Audi A4

[MX793]

OHTHATSRIGHT...

I've had to clean German brake dust before. Keep up with cleaning it off. It's a son of a bitch to clean that stuff once it's corroded.

I think on my next car I'm going to paint the wheels satin black or dark gray to hide the brake dust.  Yeah, you can try washing your wheels every few days, but then winter time rolls around and having tried scrubbing my wheels out in the driveway when it's in the 40s outside (so, late fall weather and not even winter cold), I can tell you that you'll soon say "screw it, I'll just let the dust build" while you're trying to thaw your hands.

[giant_mtb]

I think on my next car I'm going to paint the wheels satin black or dark gray to hide the brake dust.  Yeah, you can try washing your wheels every few days, but then winter time rolls around and having tried scrubbing my wheels out in the driveway when it's in the 40s outside (so, late fall weather and not even winter cold), I can tell you that you'll soon say "screw it, I'll just let the dust build" while you're trying to thaw your hands.

Take your car to the local DIY car and use the awesome warm, pressurized water inside and take a bottle of wheel cleaner with ya.

[the Teuton]

I have that problem with my car.  I'm just leaving it.  Fuck it.  I'm not buying new wheels.

There were customers that complained when their wheels were spotted with brake dust. One time, specifically, one of the service reps told a woman that if she brought her car in for regular maintenance and had her wheels cleaned more than once every 6 months, she wouldn't have had that problem.

Newer 5er, like yours. With free scheduled maintenance, there's really no excuse.

[the Teuton]

I think on my next car I'm going to paint the wheels satin black or dark gray to hide the brake dust.  Yeah, you can try washing your wheels every few days, but then winter time rolls around and having tried scrubbing my wheels out in the driveway when it's in the 40s outside (so, late fall weather and not even winter cold), I can tell you that you'll soon say "screw it, I'll just let the dust build" while you're trying to thaw your hands.

Professional oven cleaner works like a charm...unless you never wash your wheels. It'll tarnish chrome, but the matte wheels are perfect for it.

[dazzleman]

There were customers that complained when their wheels were spotted with brake dust. One time, specifically, one of the service reps told a woman that if she brought her car in for regular maintenance and had her wheels cleaned more than once every 6 months, she wouldn't have had that problem.

Newer 5er, like yours. With free scheduled maintenance, there's really no excuse.

Well, I never knew they offered wheel cleaning as maintenace.  I should have just had them washed more often.  To be honest, I don't really care that much.  I'm not all that fussy when it comes to my car.  Plus, it's not exactly convenient for me to bring the car in for servicing frequently.  The dealer isn't exactly around the corner from me, and they're only open Monday to Friday, when I'm working.

[giant_mtb]

Well, I never knew they offered wheel cleaning as maintenace.  I should have just had them washed more often.  To be honest, I don't really care that much.  I'm not all that fussy when it comes to my car.  Plus, it's not exactly convenient for me to bring the car in for servicing frequently.  The dealer isn't exactly around the corner from me, and they're only open Monday to Friday, when I'm working.

web.me.com/giant_mtb

[dazzleman]

web.me.com/giant_mtb

Pretty good website.  When I'm out in Michigan yupping it, I'll let you know and you can detail that sucker.

[SVT_Power]

Professional oven cleaner works like a charm...unless you never wash your wheels. It'll tarnish chrome, but the matte wheels are perfect for it.

I was just gonna ask what's good for cleaning wheels. Danke Teutonicdude.

[Laconian]

Giant, you should call your business

C³

[giant_mtb]

Pretty much.

[MX793]

Take your car to the local DIY car and use the awesome warm, pressurized water inside and take a bottle of wheel cleaner with ya.

The only enclosed car washes around here are fully automated drive-thru types.  All of the DIY washes are open on two sides, meaning you'll still get plenty cold.

[giant_mtb]

The only enclosed car washes around here are fully automated drive-thru types.  All of the DIY washes are open on two sides, meaning you'll still get plenty cold.

They don't have closeable doors?  The ones around here do so you can close yourself in when you're washing and they have signs that say "please close doors after use" or whatever posted around.

[the Teuton]

Well, I never knew they offered wheel cleaning as maintenace.  I should have just had them washed more often.  To be honest, I don't really care that much.  I'm not all that fussy when it comes to my car.  Plus, it's not exactly convenient for me to bring the car in for servicing frequently.  The dealer isn't exactly around the corner from me, and they're only open Monday to Friday, when I'm working.

BMW sells stuff for $20/bottle at their dealerships, but it's very similar to the same purple oven cleaner the lot attendants use to clean the wheels. Really, it's like putting a roundel on a piece of shit and jacking up the price 2 or 3 times...except on a bottle of spray cleaner. I'd hate to see what their brillo pads would sell for.

