Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
OK, I dont know why, but I can not get the front wheels clean. Ask anyone at the last Ga. meet about them. Even Tyson thought they were just dirty and could be brushed clean. Didnt happen.

Its almost like the clear coat on the wheels got really hot and the brake dust just adhered to the wheels. I am getting very upset with them not being clean, the rest of the truck is spotless with the exception of the front wheels.

I am close to taking a wire brush to them
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How do I get these damn things clean? Acid? Some product I do not know of??
 
GMCSyclone1

GMCSyclone1

NASTE MEMBER
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

Have you tried Castrol Super Clean? They should carry it at Autozone I used that and it cleaned 99% of the brake dust off. If that doesn't work maybe some really fine steel wool or something.
 
Jimmy

Jimmy

Banned
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

GMCSyclone1 said:
Have you tried Castrol Super Clean? They should carry it at Autozone I used that and it cleaned 99% of the brake dust off. If that doesn't work maybe some really fine steel wool or something.
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I would not use an acid based product,because it can get in chips or cracks in the clearcoat and discolor your wheel.
 
jbone

jbone

Member
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

simple green works really well or try a wheel polish. I would not use steel wool on wheels.
 
M

MikeRenz

not stock
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

i spray easy cheese on mine and drive around the homeless shelters
 
CAMSTY

CAMSTY

SyTy Obsessed
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

MikeRenz said:
i spray easy cheese on mine and drive around the homeless shelters
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:tup: That made me laugh :cool: Mike you funny
 
blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

I think if I'm going to have them refinished I'll have them refinished by a pro and then clear coated again like stock.

I have tryed Castrol Super Clean, as well as Simple Green, and many others. Nothing seems to get them clean, Infact I think it was Castrol Super Clean that made it kind of streaky after the wash.

After seeing Hoods wheels I really hated mine. :roll:
 
bdydrpds10

bdydrpds10

Yes I drive a Typhoon.
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

I use grease lightining

...but be careful not to leave it on too long. I just spray it on and scrub the wheels with a
soft bristle brush and rinse.:2cents:
 
Maxtor

Maxtor

New member
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

blk00z28 said:
How do I get these damn things clean?
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Quit driving it so much and they won't get so dirty ;) .

Seriously, though, if they don't come clean with the products you have already tried then the clear coat is shot. They can easily be refinished for around $100/wheel. Remember, those wheels are not the original wheels that came with your truck. They came off a truck with similar mileage, but it had been ridden quite a bit harder than yours (including winter driving).

See, you shouldn't have been such a tight a** and paid me for those shiny ZR1 wheels I offered you :p
 
blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

See this all wouldnt of happened if you would of just let me take the other truck. :roll: :lol:

Oh hey Mark, PM me I got a question for you. ;)
 
gkrcr882

gkrcr882

SyTyless......for now!
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

We use Flitz and it works great! Its a little $$ though, but you get what you pay for. Makes polished and chrome things shiny and clean!:tup:
 
Timbo

Timbo

SyTy Stalker
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

Are these stock wheels? If they are, a wire brush or steel wool will remove the texture from the slots on the wheels. I would recommend a strong solvent (ProSol), and lots of it. My Saab had a brake pad wear out completely and grind up the rotor. The [copious amounts of] dust sat on the rim for several months before I could clean it, but with lots of strong solvent, and several hours of scrubbing with a brass-bristled brush, the wheel was back to new.
I would recommend a nylon-bristled brush for SyTy wheels.
 
blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

Yeah the stock wheels are what I'm talking about.

I'll see what I can do tomorrow or over the week/end.
 
Ian Turgeon

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

yea, how bout washing the truck once and a while.... :)

Honestly if you leave em covered in brake dust too long, they quickly look like shit. Donno how much you can beat up the clear left on em before it better to just get them refinished. I have some of that purple grease cutter they sell at the parts stores, spray on, scrub like a bitch (inhale some rank fumes) and it seems to clean the wheel pretty dry.

Might think about polishing the clear coat a bit... or even waxing.
 
SY2932

SY2932

Administrator
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

gkrcr882 said:
We use Flitz and it works great! Its a little $$ though, but you get what you pay for. Makes polished and chrome things shiny and clean!:tup:
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I'm a fan of Wenol myself.
polished_rim_light.sized.jpg

"Polished rim after forty hours of work... "

I have an entire shelf full of various polishes that have tried over the years. The "regular" (red tube) Wenol and Auto (blue tube) gave me the best results. Sounds like your clear coat is shot. If you want to retain the stock machined look, the clear coat will have to be stripped off and the rim will have to be refinished if the surface itself is discolored and or oxidized. Using the Super Clean definately didn't do you any favors. Most of the "industrial" cleaner/degreasers warning against using them on aluminum unless you spot check them first. If you applied it to the rims when they were hot, that made the chemical etching much more aggressive.
 
blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Best way to clean very very dirty wheels?

SyTyArchives said:
yea, how bout washing the truck once and a while.... :).
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shit, it collects more dust in the garage then anywhere else lol.

I'll check into all of the above and see what works. Thanks guys. :tup:
 
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