Brake Dust and Rust!

Malachi · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 11:03 AM

My front alloy wheels have baked on brake dust on the backs and the rear wheels have some rust (back of wheel) around the hub and lug area. Can someone recommend some products and tips to remove these problems. The only thing I have tried has been Megs Hot Wheels Cool Care. It removed very little brake dust and no rust.

I'd post pictures but I haven't been able to figure out how to do so. Plus the pictures I took with my digital camera are saved as 2mb each...don't know why (much more than the allotted 200kb per picture). I don't know how to convert the pictures from 2mb to 200kb.

vfrkent · #2 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 04:38 PM

Castrol super clean and a soft brush.
Best regards, Kent

sequoiasoon · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 06:53 PM

Eagle One A to Z wheel cleaner (I think the new name is All wheel cleaner) comes in an orange bottle. This stuff is the best I ever used. I t took that baked on stuff that NEVER came off on my Corolla and every car I ever tried it on. Use a small stiff bristle brush if more oomph is needed. Don't dilute it and make sure wheels are COOL before you spray it. I've used P21, Megs, Armor All, and about 20 others over the years. Eagle one for the wheels is all I use now, I was that impressed.

Johnny Law · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoiasoon

Eagle One A to Z wheel cleaner (I think the new name is All wheel cleaner) comes in an orange bottle. This stuff is the best I ever used. I t took that baked on stuff that NEVER came off on my Corolla and every car I ever tried it on. Use a small stiff bristle brush if more oomph is needed. Don't dilute it and make sure wheels are COOL before you spray it. I've used P21, Megs, Armor All, and about 20 others over the years. Eagle one for the wheels is all I use now, I was that impressed.

I tried Griot's garage stuff and while it took off the fresh stuff, the baked on crap wouldn't come off, it felt like primer. So A to Z will take off the baked on stuff, and not the clear or color coats along with it?

sequoiasoon · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Law

I tried Griot's garage stuff and while it took off the fresh stuff, the baked on crap wouldn't come off, it felt like primer. So A to Z will take off the baked on stuff, and not the clear or color coats along with it?

I haven't noticed any problems. My Corolla hubcaps were at the point I wanted to buy new ones because all the corners and inside edges looked like a yellow/brown/black mess. I always washed religiously and waxed but the stuff never disappeared. I figured it was just the plastic changing color over the years/mileage. I used to use Westleys Bleche White to get the crap off the tires and scrubbed the caps at same time but nothing took that junk off. Here is what they looked like at my last good detail last summer.

PagalDesi4Life · #6 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 01:48 AM

Just recently I washed my summer wheels, this is what I did. I bought the Mr. Clean Auto Dry wash (because I liked how it has a built-in water filter which gives it a spotless finish), Eagle One All Wheel and Tire cleaner, and a large soft bristle wheel brush (I reccomend buying a small one too to get all the nooks and crannies). The back of my wheels were COATED in brake dust so I know how ya feel. I sprayed the Eagle One on the back of the wheel first, let it soak for about a minute, then used the brush to thoroughly scrub off the dust, and finally rinsed off the wheel. I did the same process on the front of the wheel as well. Once the entire wheel was dust free (and shiny), I switched the dial to AUTODRY (now the water will be filtered) and washed the entire wheel giving it a coat of filtered water. I didn't have to hand dry it, I just let it sit in the shade and voila! Brand spankin' new wheels! Unfortunately my wheels LOVE brake dust and I don't have time to repeat this entire process every few weeks so I will now leave it up to the pro car washes! But yea, I definetly reccomend Eagle One. The products they reccomended are good too, so you have a variety of wheel cleaners to choose from! However, make sure you get 2 different sized brushes, sounds like your wheels will need a good scrubbin!

Johnny Law · #7 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 06:57 AM

Nice, I'll go down to Pimp Boyz to get some Eagle A to Z! Thanks!

jasbus · #8 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 07:47 AM

Castrol Super Clean will eat clear coat, trust me, don't get it anywhere near your cars, or personal effects, or private parts. Evil stuff unless you "want" to remove paint. Can you tell I've had a bad experience that ended up costing me over a grand?

Johnny Law · #9 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasbus

Castrol Super Clean will eat clear coat, trust me, don't get it anywhere near your cars, or personal effects, or private parts. Evil stuff unless you "want" to remove paint. Can you tell I've had a bad experience that ended up costing me over a grand?

But if you are into building models, it strips the paint off without damaging the plastic.

jasbus · #10 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 11:46 AM

evil stuff. I think its just purple colored hydrochloric acid

I don't even buy the stuff anymore, sandpaper is better for your paint

cupidstoy · #11 (**permalink**) 03-18-2006, 05:14 PM

i find that a little antisieze on the mating surfaces between the drum and axle and between the wheel and the drum keeps the rust problem at bay. and, makes everything easy to take apart when necessary ;-) just make sure you don't get it anywhere near the braking surfaces...

MEvang · #12 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 07:03 AM

Brake dust is one thing rust is something else, The rust is there because at one time or another someone drove the car around with the brakes metal to metal. The rust is metal from the rotor imbedded in the aluminum wheel while it was red hot. In most cases it won't come out. I have seen many wheels ruined from this. If you want to try you will need something that will devolve the rust without doing too much damage to the aluminum. If the wheel is clear coated you can have it sandblasted and re coated but it probably wont match the other wheels. Best bet see if you can find nice one at a salvage yard.
Mike

vfrkent · #13 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 09:12 AM

With "Super Clean" you do need to follow the directions which call for diluting it down and it works fine, use about 10-20% in water and you will be fine, just don't let it dry on the surface.

Best regards, Kent

jasbus · #14 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEvang

Brake dust is one thing rust is something else, The rust is there because at one time or another someone drove the car around with the brakes metal to metal. The rust is metal from the rotor imbedded in the aluminum wheel while it was red hot. In most cases it won't come out. I have seen many wheels ruined from this. If you want to try you will need something that will devolve the rust without doing too much damage to the aluminum. If the wheel is clear coated you can have it sandblasted and re coated but it probably wont match the other wheels. Best bet see if you can find nice one at a salvage yard.
Mike

two words: semimetallic pads
Cheap pads will cause rusting on some surfaces. On painted steel wheels, it's almost impossible to get off.

jasbus · #15 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfrkent

With "Super Clean" you do need to follow the directions which call for diluting it down and it works fine, use about 10-20% in water and you will be fine, just don't let it dry on the surface.

Best regards, Kent

Instructions should say: Use at your own risk...