Got an IK foamer, now need a wheel cleaner that is non acid and clings well

[Bill1234]

I have to say, im impressed by the ik foam pro 2. I use a purple eco friendly cleaner right now that I dont think the geek will allow me to mention but for some odd reason it does not pull or say remove the brake dust that well. Does anyone have any recs for something that foams and clings well but also can loosen alot of stuck on brake dust. I already have a wheel acid from meguiars that I try to save. I have iron x but use that once the wheel is cleaner to get better results and save costs.

Any recs here would be appreciated.

[Bruno Soares]

P&S Brake Buster works well in the foamer. It’s not the strongest cleaner but it does the job if you clean the wheels often. I have it diluted 1:4 in my iK foamer.

[Bill1234]

I keep hearing brake buster is the way to go. The only caveat I hear is that on dirty stuff it is not good. I use a high alkaline cleaner from another florida brand and it is very versatile but cuts through anything. Just imo gets pricy sometimes

[Klasse Act]

I keep hearing brake buster is the way to go. The only caveat I hear is that on dirty stuff it is not good. I use a high alkaline cleaner from another florida brand and it is very versatile but cuts through anything. Just imo gets pricy sometimes

You could try a stronger ratio but there is always something stronger out there just keep using that if you are happy with it.

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[Bill1234]

My current chemical is not sold through the geek and I think due to covid and stuff will be expensive to source. The other one was bought through home depot for cheap but ill have to figure out the dilutions better maybe to 1:3 etc

[Klasse Act]

Brake Buster is what I use in my IK foamer, 4:1 ratio for weekly maintenance, 3:1-2:1 if you don't get around to it as much and/or have dirty pads.

Check the felt pad in the tip every other use. This thing, even with using distilled water, can still get dirty and thus makes foaming impossible.

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[opie]

How about megs d143? I think its a great wheel and tire cleaner, works well b4 agitation

[Bill1234]

I tried d143 a while back, while meguiars stuff is usually good I was not too impressed. I remember going about 4:1 and it was not very good at removing brake dust. I dont need an acid based product but something that does not make me have to scrub at stuck on dirt would be nice

[evo77]

I tried d143 a while back, while meguiars stuff is usually good I was not too impressed. I remember going about 4:1 and it was not very good at removing brake dust. I dont need an acid based product but something that does not make me have to scrub at stuck on dirt would be nice

The instructions say up to 2:1. Your diluting it way too much which is why your not getting the results.

If your maintaining your vehicles on a regular basis, may I ask how is it that brake dust is stuck on the wheel finish and requires you to scrub it off? I've gone as long as a month without washing one of our daily driven vehicles and I've used car shampoo and some agitation to get wheels clean! If dirt and grime is clinging to the wheel surface and requires strong scrubbing to remove it then I wonder if the clear coat is compromised? Because, maintained wheels with a clear coat aren't that difficult to get clean.

All wheels need some form of agitation for cleaning. If your looking for a spray on - rinse off solution, then you'll need much much stronger chemicals for the job.

[Desertnate]

If your maintaining your vehicles on a regular basis, may I ask how is it that brake dust is stuck on the wheel finish and requires you to scrub it off? I've gone as long as a month without washing one of our daily driven vehicles and I've used car shampoo and some agitation to get wheels clean! If dirt and grime is clinging to the wheel surface and requires strong scrubbing to remove it then I wonder if the clear coat is compromised? Because, maintained wheels with a clear coat aren't that difficult to get clean.

A lot of it depends on brake pads and how the car is driven.

My own personal experience for cars I maintain and wash frequently to keep them in good shape:

Daughter's Honda Fit: I never need to use a wheel cleaner. Despite driving a fair amount, she's a cautious driver and she's running the OEM Honda pads the dealer installed when we bought the car. Those pads generate little to no dust at all and I can easily clean the wheels with regular car shampoo when I wash the car.

Wife's Toyota Highlander: She drives hundreds of miles a week for work. The brake pads currently installed dust quite a bit. These are right on the edge of needing a cleaner. If life/weather lead to the car not being washed for a month, I'll need a wheel cleaner. A wash soap won't get them squeaky clean Every two weeks or so, I can still use wash soap.

My BMW: This car has upgraded OEM performance pads and they dust like crazy. Not only that, but the dust is rather "sticky" in nature. A car shampoo will clean them up, but it won't totally remove all the brake dust. A wheel cleaner is needed to cut through the dust in order to get the wheels totally clean; even after only a week or two of normal commute driving. This goes more-so if I drive the car at a performance event or take it on a spirited back road drive. No chance the wheels will get clean with just soap. The VW GTI I owned previously was also equipped with German performance pads and resulted in a similar experience, though the BMW being a heavier car does generate more dust.

I will say, when I do use a wheel cleaner, I'm using one on the more gentle end of the spectrum (i.e. Griots Wheel Cleaner, the green stuff). I don't have to resort to acids, or the "heavy duty" wheel cleaners. I have a bottle on hand for special circumstances, but I've only had to use it once on a couple trouble spots on a set of used wheels I bought recently.