Industrial strength brake dust remover recommendation?
 

I just pulled out my winter wheels and hole f*ck. They're black and yellow from brake dust. Soap suds and a brush did nothing. They look ridiculous.

What cleaner to people recommend for this level of carnage? The spokes are bad enough, but the rim itself is thick black. I know clay works but it's so thick I need to clean the top layers off first.

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/attach...4&d=1293303676

You're supposed to clean them BEFORE you put them away. :eek:

Seriously, mine get cleaned when they come off, since they need to go in "Tire Totes" and then under one of those giant tire-stack condoms.

I use the BMW wheel cleaner (the round brown bottle, not the new "Windex bottle", though that's supposed to be the same stuff) and BMW brushes. I have some sort of large flat Oxo brush that I use on the rim itself and the face of the spokes. I use the BMW big curved brush for the sides of the rims and the "archaeologist's brush" from the BMW set for the lug holes. I don't use the little conical BMW brush.

There are other cleaners that promise to be more gentle - as long as you rinse the wheel with clear water when done, the BMW cleaner seems to be fine for (at least) BMW and Team Dynamics brand wheels. Though the BMW ones need to get beaten into shape by Wheel Collision every couple years from Joisey potholes.

Reply if you need the BMW part numbers.

Yeah I know. I can't believe I put them away like that. I didn't use them for the last 2 winters either so its been on there almost 3 years now. gulp!

I'll try the BMW wheel cleaner. Thanks!

Meguiar's Wheel Brightener. But wear a mask and use the thick yellow gloves. That stuff is BAD for you.

I usually do a wash just before switching to avoid this... But it's happened to me as well. I just spray the bmw cleaner gel thingie a few minutes before the hand wash I go to... Seems to come out just fine.

I have a tendency to go for a looooong time between wheel cleaning sessions, so my front wheels are usually caked with brake dust that has been baked on. The BMW stuff in the Windex bottle does a marvelous job of getting it all off. I use the BMW brush kit plus various other brushes, all dedicated to wheel care and nothing else, and tons of water.

My bottle of wheel cleaner is a few years old now. Not sure if the stuff you get now in the windex bottle is the same stuff or not.

:lol:

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../153387_lg.jpg

If you want to try something a bit stronger, but not quite as strong as the one Nick recommends, Mequiars Hot Rims works well for me.

But after too long, the brake dust discolors the clear coat and they are stained forever

I wouldn't be surprised if this happened here. :(

Thanks for all the recommendations.