| Author |
Message |
Cheryle & Donal Smith
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:38 am Post subject:
Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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I am sure this subject has been covered before but I have looked back in
this newsgroup and checked several forums with no luck.
I have just purchased a '96 323i (Australia) but in only the couple of weeks
I have owned it, the wheels are already covered in brake dust.
I have looked at some spray on wheel cleaners but they all give strong
warnings about being alkaline, and not to be used if your wheels/brakes/pads
contain certain metals.
My `spokes' attach to the rim in 20 points so there are lots of nooks and
crannies to clean.
Is there an easy way to clean these wheels, something (harmless) that can be
sprayed on and hosed off, or use a high pressure hose?
Thanks
Don
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AdrianHi
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:14 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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I've used a product called "Wonder Wheels" with great results. Your
pour the clear liquid into the bottle cap and used the supplied brush
to brush on the solution and work it into the brake dust deposits. You
need to leave it on for a while for it to act, then work at it with a
brush again to remove the last of the more stubbborn deposits and hose
off / jet wash off.
Sometimes with bad burnt on deposits and tar I've had to use a green
kitchen scouring pad (made of plastic!) plus Wonder Wheels.
You are looking at 30-45 minutes effort, maybe more with all those
spokes, but you do get perfectly clean wheels for your trouble.
My current car (2005 320d Touring) has a lot fewer spokes on the wheels
it than the last car, could face all that cleaning effort any more!
Cheers
Adrian |
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Dave Plowman (News)
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:18 pm Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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In article <MPG.1defb511350cc10798a036@news.individual.net>,
Jeremy <jeremy0505@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | There are also products that you apply to the wheels after a thorough
clean which I believe are supposed to prevent the dirt from taking such
a firm hold - brake dust in particular - so that in principle the need
to use chemicals like "Wonder wheels" for washing becomes required far
less often. I've never tried these products but have been meaning to
have a look around Halfords and just pick one.
|
Giving the wheels a polish with car wax - preferably one of the older
'solid' ones - helps to stop the dust sticking. Trouble is with high speed
heavy braking is that the dust particles are so hot that they sort of melt
into the paint.
--
*Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies *
Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
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Jeremy
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:32 pm Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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In article <1132823015.148350.119880@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
AdrianHi says...
| Quote: | I've used a product called "Wonder Wheels" with great results. Your
pour the clear liquid into the bottle cap and used the supplied brush
to brush on the solution and work it into the brake dust deposits. You
need to leave it on for a while for it to act, then work at it with a
brush again to remove the last of the more stubbborn deposits and hose
off / jet wash off.
Sometimes with bad burnt on deposits and tar I've had to use a green
kitchen scouring pad (made of plastic!) plus Wonder Wheels.
You are looking at 30-45 minutes effort, maybe more with all those
spokes, but you do get perfectly clean wheels for your trouble.
My current car (2005 320d Touring) has a lot fewer spokes on the wheels
it than the last car, could face all that cleaning effort any more!
|
There are also products that you apply to the wheels after a thorough
clean which I believe are supposed to prevent the dirt from taking such
a firm hold - brake dust in particular - so that in principle the need
to use chemicals like "Wonder wheels" for washing becomes required far
less often. I've never tried these products but have been meaning to
have a look around Halfords and just pick one.
--
jeremy
['01 BMW 530i SE Touring] |
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GRL
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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You can avoid the problem entirely (if you can tolerate the prospect of not
seeing your brake rotors through the wheels) by using a product called Kleen
Wheels. These are wheel liners that go between the wheel and the hub. They
are black painted thin metal (Al, I think) with vent slots that keep the
brake dust off your wheels.
Use them on our LS400 for 12 years now and had 'em on our '92 Corvette for
10 years. Work great. No dust ever.
Cheap, too.
- GRL
"Cheryle & Donal Smith" <chezdon@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:7Q8hf.2365$ea6.2251@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
| Quote: | I am sure this subject has been covered before but I have looked back in
this newsgroup and checked several forums with no luck.
I have just purchased a '96 323i (Australia) but in only the couple of
weeks I have owned it, the wheels are already covered in brake dust.
I have looked at some spray on wheel cleaners but they all give strong
warnings about being alkaline, and not to be used if your
wheels/brakes/pads contain certain metals.
