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Old 09-07-2018, 02:01 PM   #1
jonmw531
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Default Best wheel cleaner?

2011 STi, 62k miles. My wheels are filthy. As in, pressure washer (at a safe distance) won't cut through all the brake dust. What cleaner/process do y'all recommend?
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Old 09-07-2018, 04:04 PM   #2
jasonwrx86
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IronX is great removing brake dust.
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Old 09-07-2018, 04:34 PM   #3
SoFlaRRRex
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I just use simple green undiluted. Wet wheel and tire, then spray on liberally. Let sit a few minutes then scrub with a brush and a rag where a brush won’t reach. My wheels and tires look brand new. I then spray a clean micro fiber with some spray wax and polish my wheels and put tire dressing on then wipe off excess. I don’t like the wet tire look too much. The next time you clean them it’ll be much easier. I don’t spend big money on detail products. Everything I use I get at autozone.
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Old 09-07-2018, 06:25 PM   #4
get_schwifty
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I've been using Sonax Full Effect based on numerous recommendations advocating it as one of the best as far as the balance between being gentle on the finish vs. removing caked on gunk...I recently went to their stronger concentration called Wheel Cleaner Plus and plan to continue to use it in the future. Like Iron X, it actively removes iron and turns red/purple as it works.
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Old 09-10-2018, 10:20 AM   #5
Scooby921
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I've tried Wolfgang Tire and Wheel Cleaner and also McKee's 37 Tire and Wheel cleaner. Effectively the same product. A thicker gel-like consistency with an anti-iron chemical which helps dissolve the brake dust deposits. Spray the wheel with water. Spray on the cleaner. Give it a couple minutes to work (in the shade so it doesn't dry up on the wheel). Then scrub and wash as usually with brushes and soapy water. Rinse clean afterward. Also, don't be afraid to get up close with the power washer. Unless your wheels are poorly painted or are done up with some kind of plasti-dip the high pressure water shouldn't hurt the finish. For what it's worth I get up close and personal with the 3100psi washer on my OEM BBS's and my HRE's.

Plenty of coatings out there too. I happen to try the McKee's 37 Wheel Coating only because I was already ordering other items from Autogeek and it was on sale. I can't say anything bad about it. It helps stop things from sticking to the wheels. Most of the brake dust after a track day releases just with the power washer. The iron-attacking cleaner doesn't have much to do. I just need to use brushes to get all the rubber bits off the inside of the rim. The coating also seems to withstand the high temps coming off the brakes during a track day.
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Old 09-10-2018, 02:18 PM   #6
Kamran
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Ardex all-purpose, diluted accordingly.
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Old 09-11-2018, 04:32 PM   #7
mcursch88
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Iron-X all the way. slightly expensive but worth every drop.

just take a deep breath and hold it while spraying a wheel...
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Old 09-11-2018, 05:28 PM   #8
STIdea
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Default P21S (Gel)

I suggest using the P21S Gel cleaner that you can buy on Autogeek.com. It's non acidic and does a great job. The trick is to rinse the wheels (while cool) then apply the spray and let it sit for a half hour before you wash them.

I've noticed for best results to do this every time you wash your car. AND it's a good idea to wipe down your wheels with a micro fiber and detail spray in between washes so that brake dust and other contaminants don't get baked into your wheels finish. Hope this helps.
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Old 09-12-2018, 12:29 AM   #9
Underboosted
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I can't really seem to find a wheel cleaner that says it's safe for brake pads. Does anybody know which brands/types of wheel cleaner won't also eat away at brake pads?

It seems that if cleaner can remove even long untreated stuck-on brake dust, how does it not also eat away at your brake pads when you spray it on? Isn't brake dust, just brake pad particles and road fallout, stuck to a surface and sometimes rusted in because of the high iron content in the pads? Why don't cleaners that remove that, eat away at your pads as well? I'm more thinking long term repeated use over a year or two?

Should i stay away from high acidic cleaners or just use a mild, paint safe degreaser to treat tough spots? I typically just use Griots car wash, then detail spray and a mircofiber cloth, but really want an easier solution to clean the STI wheels, a spray on/off no scrub solution would suit me best, but i don't want to cause premature wear on the pads cause im lazy.
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Old 09-12-2018, 11:49 AM   #10
Slim_Jim
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I've been using Chemical Guys Diablo gel wheel cleaner and a soft bristle brush. I think it works very well and doesn't leave any residue that I've seen some in the past do. And, it doesn't have a strong chemical smell.
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Old 09-12-2018, 02:20 PM   #11
standardtranny
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I use armor all wheel cleaner it works pretty damn good and it's cheap. I'd never use their products on the interior of my car though.
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Old 09-12-2018, 02:42 PM   #12
mcursch88
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i dont think you have to worry about brake pad wear with the sprays. will it eat away at your brake pads? probably, but only the outermost layer and the amount is most likely not even measurable. I've been using it since i got my car and haven't noticed any premature brake pad wear compared to normal road braking.

