i've asked around before about cleaning the inner area of the wheels (stock wheels, '91 Z28) - how to get all that nasty road and brake dust crap off, as in "deep cleaning"... everytime i rotate the tires is when i scrub the inner areas before i put the wheels back on, but i can never seem to get them super clean. it's like all that crap is embedded in to the wheel and it's there to stay. haven't done it yet, but i have a pressure washer and was going to try that on them. any thoughts, experience, pro's and con's?

KAM

 

I don't see why it wouldn't hurt to try it. If your pressure washer is anything like my pressure washer, they're POWERFUL... mine can actually strip paint from my Jeep's front bumper. If anything could get the inner rim clean, that probably could.

When I've cleaned mine, I used Westley's Bleche-Wite and a scrub brush. It won't look clean until you rinse it after you're done scrubbing, but it does break up a lot of the dirt. One thing to note: if the front side of your wheels are polished, make sure that you don't get any Bleche-Wite on them! A friend of mine got some overspray on his brand new Torq Thrust II's and it made them all cloudy. He had a hell of a time getting them shiny again.

 

I tried pressure washing the wheels on my 85. Didn't do much. I got mine super clean using a combo of hot soapy water, brake cleaner, and that castrol wheel cleaner (in a purple aerosol can). Took about three times to get it clean.

 

i have a 92 z myself with the same style wheels.

i usually pressure wash them, doesn't do anyharm, except i did notice lately that the clear coat on my plastic center caps is starting to peal, but who gives a rats *** about the centercaps.

but one thing i can't get rid of is... the inner part of the wheel, the part that is usually painted, has the faintest amount of dirt lines visible, and i tried everything but nothing gets rid of it, tried pressure washing, tried simplegreen, tried this, tried that, nothing. it's "scarred" for life - but luckily nobody notices except me

 

I used a pressure washer w/ reg dish soap for the inside of mine. That stuff came off in an instant. Ive heard that if you dont get that stuff off , eventually it will make your wheel run "lopsided"(for lack of a better word).

Mitch

 

i keep a nice thick layer of wax or favorite choice of polish...then i apply a healthy amount of detailers mist and rinse them once a week....no problems at all.

although i also dry my car with a leaf blower so what do i know.:lala:

 

That Castrol stuff is great...I've used that too...cuts that grease and brake stuff like no other

 

The Castrol Purple stuff works pretty good, so does the Westly's Bleach White. I'd spray either one on, then take a scurb brush to them, they will come pretty clean. If ther is still a hint of brown left on them, use some Turtle Wax Chrome cleaner to really shine them up.

Also, a pressure washer will do no harm, but will probably not do as good by itself. Use something to loosen up the grime, then use the pressure washer to hose them off.

 

I have used Simple Green to get the basics off and used a brake cleaner or even gasoline to break down the tar that gets stuck in there. Put a healthy coat of wax on the inside and they should resist things sticking so much the next time.

 

cool... thanks for the tips...

KAM




*** bless the USA... prayers to the families of the victims of COLUMBIA space shuttle

 

At work we use one of those orange cleaners like on the commercials for really hard to get stuff. It works wonders on carpets, you spray, then scrub, and the stain just dissappears while you scrub. But I also use it on wheels that I'm having a hard time getting clean and it works like a charm. I just spray heavily, let it sit for a minute, then powerwash, and it almost always gets everything.