My `spokes' attach to the rim in 20 points so there are lots of nooks and
crannies to clean.
Is there an easy way to clean these wheels, something (harmless) that can
be sprayed on and hosed off, or use a high pressure hose?
Thanks
Don
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Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:27 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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I used to use wonder wheels every week, now I use it every 2 or 3
months!!
Give the wheels a REALLY good clean as you will be sealing them up with
car polish. Get every last spec of dirt of ( and it will take a bit of
time). Then I get a cheapish spray on polish ( turtle wax etc in a
trigger bottle) and liberally spray alloys with it, allowing it to dry
on. When totally dry ( 30 minutes ), I gently buff it up, then spray on
another coat all over.. Leave to dry.
For the next 10 washes plus, a warm soapy sponge will get all the brake
dust off in seconds..The polish does wear out and you can get to see
this when the brake dust becomes difficult to get off using soapy
water.. In my case and mainly town driving with bit of motorway that's
usually between 8 and 12 weeks and numerous washes. It saves me a heap
of time and cost as wonder wheels aint cheap! |
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Cheryle & Donal Smith
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:18 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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Thanks everyone for your help.
It looks like other than getting `Clean Wheels' a bit of elbow grease will
always be required. No pain no gain.
Cheers
Don |
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SharkmanBMW
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:44 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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you are lucky you have not had overheating issues,,,,, they are known for
this |
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Malt_Hound
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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GRL wrote:
| Quote: | You can avoid the problem entirely (if you can tolerate the prospect of not
seeing your brake rotors through the wheels) by using a product called Kleen
Wheels. These are wheel liners that go between the wheel and the hub. They
are black painted thin metal (Al, I think) with vent slots that keep the
brake dust off your wheels.
|
These are generally considered a bad idea as they reduce the ventilation
to the brake disk. This can result in increased brake heating, brake
fade, and sometimes cause premature disk warpage.
A better alternative (IMO) is to replace the OEM brake pads with
some that produce less dust the next time the car needs them.
YMMV,
--
-Fred W |
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Jeff Strickland
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:28 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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I simply wash my wheels with the same Car Wash Soap that I use on the rest
of the car. I finish washing the car, then I wash the wheels.
"Cheryle & Donal Smith" <chezdon@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:7Q8hf.2365$ea6.2251@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
| Quote: | I am sure this subject has been covered before but I have looked back in
this newsgroup and checked several forums with no luck.
I have just purchased a '96 323i (Australia) but in only the couple of
weeks I have owned it, the wheels are already covered in brake dust.
I have looked at some spray on wheel cleaners but they all give strong
warnings about being alkaline, and not to be used if your
wheels/brakes/pads contain certain metals.
My `spokes' attach to the rim in 20 points so there are lots of nooks and
crannies to clean.
Is there an easy way to clean these wheels, something (harmless) that can
be sprayed on and hosed off, or use a high pressure hose?
Thanks
Don
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Princess Morgiah
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:26 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KvmdnX6mOLv2ThXeRVn-tw@ez2.net...
| Quote: | I simply wash my wheels with the same Car Wash Soap that I use on the rest
of the car. I finish washing the car, then I wash the wheels.
|
Same here. Car wash soap, a tub of hot water, a small sponge and a bit of
patience will clean all the brake dust right off.
Princess Morgiah |
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dizzy
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:30 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:38:11 GMT, "Cheryle & Donal Smith"
<chezdon@bigpond.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have just purchased a '96 323i (Australia) but in only the couple of weeks
I have owned it, the wheels are already covered in brake dust.
|
Get aftermarket brake pads and prevent the problem in the first place. |
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Jeff Strickland
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:40 am Post subject:
Re: Cleaning Alloy Wheels |
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"dizzy" <dizzy@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:30hso156bi38vqiukip8j9fku8qd0v5kor@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:38:11 GMT, "Cheryle & Donal Smith"
chezdon@bigpond.com> wrote:
I have just purchased a '96 323i (Australia) but in only the couple of
weeks
I have owned it, the wheels are already covered in brake dust.
Get aftermarket brake pads and prevent the problem in the first place.
|
I LIKE that idea. I installed Raybestos Professional Grade PLUS pads on my
car, and they ran much cleaner thant he pads that came off. |
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