Is there a way to keep the wheels clean and keep all the brake dust off them. I have heard that waxing them will help. What kind of wax??? Any advice would be appreciated.

Dark Silver S, just went over the coveted 1,200 mile break in. Paid MSRP and drove off the lot, no wait. No kidding.

 

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I have used Rain-X for years on my rims and it just washes off. Also does not accumulate as bad. Try it.

 

You can change the pads too. I heard EBC Greenstuff pads grab well, without producing a lot of dust. Something I will be looking into when I get my MCS.

 

This is a very annoying problem that I've experienced with several new cars. Here is what I have learned in my battle against the dreaded brake dust that quickly ends a perfectly detailed car.

Most quality aftermarket pads (e.g., EBC, Ferrodo, etc.) will produce a lot less brake dust than the OEM pads. This would be a good solution for the long haul.

However, if you don't want to switch pads until your original pads are worn out, and even after you get better pads, then it is best to clean them regularly (how often depends on your driving habits/distances). If you drive a lot and brake very hard at high speeds often, then wash more often. Quality wheel cleaners (e.g., P21S, Griot's Garage) will do a great job cleaning without etching the wheels. Be sure to wait until wheels are cool to clean and wash. Many wheel cleaners will advertise as "spray and wash" but usually it works a lot better to spray, wait briefly, then use a wheel brush to scrub, then rinse. As for keeping them clean, a nice coat of good wax (like Zymol) will help keep them more free of dust (I have not found that good wax causes dust to stick) and makes them much easier to clean the next time. Rain-X will probably do a good job also, but you would need to be careful to make sure your wheels do not have pits or damage before applying Rain-X. It can cause stains, etc. if the clearcoat on your painted wheels is damaged. This happened to the hood of my RX-7 when I spilled Rain-X on it and neglected to clean it off right away.

 

On my last 4 cars (VW, Porsche, Honda, BMW) I replaced the stock pads with Mintex pads. They GREATLY minimized brake dust; and, any that did remain washed off with only clear water (and a wipe from a wet rag). By the way, although some people swear by detergents & wheel cleaners, I've only used water for washing my cars & wheels. No extra expense, and no staining. Waxing several times a year makes sure no "grime" builds up (but, to each their own!)...

 

I wax my wheels with the same wax I use on the car, and then "dust" the wheels daily with a soft cloth. This works great until it rains or water is some how introduced to the wheels, then a wash job is needed to clean the dust off. I usually dust them using the same cloth for months while wearing a glove. The cloth gets pretty black but does not smear the wheels unless they get wet. Only takes a minute or two to dust my 8 spokes and the whole car looks cleaner, without the hour and one half that I usually spend to wash the car !

 

thanks for all the advice. I guess I shouldn't be complaining because I love the car.