Best way to get old brake dust off of Fikse Fm-10s?

[bento]

I recently auto-xd my car at a very rainy candlestick park and supsequently brought it into the body shop to get a dent removed. The car was out of my hands for about 2 weeks and now i have it back and the brake dust combined with the rain from the last event has left numerous brake dust splotches on my beautifyl FM-10s. What's the best way to get this off? Is there a particular wheel cleaner that anyone feels strongly about? can i use a slightly abrasive pad to scrub off the difficult specks or will i mess up the finish on the rims?

thanks,
david

[91C2wrencher]

So, I'm not alone? Two things, first I would get a hold of some PS21 GEL spray wheel cleaner! For years I used the standard spray PS21 only to watch my wheels get dirtier and dirtier. This spring used the gel spray, let it sit for @ 10 mins hose off and viola! shiny wheels even in the little corners(you know the ones!) Secondly, if this doesn't work you'll have to polish the wheels, I used Mother's wheel polish, not hard work but definitly time consuming to get done.

[pbs911]

Welcome to the cleaning world of the FM10. I assume you have the standard finish - polished outer wheels and anodized center. These whells have added about 20% of time to my regular car cleaning routine. I purchased mine from Wheel Enhancement and asked their recommendations for a cleaner. They said only mild car wash soap and water on a soft towel. Not even the PS21 (or whatever it is). They approved use of a brush for cleaning the tough-to-get-to spots, but NOT one of those wheel brushes available at your local auto chain. A soft natural hair paint brush can be used on the center portion of the FM 10 and will not damage the surface. They also recommended Mothers Polish on the polished portion of the FM 10, NOT the center. Mothers has a wax protectant build in.

[Targa Dude]

Hi Dave,

K.. Do you have dirt..or over spray? I've have had my FISKE rims now for about 5 years and I have tried just about everything out there in the market place to keep them nice and pretty.

I have found different problems have different solutions when it comes to cleaning and polishing these Baby's But I feel they are worth the effort. Get lots of complements and lots of querry's
Another thing I should mention is, the centers of FM-10's are clear coated on the faces so be careful of what you use, the hogged out area's are machine finish. The Rim halfs are Highly Polished Aluminum.

1. Normal road grime ( Which includes Road TAR)

2. Break dust

3. water spots (Soap spots, Wax)

4. unwanted contaminates ( paint over spray, Oil and Grease)

First Never use any type of abbrasive pads or cleaners.
The spray on hose off rim cleaners are Junk.
I use a soft mitt or even sof brushes.
Mild soap that you would use to wash your P-CAR is all you need.
warm water on the rims helps allot.
always either blow with compressed air or water before you start.

To remove Items 1 and 4 I found 3M adhesive remover in the red can works great! it's like gum terpintine but more refined.
and will not hurt the finish. after I wipe off all the contaniments
I wash the centers as usual. I then follow up with FLITZ Polish.
For Number 2. I have run just about every break pad out there
and I have PBR pads on right now and I'm very happy with the amount of low break dust they produce.

To avoid number 3. I do one rim at a time.
Well I hope this helped you..

Jorge (Targa Dude)

[pbs911]

Jorge, this is amazing. I guess we bot hhave good taste: First yours then mine. We better hope we don't park in the same parking lot after a drink and have to determine who's car is whose.

[Targa Dude]

Holy *****!! Did I go through a Worm Hole????

Paul I have to say you have a BEAUTIFUL AND STUNNING CAR!!

and the drinks are on me..
(Targa Dude)

[ChrisBennet]

My FM-10's are my track wheels. These wheels are horrible to clean! I would have gotten FM-5's if I had known.
Sorry, just had to vent to someone who would understand.
-Chris

[Targa Dude]

Chris,
Have them Powder coated.. to match your car..I've seen them this way and it looks very very good..

