I got some red spray bottle from autozone to clean the wheels and it did ok but it looks like I have rust/brake dust embedded into the clear coat in spots. Is there something I can use to dissolve it?
Cleaning automotive wheels with embedded brake dust
- Thread starter Rust_Belt_Pete
- Start date
Yes, iron remover. Meguiars Iron Removing Spray Clay and Meguiars Ultimate Wheel Cleaner are both widely available.
They’re very harsh chemicals, so don’t apply them if it’s windy. Might wanna hold your breath, too. Disgusting stuff. And they don’t feel great in the eyes.
They’re very harsh chemicals, so don’t apply them if it’s windy. Might wanna hold your breath, too. Disgusting stuff. And they don’t feel great in the eyes.
Both of those are “non-acid”, they use sodium thioglycolate, itself acidic but it binds with the iron and turns red so it can be rinsed off. It can even be used on your paint to remove rail dust and other forms of iron/rust. It’s good stuff but not quite up to the task.
You need to use an heavy-duty wire wheel/mag wheel cleaner. Wear PPE, some of them have hydrofluoric acid or ammonium bifluoride. Spray on, let dwell no longer than 30 seconds, agitate with a brush. Rinse really well. Repeat.
A good clean and wax with every tire rotation (~ every 6 months) makes all the difference to me. Spray down with diluted simple green, let them soak then clean with [electric] power washer (Broad tip). Follow-up with carwash soap/sponge, dry and thick coat of cleaner/wax. follow-on washes have the inevitable dust come right off
Did OP post pics when I wasn’t looking?
Sonax wheel cleaner
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- Jul 15, 2023
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MMO actually works pretty good too.
Oil eater. My boss back in the day when I worked doing race car set up and maintenance always used this. It doesn't eat wheel finishes (which simple green did) and removes baked on brake dust.
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- Jun 19, 2024
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X 2 Meg's and a wheel brush.
