Dirty wheels!!!
Depends how bad they are. Mine were stained brown when I bought the car. If the clearcoat is physically cracked or missing the only fix I know of is to strip the remaining clearcoat. However if the clear is intact it can be cleaned. Try normal over the counter wheel cleaners first. Check the labels and make sure they're clearcoat safe. If that doesn't work, take the wheels off the car and clean each one with a tooth brush. I used simple green for the heavy work. Clean all the loose dust front and back, scrub every area as best you can. After that I used 000 steel wool and WD40. Spray a little WD40 on and rub with steel wool. The steel wool will scratch the surface of the clearcoat because its an abrasive but it'll also remove the brake dust stains. When thats finished the wheels should be silver, but not shiny. Use mothers aluminum wheel polish and rub them till they shine. You might want to follow up with a good wax. I've used Meguires cleaner wax with good results. Alternatively I had good results just using WD40 and a rag. Gives a deep shine but doesn't last as long. I still haven't had a chance to try Zaino on the wheels but my guess is it'd work since the clearcoat is essentially a paint.
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Drew
The lone Thirdgenner of the Apocalypse
predatorman@hotmail.com
My Website
87 Iroc
91 Formula 14.3@98mph
91 RS Convertible
91 Firebird V6
92 S10
98 Grand Am GT
------------------
Drew
The lone Thirdgenner of the Apocalypse
predatorman@hotmail.com
My Website
87 Iroc
91 Formula 14.3@98mph
91 RS Convertible
91 Firebird V6
92 S10
98 Grand Am GT
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte,NC USA
Gentlemen;
I am happy i can finally help someone out.
The brake dust was so thick and baked on on my 88 15" Z28 factory aluminum wheels that I
thought for two months that the whole wheel was painted silver.
I tried Simple Green, Castrol Super Clean, AtoZ Wheel Cleaner, mineral spirits and about four other noxious concotions.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
At BigK I saw Greased Lightnin Auto Shop formula cleaner (black plastic bottle the size of anti freeze bottle with purple and yellow writing).
I had put hours probably 20 hours into one front wheel and barely made a dent.
I sprayed the stuff on and stood back for
about 30 seconds. In my mind as I watched I said to myself "well you just wasted another $7'. I hosed the wheel off and stood slack jawed at what I saw.
Underneath all that black brake dust was shiny aluminum. I then sprayed more on and rubbed with a cloth (about 3 minutes of rubbing) until the wheels were spotless.
Do not even waste your time with other cleaners.
this stuff is too good.
I waited all my life for it.
i went back to BigK and bought 4 more gallons the next day because I gotta have it if they quit making it.
The stuff is like sex with a gorgeous nineteen year old to a clean car freak.
Mike
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1988 Camaro Sport Coupe305TBI-4spdAOD-2.73open in "bought stock" condition. That'll change if it stays around here much longer
I am happy i can finally help someone out.
The brake dust was so thick and baked on on my 88 15" Z28 factory aluminum wheels that I
thought for two months that the whole wheel was painted silver.
I tried Simple Green, Castrol Super Clean, AtoZ Wheel Cleaner, mineral spirits and about four other noxious concotions.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
At BigK I saw Greased Lightnin Auto Shop formula cleaner (black plastic bottle the size of anti freeze bottle with purple and yellow writing).
I had put hours probably 20 hours into one front wheel and barely made a dent.
I sprayed the stuff on and stood back for
about 30 seconds. In my mind as I watched I said to myself "well you just wasted another $7'. I hosed the wheel off and stood slack jawed at what I saw.
Underneath all that black brake dust was shiny aluminum. I then sprayed more on and rubbed with a cloth (about 3 minutes of rubbing) until the wheels were spotless.
Do not even waste your time with other cleaners.
this stuff is too good.
I waited all my life for it.
i went back to BigK and bought 4 more gallons the next day because I gotta have it if they quit making it.
The stuff is like sex with a gorgeous nineteen year old to a clean car freak.
Mike
------------------
1988 Camaro Sport Coupe305TBI-4spdAOD-2.73open in "bought stock" condition. That'll change if it stays around here much longer
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte,NC USA
Gentlemen;
I am happy i can finally help someone out.
The brake dust was so thick and baked on on my 88 15" Z28 factory aluminum wheels that I
thought for two months that the whole wheel was painted silver.
I tried Simple Green, Castrol Super Clean, AtoZ Wheel Cleaner, mineral spirits and about four other noxious concotions.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
At BigK I saw Greased Lightnin Auto Shop formula cleaner (black plastic bottle the size of anti freeze bottle with purple and yellow writing).
I had put hours probably 20 hours into one front wheel and barely made a dent.
I sprayed the stuff on and stood back for
about 30 seconds. In my mind as I watched I said to myself "well you just wasted another $7'. I hosed the wheel off and stood slack jawed at what I saw.
Underneath all that black brake dust was shiny aluminum. I then sprayed more on and rubbed with a cloth (about 3 minutes of rubbing) until the wheels were spotless.
Do not even waste your time with other cleaners.
this stuff is too good.
I waited all my life for it.
i went back to BigK and bought 4 more gallons the next day because I gotta have it if they quit making it.
The stuff is like sex with a gorgeous nineteen year old to a clean car freak.
Mike
------------------
1988 Camaro Sport Coupe305TBI-4spdAOD-2.73open in "bought stock" condition. That'll change if it stays around here much longer
I am happy i can finally help someone out.
The brake dust was so thick and baked on on my 88 15" Z28 factory aluminum wheels that I
thought for two months that the whole wheel was painted silver.
I tried Simple Green, Castrol Super Clean, AtoZ Wheel Cleaner, mineral spirits and about four other noxious concotions.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
At BigK I saw Greased Lightnin Auto Shop formula cleaner (black plastic bottle the size of anti freeze bottle with purple and yellow writing).
I had put hours probably 20 hours into one front wheel and barely made a dent.
I sprayed the stuff on and stood back for
about 30 seconds. In my mind as I watched I said to myself "well you just wasted another $7'. I hosed the wheel off and stood slack jawed at what I saw.
Underneath all that black brake dust was shiny aluminum. I then sprayed more on and rubbed with a cloth (about 3 minutes of rubbing) until the wheels were spotless.
Do not even waste your time with other cleaners.
this stuff is too good.
I waited all my life for it.
i went back to BigK and bought 4 more gallons the next day because I gotta have it if they quit making it.
The stuff is like sex with a gorgeous nineteen year old to a clean car freak.
Mike
------------------
1988 Camaro Sport Coupe305TBI-4spdAOD-2.73open in "bought stock" condition. That'll change if it stays around here much longer
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