Wheel Cleaning Recommendations?

[Juice26]

I know there thread on this already but no matter how much i scrub or how much product i use i can never get my 825m clean like new. i even ceramic coated the rims (first day i got the car) as i heard so much about how bad the brake dust is on the car.

What do you guys recommend???

[him130849]

Originally Posted by Juice26

I know there thread on this already but no matter how much i scrub or how much product i use i can never get my 825m clean like new. i even ceramic coated the rims (first day i got the car) as i heard so much about how bad the brake dust is on the car.

What do you guys recommend???

Change brake pads

[USMC G2]

Greetings,

First - get some brushes or make your own. The more you clean your wheels, the better you will get. I use Griot's Wheel Cleaner with a variety of brushes and hand micro fiber mits. Second, after (what I think) is a thorough cleaning...the next day, I use a ceramic rinseless wash to clean them again. This pretty much returns the wheels to original condition. And finally, yesterday I applied 303 Graphene Nano spray to my wheels for lasting protection - it was easy on and easy off, and leaves a helluva shine.

You'll get better the more you do it...(like everything else in life).

Semper Fi

[vrships]

Depending on your wheels. Brake dust on flat surfaces, even baked on, can easily be cleaned off using typical thioglycolicacid based wheel cleaner (the ones that turn purple and smell bad) and scrub with microfiber wash mitt and wheel brushes.

But the dust in tight corners and crevices is hard to fully clean since it accumulates and solidifies in big chunks. The only way is to clean these places frequently before they get worse. I am not sure how practical it is for you. It takes me about ~ 1hr to fully clean the rims, so it is very time consuming and tiring.

I have used Adams' Wheel cleaner, Sonax Beast, Trinova wheel cleaner and honestly I cannot tell which one is noticeably better. They are all good on easy-to-clean places but suck at tight corners. Adams' Wheel & Tire cleaner is another product that's not based on TGA, but some review says it actually cleans better. I have yet to try.

A more aggressive chemical is to acid based wheel cleaners. Strangely I couldn't find many products like this in the US, probably due to regulations. The acid attacks iron oxides and dissolves them much quicker. They are totally safe on clear coated wheels but can damage metal and metal oxide surfaces around. Be careful if you have to use them

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by vrships

A more aggressive chemical is to acid based wheel cleaners. Strangely I couldn't find many products like this in the US, probably due to regulations. The acid attacks iron oxides and dissolves them much quicker. They are totally safe on clear coated wheels but can damage metal and metal oxide surfaces around. Be careful if you have to use them

You can find them, I have used them. I'm not going to link because I highly recommend NOT to use them. "they are totally safe on clear coated wheels" to a certain extent that you properly dilute them (they come concentrated) and don't let them sit, don't use them on hot wheels and oh by the way as you said it will damage everything else around it.

NOT WORTH IT.

As others have said, nothing like a good quality wheel cleaner, a bunch of tools and time. It takes me about 30 minutes to do all 4 wheels, which means I'm nearly an hour into the wash by that time (setting up pressure washer, getting out buckets, mixing the soap, etc.)

[BetaBaer]

In my opinion, it's not that important which chemicals you use. It's more the frequency of cleaning that makes the difference. You'll always have brake dust, you can also reduce it by braking less. Otherwise, clean the rims more often.
I've been driving my BMW for a year and wash it regularly. My rims look like new.

[David70]

I like Iron X. Safe enough to use anywhere, including paint, removes steel/iron and brake dust.

[Autoaddict]

I was in the same boat as you until I found a combo that really works:

Armour wheel cleaner
Yum wheel foam

Good brushes. This is key after the cleaners. You need good brushes with good cleaners to breakup the sticky dust.

[Yuille36]

Why go thru this ritual, just change your OEM brake pads to carbon ceramic pads and be done with it. I did this years ago, and on my vehicles, and I can go weeks without cleaning. A little soap and water is all that is needed when it comes time to clean the wheels. No fuss or hassle.

