Thoughts on cleaning mesh wheels?

[Raider]

I love my wheels, but cleaning dirt and brake dust is hell. Silver with black inner spokes.
Wheels:


Last time I spent 4 hours and had to remove them first. Cleaned by hand, and my fingers hurt like a mofo. I have tried the blue handled microfiber cleaner thing, but it never pulled the brake dust.

I see this:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...wheel+wands.do

And
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...aning+brush.do

And
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...+foam+swabs.do

Help?

[SLOWHATCH]

1st and 3rd link choices seem tedious (sp) as tedious gets.

2nd choice requires a drill or rotary tool which will be quite a pita everytime you want to clean your wheels.

Why don't you just get a long bristled carwash cleaning brush and just scrub away. Whenever you want to clean the back you will just have to take them off.

[Raider]

Power tools are cake, I like that the best, actually. The points on the wheel between spokes and the outer wheel are tough to get into, so that pointed brush was a though. But unfortunately, I bet I would go through a set on 1 wash.

[rfinkle2]

OK. I have just the ticket for you @Raider.

You need to completely clean the wheels first, but you should theoretically be able to hose off the wheels in the future with a pressure washer / high pressure nozzle if you coat them with this:

Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 Permanent Paint Coating FREE BONUS

To clean them well before coating, Eagle One's A2Z is available @ most Auto parts stores and is excellent for cleaning dust.

@SIXual Panda is using the Opti-coat now.

Although it is pricey, it is a permanent coating that will last as long as you have the wheels.

[Raider]

Well, I have some problem areas on my wheels, thanks to some wheel cleaner and the clear is gone in a couple spots. The whole: ON-FACTORY PAINTED WHEELS is not a joke. The Eagle 1 stuff was the last wheel leaner I tried.

That said, looking at the instructions, it is going to be extremely difficult to get a good, even coat in the webs. I did try waxing the wheels before, and that did not help.

Ya visiting FL soon?

[rfinkle2]

Originally Posted by Raider Well, I have some problem areas on my wheels, thanks to some wheel cleaner and the clear is gone in a couple spots. The whole: ON-FACTORY PAINTED WHEELS is not a joke. The Eagle 1 stuff was the last wheel leaner I tried. That said, looking at the instructions, it is going to be extremely difficult to get a good, even coat in the webs. I did try waxing the wheels before, and that did not help. Ya visiting FL soon?

LOL.. Never been to Fl.

I would encourage you to try the "coating" as it is not a wax by conventional standards.

It is truly a long term, high release "coating".

Up until a few months ago, you would've had to prove that you are a professional detailer and sign a waiver in order to purchase it.

Serious business LOL.


I can list the wheel cleaners in order of effectiveness, but some are very powerful (acidic) and if clear is missing, may remove or peel up more:

Meguiars wheel brightener : (truly spray on and wipe off, but extremely acidic, and may damage wheels with clearcoat failure already present)

Meguiars Wheel Brightener is a professional grade wheel cleaner for factory coated wheels! Meguiars wheel cleaner and brightener makes coated wheels

Sonax Full Effect: (May require some agititation and smells like a woman recieving a perm)
SONAX Wheel Cleaner, all wheel cleaner, chrome wheel cleaner, aluminum wheel cleaner, full effect wheel cleaner

[Eskareon]

Since your wheels are nice and clean now (edit: maybe not, I thought you just did the hand-wash and wanted to avoid it in the future), they should be pretty easy to maintain with this:

Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush, auto detail brush, Wheel Brush, Tire Brush, Detailing Brush, Corvette brush, Mercedes brush, sport wheel brush,

Though I'm not sure if your issue is being able to get abrasion to the insides or having a solvent that is strong enough to loosen the brake dust without damaging the wheel finish.

If you don't routinely wash your wheels (once a week), then you'll have a hard time with most solvents. The constant heat cycling from driving is going to bake that dust right on.

[Raider]

That pic is a couple years old. Yeah, that dust is indeed baked on, which is why I hate dealing with them.

I will look into the coating, for sure. I think that before that step, being able to get all that baked on shit off and spotless will be the hard thing to do.

that brush looks pretty cool, and a local guy uses a Griot's version on his Pu. I think that might work for the spokes, but that black part of the wheel, between the spokes, is where the baked on mess is near impossible to get off. Think the lugnut brush is the way to go?

[rfinkle2]

Originally Posted by Raider That pic is a couple years old. Yeah, that dust is indeed baked on, which is why I hate dealing with them. I will look into the coating, for sure. I think that before that step, being able to get all that baked on shit off and spotless will be the hard thing to do. that brush looks pretty cool, and a local guy uses a Griot's version on his Pu. I think that might work for the spokes, but that black part of the wheel, between the spokes, is where the baked on mess is near impossible to get off. Think the lugnut brush is the way to go?

