Stubborn Brake Dust on factory wheels

[RAdkins]

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.


https://i.imgur.com/p4YvxIL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fUhfaQW.jpg

[ejaf]

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

[RAdkins]

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.

[Eldorado2k]

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.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190225/fa1c32df8ec17652c9ba73e4b437c9ef.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190225/0676b797ee3eecda798b794244a719f4.jpg

Agitate with a soft brush... Gone.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190225/e311096afdcc72a93ca368e7679de5fb.jpg

Clay is not going to remove that.

[ClearVue18]

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.


https://i.imgur.com/p4YvxIL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fUhfaQW.jpgFine steel wool

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app

[Eldorado2k]

Fine steel wool

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app

No, you can’t use steel wool on OEM clearcoated wheels.

[ClearVue18]

No, you can’t use steel wool on OEM clearcoated wheels.My apologies I didn't see that it was coated my good sir. Lol

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app

[Eldorado2k]

My apologies I didn't see that it was coated my good sir. Lol

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app

You’re lucky I didn’t throw the flag.[emoji57][emoji23]lol.

[ejaf]

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.

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

[Eldorado2k]

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

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.

[ejaf]

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

[Eldorado2k]

Totally understand. You do what’s best.[emoji1417]

[DetailedByPrecision]

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.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7919/33111767868_1dfa58d3e7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SrYsZs)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision6034 (1) copy (https://flic.kr/p/SrYsZs) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

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

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/33111771578_3b088bfcb7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SrYu6q)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision6034 (2) copy (https://flic.kr/p/SrYu6q) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1849/30731130518_fece301146_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/NPB5rU)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5116 (2) copy (https://flic.kr/p/NPB5rU) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

Did a good job prior machine polishing it

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1871/29663517597_9dbdcd53ff_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Mcghjz)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5116 (1) copy (https://flic.kr/p/Mcghjz) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1944/45086562361_e5f67738c4_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2bG9qct)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5107 (1) copy (https://flic.kr/p/2bG9qct) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/44366247664_f025014f9d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2aAuBJy)auto-detailing-san-francisco-Detailed-By-Precision5113 (2) copy (https://flic.kr/p/2aAuBJy) by Limny Kuang (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137425845@N06/), on Flickr

[RAdkins]

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.

[Desertnate]

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.