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General => Detailing => Topic started by: mf44 on 18 November 2009, 20:16

Title: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 18 November 2009, 20:16
Can anyone advise a good way to remove baked on brake dust from the back of alloys. I've taken mine off the car to clean & have tried Autosmart wheel cleaner & P21 powergel but there's still brake dust on them that won't budge. I would like to get them spotless!
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Dan J on 18 November 2009, 20:25
tar and glue remover will help things along if your rims arent extremely manky, if they're not crome you could consider using acid based wheel cleaner which has a bit more bite but use with caution!!!

get as much crap off as you can then get some medium to heavy compound and polish away :smiley:
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 18 November 2009, 22:36
I don't know much about tar remover. Is it really aggressive stuff? Safe to use on alloys? I don't really want to use acidic cleaner if I can help it.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Ryan86 on 18 November 2009, 22:37
Acid based wheel cleaner is spot on but as mentioned use with caution.  It has fast and excellent results tho...
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mumbles on 18 November 2009, 23:19
t-cut!!!!!! ftw!!! did mine, then polished and waxed them, dust comes off no trouble now and they're oh so shiney!!
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: dragonfly on 19 November 2009, 09:43
Try Autosmart Tardis.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: nogrille on 19 November 2009, 10:25
tar remover's vary in strength.  I've heard good things about tardis.  I've used Autoglym tar remover in the passed and it's not worked that well.  I had to clay bar the affected areas, then polish, then seal.  Got there in the end but it took ages
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Guy on 19 November 2009, 10:41
tardis is great... but i don't find that it works wonders on brake dust, i only usually use it on wheels to remove any remaining tar spots after using smartwheels
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: waxamomo on 19 November 2009, 17:05
Maybe try a strong mix of Meguiar's Wheel Brightener, just make sure you rinse the wheel afterwards.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 19 November 2009, 17:45
What about Meguiars Hot Rims?
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: DarkGti on 19 November 2009, 20:44
wonder wheels is good stuff!
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Guy on 19 November 2009, 23:56
wonder wheels is good stuff!

 :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:  that's hilarious!!!
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Dan J on 20 November 2009, 00:05
pics of how bad they are would be handy if poss :wink:
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: stealthwolf on 20 November 2009, 00:10
Megs Hot Rims undiluted + claybar.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: nogrille on 20 November 2009, 09:28
don't bother with Megs hot rims - I got through a whole bottle on 4 wheels once.  It's not great so you have to use loads.  Plus it's highly toxic and smells gross.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 21 November 2009, 15:20
Well I've tried almost everything now, spent 5 hours on 1 wheel yesterday, tried smart wheels, P21s powergel (left this to soak on for 2 hours), normal polish, T-cut, tar remover, halfords foaming cleaner, and black marks are still there.  :sad: Its almost as if its ingrained into the wheel.  I've never used a clay bar but could this be the answer, bearing in mind i've already tried polishing & T-cut with no joy?
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mumbles on 21 November 2009, 17:50
new wheels....   :lipsrsealed:

loads in classifieds section....  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: waxamomo on 21 November 2009, 18:07
New wheels  :shocked:

Try wonder wheels, you can get it from Costco, it is very very strong acidic wheel cleaner, if that doesn't budge the marks nothing will.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 22 November 2009, 14:06
Yeah I'm thinking wonder wheels myself, last resort. Thing is they're split rims & it says not to use on these but I think I'll be ok as it will be a once only job & only on the backs, so it will just be like doing a normal alloy.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: nogrille on 23 November 2009, 09:55
can you feel the marks?  Are you sure they are above the surface?  I rcently bougth some OEM wheels are they are full of tiny holes which are catching the dirt.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Dan J on 23 November 2009, 17:41
Yeah I'm thinking wonder wheels myself, last resort. Thing is they're split rims & it says not to use on these but I think I'll be ok as it will be a once only job & only on the backs, so it will just be like doing a normal alloy.

if they are polished or cromed do not go near them with acid :shocked: bad times will be the result :wink:trust me!!
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: oakgreen_91 on 24 November 2009, 12:06
A mild clay?  Ive used Sonus Green clay before for this purpose.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: mf44 on 24 November 2009, 20:58
Yeah I'm thinking wonder wheels myself, last resort. Thing is they're split rims & it says not to use on these but I think I'll be ok as it will be a once only job & only on the backs, so it will just be like doing a normal alloy.

if they are polished or cromed do not go near them with acid :shocked: bad times will be the result :wink:trust me!!

Thanks for the advice, I'd heard this before so I only did the back of the wheel & was careful not to get any on the front polished rim. It still didn't budge it though. I've given up now, I think the only solution will be a refurb when funds allow! On that subject does anyone know how much it would cost roughly to get a wheel refurbished? Its a BBS RM & would be just the barrel bit without the dish on.
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: waxamomo on 25 November 2009, 16:12
I'd guess around £30 a wheel?
Title: Re: Removing baked on brake dust
Post by: Guy on 25 November 2009, 16:20
http://www.lepsons.com/home.phtml (http://www.lepsons.com/home.phtml)