[the Teuton]

We had to wear gloves with the stuff and had giant vats of it labeled 'LSD' (acid -- get it?). That stuff is mean on the skin and worse on the sinuses. But it'll make your wheels looks all shiny again!

[giant_mtb]

Acid is the only stuff that will really really really clean your wheels.  Doesn't really matter what it's called; whether it's oven cleaner, grill cleaner, engine degreaser, or wheel cleaner...it all works.  Wonderfully.

[dazzleman]

Thanks for the tip, Teuton and Chris.  I would not have thought to use oven cleaner.

[The Pirate]

I really need to take my wheels off and clean them. It's been a month or so since I threw my new front brake kit on. My front wheels are definitely not the same color as the rears.

The Mazda was really bad at that too.  I was cleaning the wheels every week or two, it seemed.  Ceramic brake pads did wonders there.  Minimal dust at all now (if any), and they work very well too.  I'm definitely going to be staying with ceramic pads.

[Laconian]

The Mazda was really bad at that too.  I was cleaning the wheels week or two, it seemed.  Ceramic brake pads did wonders there.  Minimal dust at all now (if any), and they work very well too.  I'm definitely going to be staying with ceramic pads.

They are better for the environment too, right? WA state is banning copper brake pads because it messes with the salmon's pathfinding abilities.

[The Pirate]

They are better for the environment too, right? WA state is banning copper brake pads because it messes with the salmon's pathfinding abilities.

Interesting.  Copper is one of the main components of a semi-metallic brake pad, as far as I know.  Will ceramics become more prevalent now?  Similarly, organic pads used to contain asbestos, and those are long gone, with Kevlar being one of the components of organic pads that are still available.

I have no idea how bad ceramic pads are for the environment.  I'd be inclined to think that the impact is less than you'd find with metals.

[Rupert]

Considering that ceramic is basically mud, yeah.

I suppose there could be additives and stuff, but whatev.

[MX793]

I'm not sure I'd use any sort of acid-based cleaners on painted wheels.  Seems like something that would take the finish off.

[Raza]

Your car reminds me of how filthy my car is.  I used to be able to clean my car whenever I wanted to, but now...

Looking good. 

[giant_mtb]

I'm not sure I'd use any sort of acid-based cleaners on painted wheels.  Seems like something that would take the finish off.

Painted wheels, yeah, you'd want to be careful.  But in the right dose, acid-based cleaners are about the best you can do for wheels.   Just about any wheel cleaner you buy is slightly acidic...there's just a threshold where they become "too acidic."  I've read that a mix of about 10-12% acid and the rest water is good for wheels.  I've never mixed it myself, but who knows.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I always just use a sponge and water to clean my wheels.

[hotrodalex]

My BMW's wheels are pretty clean. I get all of it off except for the really hard creases with just soap and water. Switching to ceramic brake pads this last brake job helped as well.

If you guys want some heavy cleaning stuff, I have some organic solution stuff that is supposed to be diluted with water but I never do. I used it to clean the power steering box I picked up in the junkyard. Thing was covered in grease and that plus brake cleaner and a wire brush took it off pretty well.

[Rupert]

Painted wheels, yeah, you'd want to be careful.  But in the right dose, acid-based cleaners are about the best you can do for wheels.   Just about any wheel cleaner you buy is slightly acidic...there's just a threshold where they become "too acidic."  I've read that a mix of about 10-12% acid and the rest water is good for wheels.  I've never mixed it myself, but who knows.

Depends on the pH of the acid, I would imagine...

[giant_mtb]

Depends on the pH of the acid, I would imagine...

Well, yeah.  I think in a lot of wheel cleaning acids, the acid used is phosphoric.  I could be wrong, but I think that's what it is.

[giant_mtb]

Poor Mach1 running race gas.

[r0tor]

I think on my next car I'm going to paint the wheels satin black or dark gray to hide the brake dust.  Yeah, you can try washing your wheels every few days, but then winter time rolls around and having tried scrubbing my wheels out in the driveway when it's in the 40s outside (so, late fall weather and not even winter cold), I can tell you that you'll soon say "screw it, I'll just let the dust build" while you're trying to thaw your hands.

An RX8club member bought a set of super pricey volks in a matte bonze finish... after the first rain they became water spotted PERMANENTLY.  He bitched and the response from them was "You let your $3,000 rims get wet?!?!?!?"

[SVT_Power]

An RX8club member bought a set of super pricey volks in a matte bonze finish... after the first rain they became water spotted PERMANENTLY.  He bitched and the response from them was "You let your $3,000 rims get wet?!?!?!?"

Like buying super expensive diamonds? "Super expensive" is a little redundant there don't ya think?