Help with cleaning trashed factory wheels...

[Mikertt]

Hey there fellow Geeks,

I wanted to ask if any of you have suggestions for me on removing brake dust buildup and dirt on some old factory wheels on a 2001 VW Passat. I tried using ECO Touch Wheel Cleaner and it did a fairly good job at removing grime on the face of the wheels. The barrels is what kills me. I tried Meg's APC+ at 1:10 to clean them and it didn't get it off. After that, I hit it with some TR.IX from CarPro, made it look about 50% better but still had the buildup on the barrels. If my guess is correct, the owner has never cleaned the wheels since he purchased the car new. I'll bet the face was probably cleaned a few times, but not the barrels. Btw, I won't be taking off the wheels.

Thanks for your insights.

Feed back please

 

[zmcgovern45]

If TRIX made the biggest difference, continue to use it. There is no rule that says if it doesn't work after 1 application then it is useless. You may need to apply, agitate, rinse, and repeat several times. What tools were you using - ie brushes, sponges, and what not? A stiffer bristle brush may prove useful on those barrels that are particularly dirty, and it would be a heck of a lot easier if you would be willing to remove the wheels. It is a relatively simple process, and if you are looking for the best results, it is the only way IMO.

 

[Mikertt]

If TRIX made the biggest difference, continue to use it. There is no rule that says if it doesn't work after 1 application then it is useless. You may need to apply, agitate, rinse, and repeat several times. What tools were you using - ie brushes, sponges, and what not? A stiffer bristle brush may prove useful on those barrels that are particularly dirty, and it would be a heck of a lot easier if you would be willing to remove the wheels. It is a relatively simple process, and if you are looking for the best results, it is the only way IMO.

I used the Daytona wheel brush to do the scrubbing on the barrels. I was just hoping to find a way to make them look good without spending way too much time on it since it wasn't a top dollar detail. I guess I can't expect too much since the wheels haven't been cleaned since it came out of the factory. And the car is a 2001 model.