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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Cleaning alloy wheels
        
(Message started by: Butterfingers on Nov 19^th, 2006, 3:58pm)

Title: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by Butterfingers on Nov 19^th, 2006, 3:58pm

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 19^th, 2006, 4:17pm

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

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 19^th, 2006, 5:33pm

hi there

lots of great cleaning tip here (http://www.detailguide.com/)

hth

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by Butterfingers on Nov 19^th, 2006, 6:44pm

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 19^th, 2006, 7:38pm

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by harry.m1byt on Nov 19^th, 2006, 8:29pm

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by Butterfingers on Nov 19^th, 2006, 8:32pm

I've found that engine cleaner works quite well as well. :D

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by Butterfingers on Nov 19^th, 2006, 8:37pm

on 11/19/06 at 19:38:37, 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.

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by TiberiuS on Nov 19^th, 2006, 8:44pm

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.

Title: Re: Cleaning alloy wheels
Post by Pegasus on Nov 21^st, 2006, 9:30pm

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