Wheel cleaner vs. APC

**surly73** · 08-23-2017, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by RippyD

Good question, but I don't think so. I cleaned them heavily with APC and DG Wheel cleaner before using anything with iron color indicator and never saw any color change. Will try again in case there's iron below all those other layers.

Ah sorry - I didn't catch any mention of colour change/Iron products.

**RippyD** · 08-23-2017, 09:12 AM

I used DG All Wheel cleaner and Griot's Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner. DG doesn't change colors and didn't see any color change with Griot's. I suspect all the brake dust was sitting on top of the protective layer of tar and that it all came off with APC.

I'll spray the faces and barrels with IronX in the next day or so and post some pics.

**RippyD** · 08-25-2017, 07:31 PM

Wheels with IronX a requested. Three wheels have had the tar cleaned off - they all looked about the same.

Last wheel with tar still on it had more iron.

Also a look at the faces. The in decent shape overall. Some paint chipping and road rash near the beat seat. A few other scrapes and chips on the spokes. Picture of the worst one below as well. I expect most of the marks and discoloration will compound off.

**RippyD** · 09-23-2017, 08:07 PM

Been too busy to finish up these wheels. I asked myself what I would normally use to clean up something this dirty. The answer is steel wool. Got some 0000 and went at these. Much easier than using sand paper. Not sure why I never read about people using this. Worker faster than sandpaper and didn't remove any paint. In 5 mins per wheel 95% of the remaining grime came out (using 1:1 APC). There are some spots on the back of the spokes that will take more effort - these will never be seen so not worth the effort.

Here's how one of them looked...

A little scrubbing with APC for one area

Used a a 4" pad + M105 on the area I just cleaned with steel wool.

Got a little shine from that. Surprised how much grime came out of that paint after I used steel wool on it.

The faces are pretty well scratched also

Wheel on the right had spokes done with yellow pad + M105, wheel on left not yet. Right is about 90% done. Not the best pic but you can see all the scratches in the wheel on the left.

The amount of dirt that came out of the clear coat from the face of one wheel is amazing. I was using that towel to clean my pad as I worked. Both sides of it were filthy and you can see how the pad looks. And I'm not done. Need smaller pad or ball to get into the tight spaces. (That pad cleaned up very nicely and looks close to new. Will make it dedicated wheel pad.)