cleaning painted wheels?

CyFi · 01-09-2007, 04:28 PM

How do you guys go about cleaning painted wheels? I have brake dust all over and i want to clean it but i dont want to use a chemical harsh enough to take the paint off the wheel. Any ideas? I used i think it was duplicolor wheel paint.

PETC · 01-09-2007, 05:00 PM

Soap and water?

PearlJammzz · 01-09-2007, 06:12 PM

ya, hand soap eats through grease pretty well. Possibly try some 409 or other types of cleaners too. Take the wheel off and it shouldn't be hard to get into the hard places w/ a toothbrush and whatnot.

bufferdan · 01-10-2007, 08:37 PM

simple green and/or dish soap

Raoc435 · 01-10-2007, 10:09 PM

Soft sponge and soap+water should do it. I don't think brake dust would be that hard to get up.

mr2slow4you · 01-10-2007, 11:47 PM

I used the soap+ water combo applied with a tire cleaner brush, and a jet stream of waer.

Gallagher005 · 01-11-2007, 03:47 AM

yeah what they all said

mr2slow4you · 01-11-2007, 10:22 AM

I haven't had problems with using a pressure washer. If you put a good 3 solid coats and then some clear coats and there are no wrinkles or bubbles or other imperfects then it should be fine.

te51levin · 05-05-2007, 05:23 PM

I used the same paint on my AE86 wheels and had no problems cleaning them with Eagle One wheel cleaner, but I used the version that specifically said it was safe for painted wheels. It's crucial to do it when the wheels are cool, not hot, and be sure not to let the cleaner sit on the wheels for any longer than necessary. Spray, scrub, rinse thoroughly...no dawdling.

GR8MR2 · 09-09-2007, 11:00 PM

I wash the wheels with car wash soap. I also clay the wheels when I finish using it on the paint and the glass. Clay cleans them up really well. I apply #21 synthetic sealant to the wheels and then spray Meguiar's Quik Wheel Detailer on a microfiber and apply. This is the slipperiest stuff imaginable. Hardly anything sticks after applying.

The 17 year old OEM wheels still look pretty good.

JRS_MisterTwo · 09-10-2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GR8MR2

I wash the wheels with car wash soap. I also clay the wheels when I finish using it on the paint and the glass. Clay cleans them up really well. I apply #21 synthetic sealant to the wheels and then spray Meguiar's Quik Wheel Detailer on a microfiber and apply. This is the slipperiest stuff imaginable. Hardly anything sticks after applying.

The 17 year old OEM wheels still look pretty good.
http://gallery.mac.com/jfelbab/100083/P4240072/web.jpg

Genius!
Thats how my wheels should look

I need to get those products

Jaicvc · 09-10-2007, 02:25 AM

simple green!!! and water eehehhee

eckoman_pdx · 09-18-2007, 11:53 PM

I used to detail, and I never use wheel cleaners or harsh chemicals on most wheels.

I wash wheels with car wash soap, in a seperate bucket from the regular car wash soap for the paint (wheel bucket) and apply it with a wash mit I specially use only on wheels (wheel mit). I've never used sealent on wheels, but I've use wax on wheels, or at the very least if you're in a hurry, spray on some wax-as-u-dry after you've washed them but before u dry them off.

Even friends that use the "wheel cleaners" that are safe, I'll still go over it afterwords with the car wash soap/water method above and get crap off the cleaners missed. I good hand wash like I or GR8MR2 mentioned is the way to go under most circumstances.

I've never used Meguiar's Quik Wheel Detailer either, but if they just need a touch on between washing, etc, I'll use quick detailer (I usually use the quick detailer that's the same brand as the wax, I've, at least the Meguiar's and Mother's found my wax seems to last longer if I use the same brand of detailer. There was a brand I had called Adam's though that worked great on all of it.)

01-09-2007, 04:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
CyFi Shoulda put a ring on it Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,398 Thanks: 12 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	cleaning painted wheels? How do you guys go about cleaning painted wheels? I have brake dust all over and i want to clean it but i dont want to use a chemical harsh enough to take the paint off the wheel. Any ideas? I used i think it was duplicolor wheel paint.

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01-09-2007, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
PETC √(176400) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,414 Thanks: 27 Thanked 53 Times in 45 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Soap and water?

01-09-2007, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
PearlJammzz Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,140 Thanks: 9 Thanked 70 Times in 66 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	ya, hand soap eats through grease pretty well. Possibly try some 409 or other types of cleaners too. Take the wheel off and it shouldn't be hard to get into the hard places w/ a toothbrush and whatnot.

01-10-2007, 08:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
bufferdan CHEESEEE!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	simple green and/or dish soap

01-10-2007, 10:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Raoc435 Banned Seller Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: OrangePark FL Posts: 224 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/50% )	Soft sponge and soap+water should do it. I don't think brake dust would be that hard to get up.

01-10-2007, 11:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
mr2slow4you ME in training Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,308 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I used the soap+ water combo applied with a tire cleaner brush, and a jet stream of waer.

01-11-2007, 03:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gallagher005 Watermelon Smasher Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 573 Thanks: 10 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yeah what they all said

01-11-2007, 10:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
mr2slow4you ME in training Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,308 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I haven't had problems with using a pressure washer. If you put a good 3 solid coats and then some clear coats and there are no wrinkles or bubbles or other imperfects then it should be fine.

05-05-2007, 05:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
te51levin Lithia Toyota Parts Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,927 Thanks: 33 Thanked 146 Times in 125 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (126/100% )	I used the same paint on my AE86 wheels and had no problems cleaning them with Eagle One wheel cleaner, but I used the version that specifically said it was safe for painted wheels. It's crucial to do it when the wheels are cool, not hot, and be sure not to let the cleaner sit on the wheels for any longer than necessary. Spray, scrub, rinse thoroughly...no dawdling.

09-09-2007, 11:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
GR8MR2 MR2 owner since 1990 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wisconsin/Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 2 Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I wash the wheels with car wash soap. I also clay the wheels when I finish using it on the paint and the glass. Clay cleans them up really well. I apply #21 synthetic sealant to the wheels and then spray Meguiar's Quik Wheel Detailer on a microfiber and apply. This is the slipperiest stuff imaginable. Hardly anything sticks after applying. The 17 year old OEM wheels still look pretty good.

09-10-2007, 02:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jaicvc Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Frisco Posts: 783 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 28 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	simple green!!! and water eehehhee

09-18-2007, 11:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
eckoman_pdx Custom Car Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,245 Thanks: 42 Thanked 71 Times in 59 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	I used to detail, and I never use wheel cleaners or harsh chemicals on most wheels. I wash wheels with car wash soap, in a seperate bucket from the regular car wash soap for the paint (wheel bucket) and apply it with a wash mit I specially use only on wheels (wheel mit). I've never used sealent on wheels, but I've use wax on wheels, or at the very least if you're in a hurry, spray on some wax-as-u-dry after you've washed them but before u dry them off. Even friends that use the "wheel cleaners" that are safe, I'll still go over it afterwords with the car wash soap/water method above and get crap off the cleaners missed. I good hand wash like I or GR8MR2 mentioned is the way to go under most circumstances. I've never used Meguiar's Quik Wheel Detailer either, but if they just need a touch on between washing, etc, I'll use quick detailer (I usually use the quick detailer that's the same brand as the wax, I've, at least the Meguiar's and Mother's found my wax seems to last longer if I use the same brand of detailer. There was a brand I had called Adam's though that worked great on all of it.)