Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi...I am detailing a friends 996 GT3 which is all good apart from there is extreme brake dust collected and baked on the alloys in all corners at the rim/spoke. Obviously done some BIG braking on track!!

I have not experienced cleaning wheels this caked up before and I'm wondering what product to use...so any advice would be appreciated. I'm guessing there will be something available on the market and I'm thinking a clay bar will be a good way forward..??..

Thanks
Paul

Don't laugh but I used Mr Muscle oven cleaner on the rep mobile with good results

I use Bilt Hamber Wheel cleaner. Works brilliantly & came top in the Auto Express test. Looks like weak lemon squash & you spray it on & after a while it turns ribena colour. At that point you agitate it with a brush & rinse it off. It is PH neutral so won't strip alloys.

Lindsay...I have got to return the car looking the dogs!! Mr Muscle

I have used Screenwash before with good results, also a wooden skewer or cocktail stick works on really stubborn spots if used carefully.

Cillit bang worked well for my wheels

Another fan of this stuff here.

Not tried the Blit Hamber stuff as I use Autobrites Purple Rain which is very good but it has increased in price since I first bought some a few years back. It works best if you spray it on & agitate it with a brush then let it soak in.

To clean the wheels properly you really need to take them off & once clean/free from brake dust etc seal them with something like poor boys wheel sealant (plenty of other products out there).

Man I'm worried...I love this club but when I post a perfectly sensible suggestion I get responses from

My local Regional Organiser (Central) who suggests spraying my pals GT3 wheels with Mr Muscle...

And our chairman suggests poking the brake dust with a stick..

So that's how you boys get your cars looking sooo amazing..!!..??

Take it easy
Paul

+1 for Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel the stuff is fantastic.

use it both my A5 Cab and my A4 Quattro and the 968.
Brake dust Particles dissolving out of a white BMW 118's paintwork with Auto-Wheel



same again but the wheel and paintwork on my A4


the A5

the BH stuff still fascinates me the way it turns to Ribena colour when working

the other stuff you can sometimes get on the cheap from morrisons and asda and a few other places is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wonder-Wheels-Hot-Cleaner-Suitable-for-All-Wheel-Types-Acid-Free-500ml-WWH500-/281301737272?_trksid=p2054897.l5658

works just the same but takes a lot longer

Bilberry wheel cleaner (probably the same as above) also works well. Some have noted that it is about the only cleaner which removes Performance Friction brake dust.

I have used Wonder Wheels (although not the same stuff that Waylander recommended) for years on my alloys with great results.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/cleaning-products/alloy-wheel-cleaner/wonder-wheels-500ml

From what you guys have said, it is similar to the BH stuff, but it doesn't turn purple - just dirty grey.

Works a treat though.

Ian

As already said, if you wax your wheels with a decent wax or a wheel wax (Rim Wax) you should not need to waste your money on wheel cleaners.

If a wheel cleaner is ph neutral and is neither acid or alkaline I would question it's cleaning capability over a good car shampoo.

I wax my wheels twice a year, regularly cover large distances between cleaning and the brake dust wahes straight off.