Stubborn Brake Dust on factory wheels

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RAdkins

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Any help on what can remove this stubborn brake dust on my factory Porsche wheels? I have tried almost 2 bottles Megs Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner. Here are a few photos of the wheels.


p4YvxIL.jpg


fUhfaQW.jpg
 
I would try claying first.
Don't think any solvent would work, if I remember correctly, but I would then try something like 3M adhesive remover.
If no help, polishing is the only thing I would try next, just be careful, since it's right along the crease, and very easy to knock off the clearcoat (if the dust is already through the clear, it won't matter much anyhow).

After those ideas (I am almost in the same boat as you, except the car I just bought used has major curb scratches as well), I am in the midst of gathering spray cans (the best match for my VW wheels is Wurth's, pretty sure they match your's as well), to respraying them after wet sanding, and then clear coat on top.

A lot of work, I know, and there are places that will refinish them for you as good as new.
Eric
 
Hi Eric,

Thank you for the suggestions. I have tried some blue clay but might need to get something more course. As the blue clay didn't seem to be working all that much. Also it just might take more manual labor than I was giving it. Ideally I wouldn't have to refinish them, but if I have to I will make sure to coat my wheels. This happened due to not washing the wheels for about 3 months. I will never make that mistake twice.
 
Try Meguiars Hot Wheels Chrome Wheel Cleaner, you can find it anywhere including locally. It’s acidic based and that’s the type of wheel cleaner that’s best at attacking baked on brake dust.

fa1c32df8ec17652c9ba73e4b437c9ef.jpg


0676b797ee3eecda798b794244a719f4.jpg


Agitate with a soft brush... Gone.

e311096afdcc72a93ca368e7679de5fb.jpg


Clay is not going to remove that.
 
RAdkins said:
Any help on what can remove this stubborn brake dust on my factory Porsche wheels? I have tried almost 2 bottles Megs Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner. Here are a few photos of the wheels.


p4YvxIL.jpg


fUhfaQW.jpg
Click to expand...
Fine steel wool

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
Eldorado2k said:
Try Meguiars Hot Wheels Chrome Wheel Cleaner, you can find it anywhere including locally. It’s acidic based and that’s the type of wheel cleaner that’s best at attacking baked on brake dust.

Clay is not going to remove that.
Click to expand...

Damn...I envy the arsenals that most of you have, compared to mine. :awman:

Definitely worth a shot, to avoid the repaint. Depends on how deep the dust went, and what you're willing to live with, I guess.

Eric

P.S. I have used a Dremel with a polishing bit on my wheels in the past also, with good success
 
ejaf said:
Damn...I envy the arsenals that most of you have, compared to mine. :awman:

Definitely worth a shot, to avoid the repaint. Depends on how deep the dust went, and what you're willing to live with, I guess.

Eric

P.S. I have used a Dremel with a polishing bit on my wheels in the past also, with good success
Click to expand...

Meguiars Hot Wheels Chrome Wheel Cleaner is just the consumer version of Wheel Brightener, so if that’s available over there than you’re probably familiar with it.
 
ummm..with pushing two kids now through college, I have to, ehhh, space out my delivery packages, if you get my drift;)

Will keep an eye out for sales on this stuff. Problem I have is shelf life with products, since I only take care of the family's cars (I have a couple of bottles of McKee's coating chllin' in the fridge, of course, taking up valuable shelf space).

E
 
Iron X with a all purpose microfiber towel will be a good starting point. Be careful not to spray it onto the thin painted brake calipers, it can dull it out.

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision6034 (1) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr

Not as bad... But still very dirty....

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision6034 (2) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5116 (2) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr

Did a good job prior machine polishing it

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5116 (1) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5107 (1) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr

auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5113 (2) copy by Limny Kuang, on Flickr
 
I did try to use my small handheld steam cleaner while agitating the brake dust with a small nylon bush last night. It did seem to work but I think I need a bigger machine with a more concentrated jet of steam to make it time efficient.

@Eldorado2K - Is the Meguiar's Hot Wheels Chrome Wheel Cleaner safe on painted clear coated wheels?

@Cg6LeMoN - From my understanding the Megs Ultimate Wheel cleaner has the same active ingredient as Iron X. It did work on my rear wheels but the fronts which were really bad it just didn't cut through the baked brake bust. I think that it's a great wheel cleaner for typical dirty wheels.
 
What does it feel like to the touch? Is it rough?

While you might be able to get it looking better with some different wheel products or polishing (being careful as already mentioned), you may not get perfection. Back in my younger, more naive days, I had some BMW wheels which didn't get as much care as they probably needed and the brake dust actually pitted the finish on the wheels in some of the hard to reach areas.
 
I did purchase a larger steam cleaner. I will have it Friday and will post the results with before and after photos. I think that it will do the job after my test with the handheld.

@Desertnate - I am not sure on the texture, I will have to check it out and report back.
 
That looks like paint coming off, I blew the pic up, anyone else see/think this?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
I can ensure you it's brake dust as I have removed it with the steam as well it reacts (turns purple) with the Megs Ultimate Wheel Cleaner
 
RAdkins said:
I can ensure you it's brake dust as I have removed it with the steam as well it reacts (turns purple) with the Megs Ultimate Wheel Cleaner
Click to expand...
Wow, the word stubborn takes on a whole new meaning here, that stuff is tough

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