Please help me not pull my hair out over this brake dust.

J

jta98z

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I'm at my wits end here guys. I've got a wheel off my Trailblazer SS trying to give the wheel barrel a good clean and I have hit it with everything shy of napalm and this baked on, imbedded crud won't go away! It's like cockroaches.
gy7agasy.jpg


I have tried:

-P21S gel letting it sit and scrubbed until my arm was numb
-Iron X same as above
-Wheel clay that was useless
-Griots Garage heavy duty metal polish
-some body shop, rubbing compound that I'm pretty sure has gravel in it

Only thing I have left is polishing soap. But I have this lingering suspension it's going to be to no avail.

And by the way, it's not raised. It can't be felt. It's almost as if it's burned in.

It's it hopeless?




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You could give 0000 steel wool a shot on a small spot.
 
try acid or if all fails try a steel wool then used metal polish
 
Hmm. Might try that.

Do you guys think wheel brightener would dent it?


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jamesboyy said:
wheel brighter just may do it cause its acid...
Click to expand...


Wheel brightener should be okay on that bare wheel right? I'm pretty sure the front of these wheels is clear coated so I need to make sure and not get any on the front right?


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I did a Z06 about two months ago with wheels with this exact same issue. It was purchased used in Detroit and brought down South. I honestly believe this is road salt damage.

Anyone?
 
jta98z said:
Wheel brightener should be okay on that bare wheel right? I'm pretty sure the front of these wheels is clear coated so I need to make sure and not get any on the front right?


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Click to expand...

Yes wheel brighter should be ok just wear gloves and a tip apply the wheel brighter to a instead of direct to the wheel that way you have better control of the product, and leave it up there no longer than 5 mins
 
I'd try to clean with the iron-x again. You say its not raised? Does it seem like its embedded? Maybe its just under the surface of the clearcoat?

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^^^ I agree. That looks like the finish got etched or developed a rash in that spot. When you are dealing with something like this, I like to keep it simple and have a simple plan of action.

Steps:

1. Try an iron remover
2.Try a tar remover
3. Try an abrasive polish

If none of those do the trick, it's pretty much out of your hands.
 
Maybe try a little mineral spirits, although I'm sure its deeply embedded brake dust. A chrome wheel cleaner may work if you don't have wheel brightener, as most are acid based.

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TundraPower said:
I did a Z06 about two months ago with wheels with this exact same issue. It was purchased used in Detroit and brought down South. I honestly believe this is road salt damage.



Anyone?
Click to expand...


Hmm. Interesting Tundra. I recently moved to an area with pretty harsh winters and that's when I first began to notice this. It was easier keeping them clean back towards the coast because weather was mostly mild every day and I could go out and clean them. However I first began noticing this in this wintry area I am in now. I had to drive through snow and then couldn't get out to clean them for a while and then noticed this.


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Is the wheel bare aluminum or clear coated? If it's clear coated about all you can do is use something like Iron X(which you already have) and a tooth brush to work it in. My favorite wheel cleaner by far is Adam's Deep Wheel Cleaner. I was a Sonax fan but Adams DWC is buy far superior.(Yes I've done repeated tests with both)Adams DWC is able to pull out deeper embedded brake dust than Sonax. The brake dust has penetrated the clear coat and has worked its way into the aluminum causing the corrosion and pitting. The only way to completely remove the corrosion is to strip the clear coat and sand it out then polish it.

If its bare/polished aluminum try Flitz Aluminum pre cleaner. This stuff is serious. Use it outside and don't get down wind of it. You will have to polish the rim afterwards as it can leave some staining. This is not to be used a maintenance type cleaner such as Sonax, Adams, etc.
 
I'm fairly certain it's non clear coated, bare aluminum. It's the inside of the wheel so it's not shiny and slick like the outside spokes


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jamesboyy said:
wheel brighter just may do it cause its acid...
Click to expand...

Yep, hydrofluoric acid in fact. If you get a wheel cleaner that IS NOT SAFE for polished wheels it'll be stronger. Megs wheel brightener (straight up) will be strong enough to freaking melt it! Not really, but it's strong for sure.

Be not just careful, but VERY VERY VERY CAREFUL not to get any on the front side! If you take a Brillo pad, some acid, (GLOVES) and turn the wheel where it doesn't run out on the face side you can likely work it as good as it's going to get. Wire wheel on a drill would work on it as well, again being very careful.

Steel wool like you'd do furniture with comes from 0 (most cut) to 0000 (least cut). Honestly 0000 is useless on that! :rolleyes:


TundraPower said:
I did a Z06 about two months ago with wheels with this exact same issue. It was purchased used in Detroit and brought down South. I honestly believe this is road salt damage.

Anyone?
Click to expand...

I've seen it down south as well. Although we do get salt from time to time. :dunno: Could just be plain old brake dust and road grime that settles after rain, on a hot wheel, and settles in the pores. Hence pulling wheels off soon as you get them, cleaning, Iron-X(ing), claying, loving and spooning them till everyone on earth is happy. Then sealing the snot out of them with whatever you want to use, use it often, and use it a lot. :D
 
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