Wheel wells

[KS_Detailing]

How are you guys cleaning and protecting the wheel wells? Some cars have more clearance than others

 

[stiffdogg06]

I will dress them with either CG's Back to Black or 303 Aerospace Protectant.

For tight wheel wells, either get a jack and jack the car up (safety/insurance issue could happen), or maybe locate a slim/thin brush.

 

[c8n]

My car just has enough clearance to get my hand in there.
Seriously... without lifting a car, I don't know how someone would clean wheels wells of something like a MB C class. Turn the wheels?

Also, just to add, what do you guys use to clean the rear wheel wells with carpet like covers on some of the luxury cars? I use APC but can't really tell if its clean or not since the color on this thing is grey with black.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I have an article on that...


How to clean fender wells the lazy way!

Lift the car
Choose either the front or rear of the car to start with and lift the car as high as the body will go without raising the tires off the ground and then place the jack stands at approved points where they are able to support the weight of the car and then carefully lower the jack so that the weight of the car is predominantly on the jackstands.

More Working Space
This is the working space you create by lifting the body of the car up using a hydraulic floor jack without having to remove the wheels.

 

[agarabaghi]

I press the raise suspension button on my LR4 =P

 

[swanicyouth]

Just use the big Wheel Woolie, fits in almost every car. I spray them with APC first.

 

[parttimer]

Wondering about the carpeted wells as well? This is my first car with that sound protection, I usually just scrub them but I don't think they look as good as they could.

 

[PA DETAILER]

a good apc as needed. then megs hyper dressing 4:1 SOWA. works every time. no runs, no drips. i tried them all.

 

[KS_Detailing]

Thanks Mike! I have a 3 ton jack and stand but that seems like a bit of work. I pressured washed the wells so there is no dirt but I didnt have enough room to get in there and dress them.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks Mike! I have a 3 ton jack and stand but that seems like a bit of work. I pressured washed the wells so there is no dirt but I didn't have enough room to get in there and dress them.

It is more work, I don't know if I would say it's a "lot" of extra work but definitely "more" work.

It just depends on how important it is to do a good job of cleaning the wheel wells.

I'm actually not a big wheel well cleaner for any daily driver as it's just going to get dirt again.

I've been cleaning the wheel wells on my truck REALLY well every time I wash it because sooner or later I'm going to paint them with a gloss enamel and then I won't have to dress them I can wax them instead.

 

[allenk4]

I have actually started doing wheels and tires last.
-It saves me from using a 3rd bucket.
-Saves soap.
-I was getting water spots on the chrome wheels.
-Not using anything I am concerned about getting on the paint

My Yukon has enough clearance to squeeze my arm in there.
It's faster than a brush and seems to be more thorough.

I use the remaining Chemical Guys HoneyDew from the wash bucket with a black microfiber mitt, Mothers tire brush, Daytona Speedmaster Jr.

After letting it air dry, I follow-up with Griot's Undercarriage Dressing. It is inexpensive and leaves a great, dark black color. It also makes future cleanings much easier.

 

[erichaley]

After I clean mine with methods pretty similar to the ones listed above, I dress them with CarPro PERL diluted 1:1 in a Solo 1 Liter Hand-held sprayer (any hand sprayer would work just fine).

My last application kept the wheel wells clean and looking new for 2-3 months!

 

[Matt-erhorn]

My car just has enough clearance to get my hand in there.
Seriously... without lifting a car, I don't know how someone would clean wheels wells of something like a MB C class. Turn the wheels?

Also, just to add, what do you guys use to clean the rear wheel wells with carpet like covers on some of the luxury cars? I use APC but can't really tell if its clean or not since the color on this thing is grey with black.

Funny that you mention both the C class and the carpeted rear wells. My C250 has that and it's a pain to clean. But I just pressure wash them every other week then turn the front wheels or jack the car up.

 

[Audios S6]

For my personal cars, I clean them extremely well when I switch between summer and winter wheels, At normal wash interval I will powerwash them.

For other cars I do: I will either jack them up, turn the wheels or use a daytona brush if they have 4x4 status.

I've found the carpet to be terrible to deal with if there are little pine needles in there or if the car has been driven through silty mud.

I have been considering the carpet wheel liners of my car for potential never-wet application along with suspension components.

 

[The Guz]

I use megs D103 with a wheel woolie. On my daily I typically don't dress them. Plus the car is lowered a little and it's a little difficult to put my hand in there. But I do have megs tire & trim gel if I decide to do it.