Just a thought (TargaDude)

[91C2wrencher]

Ok, targa dude, whatever, jeez you must spend hours working on your wheels! I don't beleive my FM-10 are clear coated on the fronts, the mothers brings the faces up to a nice shine. as far as spray on cleaners goes, PS21 gel cut my wheel cleaning time back to spray it on/hose it off! couldn't be easier! I use a small nylon articulated taper bristled polycarbonate brush(oral-B) when I have to scrub. Just be sure to rinse the gel off completely. See my ride in the pelicanparts owners gallery.

[Superman]

Someone like John Walker has no doubt done a hundred brake jobs for every one I've done, but the fact remains I have done what I consider to be "plenty" of brake jobs. Enough that I now know how to begin one. Particularly drum brakes. You remove the drum in the driveway and turn a garden hose on the drum, shoes, springs, cylinders and backing plate. No caustic chemicals and the brake parts almost always are spakling clean, nearly new looking with just a hosing.

Now, it sounds like your problem is something different, but I thought I'd just throw in this bit of accumulated wisdom. In my experience brake dust hoses right off.

[Don Wohlfarth]

After a track day you should try and at least blow the brake dust off. If you have heavy dust and it gets wet it can be a bear to get off. Use PS21 gel, follow directions and the wheel is clean. Do one side at a time, don't let the gel dry on the wheel. Is fast, quick, and easy. (Sounds like an old girl friend?)
Or you can make a project out of it and use soap, water, and a tooth brush.

[Bill Verburg]

This discussion is the reason I had my centers powder coated black. It's not so much the powder coat as the black.

[911pcars]

I thought I'd throw this suggestion out there since nasty brake dust is everyones enemy. What kind of surface does dirt and dust stick to? The answer is a clean, dry one. So why not make the surface more difficult for dust and dirt to hang on?

Although a waxed surface provides some protection, here's another. Start with a clean, dry surface and rub some vaseline onto the wheel with a soft cotton towel. The slightly oily surface attracts some dirt, but it also creates a slippery surface that makes brake dust harder to grab onto. When it comes time to clean the wheel, spray it with your PS21 or equivalent and wash off, then reapply some more vaseline. I know this works with Fuchs wheels on the street; have less experience for track use.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars
www.seinesystems.com

[tchanson]

David,
Sounds like the combination of a wet day and lots of autocross generated brake dust and sitting for a couple of weeks was the culprit.

Most brake pad material becomes highly acidic when it mixes with water, and can etch any wheel if left on for an extended time.

A couple of comments:

(1) Just to clarify one of the posts above, the anodized center is not the "standard" Fikse finish. Its an extra cost optional finish. The only reason that this is relevant is that the anodized center (either Satin or Black) is the only Fikse center finish that is not clearcoated, which will make a difference in the cleaning options you may want to try. All other finishes, including the standard, machine turned appearing "Techni-Polish" all have a liquid clearcoat applied.

(2) Fikse recommends a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and cold water, applied to wheels cooled to room temperature with a 2" to 3" sable bristle paint brush to clean the lug pockets and spoke corners. They suggest spraying the wheel, letting sit for 15-30 seconds, brushing and rinsing with cold water. Its always worked for me with brake dust.

The rim itself (if also not anodized) can be polished with Wenol Red (for coarse polishing) or Wenol Blue for final finish. Simichrome polish works pretty well also. You can apply a light coat of wax to help, at least a little, in preventing the adhesion of further brake dust. I noticed recently that Tire Rack sells a
wheel wax . I don't have any direct experience with it, but might be worth a try once the cleaning is done.

Good luck,
Tim

[87 slant nose]

heres the pictures of my 87 with fm10s. i do not wash this car or
spray water on it! it doesn,t get washed but wiped down with a wet and then dry towel. the wheels i remove to clean then wax,
polish the lug nuts then reinstall. i use a porter cable orbital
buffer with foam pads for cleaning, polishing and waxing.
let me know if its up to measure. no i,m not a concours freak
just love the car.
keith

[Targa Dude]

Keith, All I can say is, sweeeeeeeeeeeett! 87Slant nose.

you most definately love this car.. I bet just about everybody does. she's a GEM..

Jorge (Targa Dude)

[bento]

thanks for all the advice. another auto-x tomorow, but i'll be trying the various techniques suggested the following day.

db