its as simple as wetting your wheels with a hose, spraying iron x on one side (while holding your breath and keeping your face in your shirt), let it sit for a few, hit it with the rim brush, washcloth for tough spots, hose off, and bam new wheels.

like $29.99 a bottle
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Old 09-12-2018, 03:04 PM   #13
standardtranny
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcursch88 View Post
like $29.99 a bottle
That's as much $ as 5qts of synthetic oil
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Old 09-12-2018, 05:15 PM   #14
Underboosted
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcursch88 View Post
i dont think you have to worry about brake pad wear with the sprays. will it eat away at your brake pads? probably, but only the outermost layer and the amount is most likely not even measurable. I've been using it since i got my car and haven't noticed any premature brake pad wear compared to normal road braking.

its as simple as wetting your wheels with a hose, spraying iron x on one side (while holding your breath and keeping your face in your shirt), let it sit for a few, hit it with the rim brush, washcloth for tough spots, hose off, and bam new wheels.

like $29.99 a bottle
Thanks, that's what I figured, just couldn't find any source from somebody who's used it for a while.
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Old 09-12-2018, 11:22 PM   #15
gpshumway
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My favorite is actually P21s Total Auto Wash. Their gel wheel cleaner is really good too, but the TAW is more multi-purpose and does just as good a job. Better on tar spots actully. TAW just doesn't stick as well for saturating tough dirt. I've never found brake dust that difficult to remove though, even on my dust monster Teutonic cars.

For lighter cleaning a diluted orange-oil cleaner like Optimum power clean seems to work just fine. Stay away from Simple Green, it's known to corrode aluminum, unless there's some new formulation I'm not aware of.

I've got Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 on my wheels, which helps, but not that much. FK1000P is better at releasing contaminants but doesn't last as long and I'm too lazy to LSP my wheels annually.
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Old 09-13-2018, 09:32 AM   #16
StanceDriver
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Mb Soap with water?
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Old 09-14-2018, 10:39 AM   #17
mcursch88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by standardtranny View Post
That's as much $ as 5qts of synthetic oil
On Amazon:

500ml - $21.99

1000ml - $29.99

lemon scent is cheaper, but ...if you don't need to hold your face in your shirt and walk away from your car to breath, are you really using iron-x?
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Old 09-14-2018, 01:43 PM   #18
Scooby921
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcursch88 View Post
On Amazon:

500ml - $21.99

1000ml - $29.99

lemon scent is cheaper, but ...if you don't need to hold your face in your shirt and walk away from your car to breath, are you really using iron-x?
$30 for ~32oz?! I spent $50 on a full gallon of the McKee's 37 wheel cleaner.
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Old 09-19-2018, 07:59 AM   #19
Lc12
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Turtle Wax - Wheel & Tire cleaner (Green Bottle). I've tried almost everything and this is the only one that really does the job
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Old 09-20-2018, 04:00 PM   #20
cknowlen
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Believe it or not Meguiars ultimate wheel cleaner is fantastic.
My top wheel cleaners are: Megs ultimate, sonax full effect, nanoskin acid wheel clean, and of course iron-x
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Old 09-30-2018, 12:45 PM   #21
DUBLEW
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I've tried the foam sprays from Autozone and they stuck compared to the wheel cleaner that I just tried from Adam's Polishes. That stuff cuts right past the brake dust. I had to clean my wheels twice but that just because I had years of brake dust build up that the foam sprays couldn't remove. Highly recommend trying it out!
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Old 10-02-2018, 07:09 PM   #22
UnluckyPanda
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I personally use Superclean. Does the job well and leaves me happy
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Old 10-02-2018, 10:57 PM   #23
V9RS
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I found Autoglym wheel cleaners to be great
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Old 10-03-2018, 02:00 AM   #24
intence01
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Don't use the chemical guys green paste stuff. Got all over my hands and a pain to remove (both from hands and wheels)
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Old 10-03-2018, 11:51 AM   #25
Slim_Jim
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Quote:
Originally Posted by intence01 View Post
Don't use the chemical guys green paste stuff. Got all over my hands and a pain to remove (both from hands and wheels)
If you are talking about their all surface cleaner......did you dilute it much before using it? It's got a crazy low mix ratio.....like 1oz per 15oz of water. For wheels, you can even mix it at 1/2oz to 15oz water. It doesn't take much of that stuff at all.
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