Seriously Baked On Brake Dust

[daddycool]

it looks like the previous owner has neglected just the one alloy for its whole life. the dust is seriously baked on. i've tried neat daisy apc, autoglym paint renovator and t-cut (basically what's in my shed) but it does nothing. i've read about brick acid (?) but perhaps i should try some non-acidic stuff first...? any recommendations?

i'll get a pic up tomorrow if needed.

thanks

 

[Ads_172]

Acidic wheel cleaner is great, but lethal. A single, very controlled hit on the bits that need sorting might be a decent shout but you'll need to polish it up afterwards as the acid will dull the finish.

Don't use it as an overall wheel cleaner as it's corrosive.

Maybe try clay before acidic wheel cleaner?

 

[Benny06]

Wonder Wheels destroys brake dust. It's brilliant. But as mentioned not very kind to the clear coat.

I used it once as I just brought the car. Gave the wheels a good clay, polish and a few seals and will now keep on top of them so shouldn't need to use it again.

 

[JD]

^^this basically. I tend to take it case by case. This is not meant to be offensive, but some people's opinion of baked on is another person's "simples!"

I would start with something like APC as you have done. If that has no effect, step it up to something like AG Engine and Machine Cleaner (excellent for cleaning wheels generally as it is a degreaser, but is neither acidic or alkali). Failing that, yes, watered down "Cleans Wheels" but do not leave it to soak. Aggitate it pretty much straight away and rinse off asap. Hopefully this will not dull the clearcoat too much. The follow up with clay, then polish, then a high temp sealent like FK1000p or a specific wheel sealent (Poorboys, Chem Guys etc).

I would suggest you do this with all of the wheels, purely because it will make cleaning them a sinch (warm, soapy water).

 

[Cliotoby]

Could try Espuma Revolution Wheel Cleaner (1ltr bottle is available) over Wonder wheels as Espuma is no acidic. If you have pitting (black dots which wont shift, google this if you dont know what it is) then buy some Aquartz iron Cut and a gas mask.

 

[daddycool]

i tried AG engine and machine cleaner too, but it had no effect.

 

[Cliotoby]

So, do you have yellow baked on dust, which Espuma will easily remove, or do you have pitting, which iron cut will remove.

 

[The Boosh!]

Wet and dry it off

 

[daddycool]

i think pitted. here you go:

this is what i have in between every spoke...

this is after 5-10mins with neat daisy spc and a cheap washing up sponge/scourer...

 

[JD]

Nice. Get some Wonder Wheels/Cleans Wheels on it. Then de-tar, clay, polish, seal so that never happens again!

 

[Cliotoby]

Holy Smokes lol.

f**k espuma, wonder wheels it is.. Can get the stuff from halfrauds, Homebase, allsorts of places do it. As JD said, you got some sealant, like AG Extra Gloss protection?

 

[Benny06]

Wonder Wheels was fantastic when I used it. Had spent forever trying to get gunk and crap out the insides of my rims - pressure washer as close as possible, the lot. Literally as soon as WW makes contact it shifts.

Just make sure you wear some gloves and clothes. I was wearing shorts and no top and managed to get some spray on my front, immediatley rinsed myself with the freezing cold hose! as the day before I got some on my shin and it itches like a mo fo!

 

[Ali]

Refurb job!

 

[JD]

Bah

 

[Ali]

Nice. Get some Wonder Wheels/Cleans Wheels on it. Then de-tar, clay, polish, seal so that never happens again!

LOL! You behave yourself "Clark" wannabe!

Imo they are probably past the point of no return, Refurb and then wax them. And wash frequently, no more than 2-3wks without washing!

Iron cut is what you want.

 

[BRUN]

jesus thats bad

 

[JD]

I'll be Clark, you can be Angela. x

 

[daddycool]

yeah got some sealant. saw some wonder wheels in tesco a couple of days ago, will go back and get some and report back. thanks for all the replies

 

[Ali]

I'll be Clark, you can be Angela. x

I think Rich would have something to say about that.

 

[BRUN]

make sure you reply back, ive never actually tried wonder wheels but im well aware of how strong it is, personally i dont think it will touch that

 

[Benny06]

make sure you reply back, ive never actually tried wonder wheels but im well aware of how strong it is, personally i dont think it will touch that

You'll be suprised, I think it'll cut through most of that quite easily.

 

[daddycool]

will do, will get a few pics of stages- application, scrub, finish so you can see

 

[Jaws]

Refurb it tbh. You can try WD40 but take the wheel off so you don't get it on the brakes else you will be fooked!

 

[daddycool]

hmmm, wonder wheels wasn't as wonderful as i'd hoped, though realistically i'd have been utterly impressed if it had sorted out my wheel.

this is after one application of wonder wheels, agitator brush, then very stiff brush:

this is after four applications of wonder wheels, agitator brush, very stiff brush, using hard plastic to scrape it:

short of a refurb, what should be next on my shopping list?

 

[BRUN]

the only thing left to try now is fairy power spray, yes really

 

[Chris_786]

flat it back?

 

[JD]

flat it back?

Bit difficult due to the location/work space!

 

[daddycool]

the only thing left to try now is fairy power spray, yes really

will this really be stronger than, say, the all purpose cleaner, given that a spray would be diluted?

 

[JD]

Being a spray doesn't dilute the product, necessarily. It's not something that I have ever used, but it is known to be a useful product for hard to remove grime.

 

[Cliotoby]

Judging by the state of those wheels anyways, id opt for a refurb. If you get those clean they will be dull as f**k.

 

[Gally]

What the f**k!

Those are bad! If wonder wheels didn't shift it you might struggle.

I'd use neat g101, agitate then leave to dwell for a bit.

 

[Cliotoby]

Try this s**t.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-exterior/aquartz-iron-cut-500ml/prod_726.html

Wear a dust mask too, and fill it with garlic, and other strong smelling stuff.

 

[Rob]

I'd just wet flat it, start at a high grade and work your way down til it starts to have enough of an effect, then just have some patience and it'll be fine!

 

[JD]

I'd just wet flat it, start at a high grade and work your way down til it starts to have enough of an effect, then just have some patience and it'll be fine!

So you'd go round four/five turinis, which I think are about 11-12 spoke, flatting back each flat space? Blimey, you have more time and patience than I do buddy!

 

[Rob]

I swear he said it was just one wheel in the OP???

Edit:

it looks like the previous owner has neglected just the one alloy for its whole life.

 

[JD]

I retract the previous statement by 75% Still, the time taken to do that would insane and really not worth it.

 

[Rob]

No way man! Wet sanding one wheel thoroughly, as long as off the car, is going to take what, 1.5 hours or so? As it's only that bit of the wheel that's baked, not the spokes.

To get it looking like the others, well worth it IMO :rasp:

 

[Tom@JMS]

Refurd, maybe paint them a silly colour while your at it

 

[daddycool]

lots of replies and help here, so thanks to all.
i don't know why i hadn't considered sanding it, but the crevices between each rim and spoke don't look too fun. something to consider though.

i might try oven cleaner. that stinks so it must be fairly strong and i already have it in the cupboard.

if that fails, i guess even if i sanded most of the crud away, then went in again with the wonder wheels, that might work.

 

[JD]

If you're ever passing up North in the car, I am willing to bet the cost of consumables I use on me getting it sorted. If I can't I won't charge. If I can, replace what I've used, so probs a tenner!