wheel cleaning... Need some advice

[stangfreak]

whats up guys. I just ordered some true forged mach 5 wheels for my 03 cobra. Brushed aluminum center with chrome lips. But, they have chrome accessory bolts around the wheel. I know that dirt and brake dust can get inside of them and be a pain to keep clean. what wheel product do you recommend that I can spray and just rinse out all the grim and dirt? I dont want to ruin the clear coat finish on the wheels or the chrome lip. These are very expensive. I need something safe. Here is a picture of the wheels. You can see the bolts. any advice?

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/stangfreak03/fuak_zpslbgd09y1.jpg (http://s998.photobucket.com/user/stangfreak03/media/fuak_zpslbgd09y1.jpg.html)

[Audios S6]

spray and rinse generally means acid and is not at all safe for expensive wheels like you have, just not worth the risk.

Not to sound like a jerk, but you just paid a lot of money for some wheels....I would expect that you'd be willing to put in the effort to keep them looking great

I understand that some people have more time than money; and if you're like me, you have little of either, but splurged on some wheels because your car is your passion.

Lecture over now; probably your best bet would be sonax wheel cleaner plus or P21S wheel gel. Both very safe and effective. But neither is likely to be spray and rinse, but as close as you can get while still being completely safe.

[Detailing by M]

If I was hired to care for those rims I would coat them or at least wax them asap! A spray wax works great, is cheep and will do the job well but a coating will make them indestructible, well kinda.
Just keep them clean and you'll never have to aggressively wash them.

[stangfreak]

guys, maybe my post came off wrong. Not sure what you meant about me not putting effort into my car. I spend my saturday nights cleaning my car in my garage for hours and hours while my friends are at bars hanging out picking up women lol.

I was asking if there was a product to spray on the accessory bolts only. Not the whole wheel. I do coat my wheels with wax. I even use cg v7 at times.

I just wanted to see if there was a product to loosen any grim or dirt in the bolts themselves. Here is a close up picture. brake dust or whatever can get inside those little bolts that go all around the wheel. Thats what I was talking about.

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/stangfreak03/IMG_3248_zpsg3ouub3v.jpg (http://s998.photobucket.com/user/stangfreak03/media/IMG_3248_zpsg3ouub3v.jpg.html)

[stangfreak]

well im going to buy sonax wheel cleaner plus. Just read about it and it looks good. unless someone else has another recommendation

[cardaddy]

I agree, any "iron dissolving" cleaner like Sonax Full Effect, P21S, IRON-X, Meguiar's DUB cleaner etc. I think Dodo Juice makes one, as well as Scholl.

FWIW the active ingredient in these products is ammonium thioglycolate. That is not the ONLY ingredient, as you'd need ammonia as well (to make it pH neutral), but it is a major ingredient that makes the process work.

One tool you ABSOLUTELY NEED is the boars hair wheel cleaning brush from Wheel Woolie.
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Detail Brush 1 inch (http://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-car-detailing-brush.html)

This brush alone will keep you from pulling your hair out whilst keeping those new wheels in top shape. :props:

[stangfreak]

That brush looks sweet. Im getting that. Thanks man.

[wdmaccord]

Give them a good cleaning when they are new. Then protect with Hydro2 to get down in the crevices of those little bolts. Reapply every couple months. I'm afraid you would be chasing haze for a full day if you tried wax or sealant around the bolt area.

[Goin Rogue]

Coat them with Hydro2, it is spray on, rinse off and lasts a few months. Super easy to use.

[cardaddy]

That brush looks sweet. Im getting that. Thanks man.

:dblthumb2: Yep, that brush is a lifesaver. ;)

I'd suggest coating those wheels. I just did these with Pinnacle Black Label.

They started like this.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2721/IMG_18072.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2721/20150125_154542.jpg

And ended up like this after removing a concrete epoxy mix from the barrels, and all the scratches. (And they only had 751 miles on them!)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2721/IMG_18302.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2721/IMG_18151.JPG

[The Guz]

If I was hired to care for those rims I would coat them or at least wax them asap! A spray wax works great, is cheep and will do the job well but a coating will make them indestructible, well kinda.
Just keep them clean and you'll never have to aggressively wash them.

Agree with this statement. Definitely coat them and safe yourself the hassle.


I agree, any "iron dissolving" cleaner like Sonax Full Effect, P21S, IRON-X, Meguiar's DUB cleaner etc. I think Dodo Juice makes one, as well as Scholl.

FWIW the active ingredient in these products is ammonium thioglycolate. That is not the ONLY ingredient, as you'd need ammonia as well (to make it pH neutral), but it is a major ingredient that makes the process work.

One tool you ABSOLUTELY NEED is the boars hair wheel cleaning brush from Wheel Woolie.
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Detail Brush 1 inch (http://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-car-detailing-brush.html)

This brush alone will keep you from pulling your hair out whilst keeping those new wheels in top shape. :props:

Agree with this as well. This brush is great.

My wheels have rivets like yours and brake dust will get in them. I would do what these guys mentioned. If I knew what I know now, I would have coated the wheels instead of a typical sealant.