[Rich76]

Originally Posted by USMC G2

Greetings,

First - get some brushes or make your own. The more you clean your wheels, the better you will get. I use Griot's Wheel Cleaner with a variety of brushes and hand micro fiber mits. Second, after (what I think) is a thorough cleaning...the next day, I use a ceramic rinseless wash to clean them again. This pretty much returns the wheels to original condition. And finally, yesterday I applied 303 Graphene Nano spray to my wheels for lasting protection - it was easy on and easy off, and leaves a helluva shine.

You'll get better the more you do it...(like everything else in life).

Semper Fi

I thought I had a big selection for cleaning my wheels !
I’ll get a picture at the weekend but it’s no where near that size

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Uhh if you coated your wheels and you can't clean them off and have baked dust like that, something ain't right here.

Either it's not actually dirty, or your wheels weren't perfect before they got coated.

[USMC G2]

Rich76,

Most of those brushes are okay or too big...therefore, mistakes...the simplest is your fingers and microfiber.

Semper Fi

[minaret]

On Google Earth, I can see the brake pad stains in my driveway. Sonax full effect wheel cleaner is good, but there’s an odor that lingers after thorough rinses.

[scubajim]

I have been using Sonax for years. Works very well. Does have an odor. I just finished my most recent gallon and I was comparing prices with Adams and Griots. Sonax is the most expensive of the three. I picked up a spray bottle of the Griots Heavy Duty to try before I go after a gallon container again.

[cbpip]

Tuga Alu-Teufel Spezial Special Aluminium Rim Cleaner 5 Litre Canister

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/aw/d/B...b_b_prod_image

[dogocity]

I get a bottle of dawn powerwash, and remove 3/4 of the bottle.
I then fill the bottle with Adam's Polishes Iron Remover. Cleans great.
The iron remover is safe on paint.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

[BruinMan]

IK Pro 2 Foam Sprayer 64oz

Water 53 oz
PS Brake Buster 7.7 oz
Adam's Polishes Iron Remover 3.3 oz

Agitation with a wheel brush.

Normally, my pressure washer is enough. Going to go from OEM pads to Brembo Ceramic pads. Little less stopping powder, possible dust free.

[Yuille36]

Originally Posted by BruinMan

Going to go from OEM pads to Brembo Ceramic pads. Little less stopping powder, possible dust free.

I have used carbon ceramics for years. And I can tell you that after the pads are fully bedded in, you cannot discern the difference in stopping power. But you will definitely see a noticeable difference when it comes to brake dust.

[Pathy01]

Originally Posted by BruinMan

IK Pro 2 Foam Sprayer 64oz

Water 53 oz
PS Brake Buster 7.7 oz
Adam's Polishes Iron Remover 3.3 oz

Agitation with a wheel brush.

Normally, my pressure washer is enough. Going to go from OEM pads to Brembo Ceramic pads. Little less stopping powder, possible dust free.

You fill your foam sprayer completely to the top? I thought they recommend not filling more than 2/3 full with liquid. It seems that you'd lose pressure almost immediately once you start spraying if there isn't enough air being compressed. I usually fill mine less than halfway.

[bousquettucker]

Probably overrated but honestly chemical guys wheel stuff works great, but just for wheels

[asianF22]

Like what Yuille36 commented, frequent cleaning. I recently bought a set of after market wheels and ceramic coated them myself and of course there's brake dust build up but it does come off relatively easy even when I didn't wash the car for over 2-3 weeks. I have an pressure washer but use a regular garden hose and nozzle when cleaning the wheels, then pressure wash when it's time to do the car.

And what TheMidnightNarwhal commented, if your wheels are coated and you're having a tough time with brake dust build up issues something doesn't add up.

Most here are not big fans of CG(Chemical Guys) products but I use their Diablo wheel cleaner and agitate with a brush and my wheels stay pretty clean(I wash frequently and dilute the cleaner so I have more of it which lasts much longer because you have to apply it liberally).

Hope all the input everyone here commented will find you a solution.

[Yuille36]

I just washed my M3 earlier this week after a two week period. Having coated wheels and carbon ceramic pads are a blessing when you have 666M wheels.
As these wheels with there honey-comb style design are a real pain to clean.
But for me, just spraying them down gets rid of 95% of the dirt, and with a little wheel brush and some cleaner, they're dialed in.