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Topic: Cleaning alloy wheels (Read 956 times) |
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Butterfingers
Full Member
2.3, 16V auto R Reg Ultima
Posts: 202
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Cleaning alloy wheels
« on: Nov 19th, 2006, 3:58pm » |
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My alloy wheels have some serious brake dust baked on the inside. Any one advise decent really good stuff that may burn through it?
Using alloy wheel cleaning stuff is just not powerful enough.
Any ideas gratefully accepted.
Thanks.
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #1 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 4:17pm » |
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hi there
a bag of cheap brillo pads, one of the green front/sponge rear pads and lots of water. then there's lots of elbow grease! once they're clean, give them a coat of wax.
the only other way, imo, is a full refurb.
hth
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #2 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 5:33pm » |
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hi there
lots of great cleaning tip here
hth
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Butterfingers
Full Member
2.3, 16V auto R Reg Ultima
Posts: 202
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #3 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 6:44pm » |
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Thanks for that. I was actually struggling with a wire brush today! Thing is I bought these wheels second hand and they are seriously caked in dirt.
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #4 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 7:38pm » |
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hi there
sound like they might be too far gone. the lacquer (clear coat) might corroded though to the alloy which is now pitting. 
refurbs are about £35 a wheel.
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harry.m1byt
Full Member
What's YaBB?
Posts: 792
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #5 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 8:29pm » |
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Untried, but someone once told me that the fluid used for cleaning the external part of an air conditing unit (the alloy cooling fins) is also extremely good for cleaning alloy wheels.
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August '95 2.9 12v auto Ultima -
Now flashing 
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Butterfingers
Full Member
2.3, 16V auto R Reg Ultima
Posts: 202
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #6 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 8:32pm » |
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I've found that engine cleaner works quite well as well. 
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Butterfingers
Full Member
2.3, 16V auto R Reg Ultima
Posts: 202
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #7 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 8:37pm » |
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on Nov 19th, 2006, 7:38pm, scorpio_man wrote:hi there
sound like they might be too far gone. the lacquer (clear coat) might corroded though to the alloy which is now pitting.
refurbs are about £35 a wheel.
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To be honest it wasn't too bad, a lot of the crap did come off but bits were left behind. There are very isolated cases of pitting.
Unfortunately refurbishment here cost around £60 a wheel, so I'll see if I can get away with cleaning for a while.
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TiberiuS
Senior Member
Ex. 1996 2.3 Ultima - RIP P789 KHJ
Posts: 2257
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #8 on: Nov 19th, 2006, 8:44pm » |
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DIY refurb? 
I did the pepperpots on the Jag and they looked rather nice.
Good quality silver metal paint then several coats of lacquer 
Regards, Bruce.
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Bruce - '07 Jaguar XKR coupe, '95 Jaguar XJ Sport 4.0, '82 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia, '15 Honda Civic (sloooooww..)
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Pegasus
Full Member
24V Cosworth Ultima Born: Sept 97, sold Aug 23
Posts: 742
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Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
« Reply #9 on: Nov 21st, 2006, 9:30pm » |
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I used a cleaner with some ammonia-like stuff in it (can't remeber name), the green pad Scorpio-Man says and lots of elbow grease. Took 20-30 mins per wheel. When clean and dry gave them a good waxing. Now the dirt comes away easily.
Paul
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