Detailing 101 Need to find out how to pamper your new MINI? Find out all the detailing secrets here.

Removing "baked on" brake dust

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 02:06 PM
  #1  
scatpack's Avatar
scatpack
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Deleware
Removing "baked on" brake dust

I have some brake dust on my xlite wheels that I cant seem to get off! I tried wheel cleaners and the MrClean eraser.. but no luck.

Is there a good product I can use to remove the dust? Im going to be selling my wheels and I want to clean them all up.

I can't even scratch it off with my fingernail!

Any help will be appreciated!
 
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 02:29 PM
  #2  
MLPearson79's Avatar
MLPearson79
OVERDRIVE
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 10
From: Terre Haute, IN
Daaaang how long has it been on there??

You will probably need a really caustic cleaner if nothing is getting it off. I used Simple Green (2 or 3 tries, it didn't work the first time, I had to keep reapplying) on my husband's wheels, it worked well. I like Meguiar's Wheel Brightener on my wheels now but they don't get that dirty (I clean them weekly).

If it's just little specks, try clay. But if it's widespread you'll need a big-time cleaner.
 
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 03:29 PM
  #3  
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 4
simple green 75:25 water, let it sit 2min and agitate with a soft brush,
rinse with water. repeat.

dont use Mr.Clean magic sponge too much cause it literally removes
the clearcoat. there's really nothing magical about it on paints ...it's
just sanding off the surface.
 
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2007 | 03:31 PM
  #4  
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 4
btw, if you see no difference after the first app, don't continue.
 
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2007 | 08:17 AM
  #5  
benji_mini's Avatar
benji_mini
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
try meguires wheel brightener....it really works. my sisters car hadnt been washed in about 6 months or so and she drives that car hard...all that brake dust came right off...apply it to one wheel, then use a power washer to get it all off
 
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2007 | 10:38 AM
  #6  
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 4
benji- i thought you were going to say you pee'ed on it and the acid just
took away all the dust.
 
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2007 | 12:28 PM
  #7  
Darkness's Avatar
Darkness
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
Poor boys spray and rinse wheel cleaner. Undiluted. It really cleaned up my 3 1/2 year old wheels.

I'm trying it out on some 13 year old BMW wheels this weekend which were cleaned by idiots. Caked on brake dust all over. I'll report back with pictures to see how powerful it really is
 
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2007 | 12:38 PM
  #8  
cadfael_tex's Avatar
cadfael_tex
5th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 3
From: Lubbock, TX
P21S Total Autowash works well on my wheels.On your new wheels you might want to use a wax/LSP like wheel shield to keep this from happening again.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 01:45 PM
  #9  
benji_mini's Avatar
benji_mini
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by kenchan
benji- i thought you were going to say you pee'ed on it and the acid just
took away all the dust.
hahaha maybe i did...who knows? maybe i work for mequires and thats how we make it, then add purple coloring to it to make it look purple
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 02:18 PM
  #10  
Modnar's Avatar
Modnar
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
Originally Posted by benji_mini
hahaha maybe i did...who knows? maybe i work for mequires and thats how we make it, then add purple coloring to it to make it look purple
Or maybe you just drink a lot of purple beer first.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 02:32 PM
  #11  
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 4
dang, new secrets revealed everyday in this exciting detailing forum.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 02:52 PM
  #12  
lotsie's Avatar
lotsie
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,382
Likes: 0
Simple Green, mixed like kenchan suggested, and grease applied with my elbow did this.




Mark
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 03:26 PM
  #13  
dogdal24's Avatar
dogdal24
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Perkasie Pa
I have tried a wheel cleaner by Clean Rite called Dust-Off Wheel Cleaner. http://www.clean-rite.com/8BA6A63D42...Cleaners&sc_id=

It can be found in your local auto parts store.

It works great as a spray on hose off wheel cleaner but I am a little worried about it damaging the wheel finish. It has ammonium biflouride and ammonium flouride (which may cause severe burns which may not be immediateley painful or visible which can't be good!)

After that I wash and Hydro car and then Hydro each wheel.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 03:50 PM
  #14  
benji_mini's Avatar
benji_mini
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by Modnar
Or maybe you just drink a lot of purple beer first.
damn....you got me!

ahaha..the only colored beer i drank ever (aside from the contrasting colors in light/dark beer) was beer with green food coloring, which turned an interesting, unexplainabble color (due to st pattys day)
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 03:51 PM
  #15  
benji_mini's Avatar
benji_mini
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
http://www.meguiars.com/?detailer-wh...eel-Brightener

Meguiars wheel brightener ... there is the link...the stuff works great IMO..
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2007 | 05:41 PM
  #16  
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 4
ML mentioned she liked that product too.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sevin
1st Gear
126
May 2, 2026 06:11 AM
igzekyativ
MINIs & Minis for Sale
34
Jul 16, 2020 12:54 PM
Ryephile
Suspension
113
Feb 9, 2020 03:43 PM
womble
Classic Mini Talk
6
Aug 24, 2015 12:52 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:01 PM.