Hi detail experts. I recently bought a set of used S-lights with some heavy brake residue on the wheels. I won't have a problem removing the brake dust, but I will have problem removing the hardened black residue that's on them. I'm guessing it's from having a hefty amount of the brake dust (plus light brake pitting) embedded on the wheels.

What's the best procedure for getting that gunk off the wheels?

Thanks.

 

"Goo Gone" works like a charm -

 

Cool. I have a bottle of that under the kitchen sink. I'll give that a go. Thanks.

Any certain brush/scrubber/sponge that's best? It's going to take some serious elbow grease too.

 

If that doesn't work, clay takes it off VERY easily (just did mine yesterday).

 

I bought a wheel cleaning brush at Lowe's or somesuch that helped a lot with all the nooks and crannies in the stupid S-winders I ran all winter. I got some Meg's wheel cleaner (all wheel or something) that worked pretty well with a little elbow grease, too.

Wheel Armor them when they're clean!

 

+1 on the Wheel Armour.
I've got a few washings in after applying the Armour and cleaning the brake dust off of the wheels is much easier now.

 

For the Goo Gone, do you just spray them on the area & let it sit for 5-10 minutes then elbow grease it or need to do something else? In Canada, there is no Goo Gone, I can only buy from ebay but all of them are like the refills, no spray thing. Can I just pour those liquid on the area in stead of spray them?

How you use the clay bar to clean the wheels? Can you tell more details? Last week I bought the Simoniz wheel brush & another tiny brush (looks like a small triangle) to get started, I also bought a spray wheel cleaner (now I forgot the brand name) to work on the rims. And I have only 1/5 left but still got some old black residue leftover which can't clean. I want to get rid all of them then put the wheel armor on them.

Thanks.

 

FYI, the Goo Gone SPECIFICALLY states "DO NOT USE ON ALLOY PRODUCTS" You may want to take this into consideration before you begin spraying down your wheels with the stuff.

 

Goo gone works with elbow grease on everything else, I've never used it on rims.

To clay - lube up the wheel with some sort of clay lube or quick detailer (most clay bars come with something), then just rub the clay over the area. It'll pick up the crap like majic. Keep kneading the clay so it doesn't scratch your rims up (same applies when doing your car but even more so). Wipe them down with a clean towel when you're done and you should be good to go. Some will suggest another quick wash before you add protectant. I'm on the fence (but mostly lazy and hate dealing with hard water spots after washing - it really is a good idea to wash again).

Then when it's clean and dry be sure to Wheel Armour or at least wax or polish or protect with something. Otherwise the brake dust will stick right back on like nobody's business. Edit: Ok, you said you had WA, cool. Yeah, that's the time to put it on. I did it inside and out before I put the wheels on and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get them clean when they come off in the fall.

And I said Meg's wheel cleaner, but I meant Mother's before. Just picked up two more bottles on sale at Murray's last night. I <3 white wheels. WA helps a lot, but I still have to scrub 'em down once in a while and re-apply and it seems to take about half a bottle to clean all 4.

 

they have a spray now?!

 

Oh, so don't use Goo Gone.
Just use some Clay Lubricant & Clay Bar to rub on those black residue & wash off afterwards. Then Wheel Armor them. Can I just use micro fibre cloth with the wheel armor or something else? How about Poorboys Wheel Sealant, better or not? And for the wheel cleaner, P21S GEL version Wheel Cleaner, any good? Thanks.