes! How do you clean those things?
My 2004 S has much more complex rims and after trying to wipe away first-200-miles brake dust (there's a LOT!?) I found myself taking fifteen minutes to get to all of the spots! And, I see people going after those BMW-style rims with fifty-odd spokes. Yikes! How do you clean those things?
#2
wheel brushes dude!!
and, if you really have to, some good wheel cleaner- i prefer one with minimal acid, or no acid.
i wash my wheels with a separate bucket and usually use the same car shampoo that i use on the body- unless i have really bad brake dust- then its time for a wheel cleaning spray.
but the answer to your q is a couple of good brushes. one that is an overall big brush and at least one cone shaped and maybe some smaller ones.
i would first rinse the wheels, then wash with car shampoo with the big brush overall and touch-up with the cone brushes. then rinse again. if you still have brake dust, then you spray the wheel cleaner on and follow the directions.
end up with a good wax or synthetic coating to make the next cleaning easier!
and, if you really have to, some good wheel cleaner- i prefer one with minimal acid, or no acid.
i wash my wheels with a separate bucket and usually use the same car shampoo that i use on the body- unless i have really bad brake dust- then its time for a wheel cleaning spray.
but the answer to your q is a couple of good brushes. one that is an overall big brush and at least one cone shaped and maybe some smaller ones.
i would first rinse the wheels, then wash with car shampoo with the big brush overall and touch-up with the cone brushes. then rinse again. if you still have brake dust, then you spray the wheel cleaner on and follow the directions.
end up with a good wax or synthetic coating to make the next cleaning easier!
#4
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Originally posted by wanabe
wheel brushes dude!! ....and, if you really have to, some good wheel cleaner- i prefer one with minimal acid, or no acid.
wheel brushes dude!! ....and, if you really have to, some good wheel cleaner- i prefer one with minimal acid, or no acid.
The thing I don't like / never liked about wheels is that they take as long or longer than the rest of the car to clean.
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With regard to the tires, are there particular applicators, application techniques or product choices to keep in mind?
I've been using one of the off-the-shell tire glosses, with a curved foam applicator I got a Murray's.
I've been using one of the off-the-shell tire glosses, with a curved foam applicator I got a Murray's.
#6
p21s wheel cleaner is a good cleaner for clear coated wheels... several others. some ideas are here:
http://www.topoftheline.com/brakedust.html
and some wheel brushes here:
http://www.automotivegeek.com/autogeek/oxo...ocowhbrkit.html
btw, your brakes should not dust for long. once they are seated, they should not dust at all. i get no dust on my wheels anymore, unless i am really braking hard (not often). i am running stock pads and calipers with cad plated drilled and slotted rotors- but my rotors should dust more than stock, and they dont dust much at all.
http://www.topoftheline.com/brakedust.html
and some wheel brushes here:
http://www.automotivegeek.com/autogeek/oxo...ocowhbrkit.html
btw, your brakes should not dust for long. once they are seated, they should not dust at all. i get no dust on my wheels anymore, unless i am really braking hard (not often). i am running stock pads and calipers with cad plated drilled and slotted rotors- but my rotors should dust more than stock, and they dont dust much at all.
#7
I always use a wheel and tire cleaner when detailing my cars. Cone brushes work well, but don't get the ones that are metal tiped. For tire and wheel cleaners check ProperAutoCare Wheel & Tire Cleaners and for burshes check Wheel Brushes. They have a new cone-shaped brush from Oxo I just ordered. Can't wait to try it out.
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