I'd put $ on that wheel brightener by Meguiars removing it, with no agitation.

If you don't want a gallon, you can get a sampler here:

(see 32oz sample size)

Meguiars Wheel Brightener 32 oz.

[trf5000]

This is what I use for my wheels. Works great and takes about 20 minutes to do all 4.

Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush, auto detail brush, Wheel Brush, Tire Brush, Detailing Brush, Corvette brush, Mercedes brush, sport wheel brush,

[Raider]

That is much better of a price. No labor FTW. Meguiaras made a wheel cleaner when I first got my wheels. It worked! spray on, like new rinsed. Every other spray on cleaner left some baked on crap or residue. I think my next wheels will need coated before installation. I will seriously look into that. Might even help where the clear is gone.

Seen several posts about the Daytona brush, so I will score that, too.

shopping list:
1) Meguiars wheel brightener
2) Daytona brush
3) clear coating
4) profit. Wait, what?

[SIXual Panda]

Originally Posted by rfinkle2 OK. I have just the ticket for you @Raider. You need to completely clean the wheels first, but you should theoretically be able to hose off the wheels in the future with a pressure washer / high pressure nozzle if you coat them with this: Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 Permanent Paint Coating FREE BONUS To clean them well before coating, Eagle One's A2Z is available @ most Auto parts stores and is excellent for cleaning dust. @SIXual Panda is using the Opti-coat now. Although it is pricey, it is a permanent coating that will last as long as you have the wheels.

Originally Posted by Raider Well, I have some problem areas on my wheels, thanks to some wheel cleaner and the clear is gone in a couple spots. The whole: ON-FACTORY PAINTED WHEELS is not a joke. The Eagle 1 stuff was the last wheel leaner I tried. That said, looking at the instructions, it is going to be extremely difficult to get a good, even coat in the webs. I did try waxing the wheels before, and that did not help. Ya visiting FL soon?

yeah, im using that opti-coat on my BBS's i absolutely love it. ive never went to powerwash or high pressure wash my rims, so i dont know if you can actually just spray the brake dust off or not.
but i do know, you can just spray water on it, and wipe the rim down and it takes it right off. and also, i have never EVER seen water bead up like it does when they are clean.

and as far as trying to get an even coat on them... i was nervous to do it with mine too because i didnt want them to turn out like shit.. but it is ALOT easier than what you think it is.



i mean, i have only had this rims on for like a month and a half so far, but as of now, i really dont see myself ever having an issue with brake dust that i cant get off.

-----also, to help with the long term brake dust accumulation.. if you are running stock brake pads, that would do it too. i switched to HAWK high-performance street pads. they aren't supposed to shed as much dust as the factory pads. and so far.. i definitely believe it. my front wheels actually stay somewhat clean for a while.

[Raider]

I have EBC Green Stuff on there now.

I just imagine a honey-consitency of the coating, and it not smoothing out. If it was that bad, nobody would buy it. I will for sure, get help. That is one thing I would mess up pretty royally on my own I think.

[SIXual Panda]

Originally Posted by Raider I have EBC Green Stuff on there now. I just imagine a honey-consitency of the coating, and it not smoothing out. If it was that bad, nobody would buy it. I will for sure, get help. That is one thing I would mess up pretty royally on my own I think.

nah.. it is actually just a liquid that you squeeze (NOT A LOT---only a couple drops at a time) onto that sponge applicator that you can see in that picture (it is included) and rub it on. extremely easy to get an even coat.

it then starts to get tacky and harden. and even if you have some streaking when you apply it, it says that during the curing process, it will flatten out smooth and it dries clear. and it starts to cure within minutes.

i did my whole rims, the face, the sides of the spokes, the barrels.. everything. i figured, ive got the stuff, why not?

but the thing with that is, if there is some dirt on the rim and you coat over it... you're never going to get that dirt off then. so if you do this, make sure they are as clean as you always want them before applying it.

[Raider]

Yeah, the clean as new is what scares the shit out of me doing it. Reminds me of putting a floor polish on. One hair on the floor, its on forever.

[SIXual Panda]

Originally Posted by Raider Yeah, the clean as new is what scares the shit out of me doing it. Reminds me of putting a floor polish on. One hair on the floor, its on forever.

yeah, i hear ya on that one. i was nervous as hell when i first attempted mine. lol.
i was like-- i hope i dont fuck up my bbs's before i even put them on my car..

[Post pwned]

Lol by time I'm done,i say fuck the inside.