Brake dust & wheels
 

What's the best way to get baked on brake dust off my wheels? I've been using Armor-All Wheel and Tire Cleaner. It does okay, but surely there's something better. It takes four times as long to wash the wheels as it does the rest of the car. Worse, some of the dust simply refuses to come off.

Yes, I realize washing my car more often would probably help, but that ain't gonna happen. I hate washing those wheels, ugh.

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Go to a detailing shop and discuss ceramic coating options . He or she will have the products to clean properly and the ceramic coating the brake dust just falls off .

rfuerst911sc's coating is a good idea to protect the rim.
The type of brake pads and rotors can also help. I put on ceramic pads and coated rotors. Performance brakes using metallic or semi-metallic pads are better for serious braking, but make more dust. For normal use ceramic brakes will produce excellent braking and low dust.
I read somewhere that dust from metallic brakes can be more chemically harmful to rims, and the particles are hotter and this can damage the finish.

To answer the OP's question Dawn dish soap works well . So does Mr Clean eraser pads . The over the counter wheel cleaning chemicals you have to try different brands until you find one you like . That has been my experience .

Simple Green has worked great cleaning brake dust off rims.

Thanks, I'll try the magic eraser on the lug nut holes.

Actually Dawn Power Spray is even better. Never have I been able to wash my hands after working on the metal lathe just once using DPS and Boraxo at the same time with just enough water to make a runny paste.

I have tried everything to clean my aftermarket BBS Cayenne wheels I even ceramic coated them to maybe keep the dust from sticking, but the only thing i found that works is using wheel woolies with soap and scrubbing the wheels clean. It is a PIA and takes up a lot of time but that is the only way to do it.

Yep, I was going to suggest Mr Clean Magic Eraser, I don't know what is in it but it works well on brake dust build up.

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P21S gel.

Zep-a-lume would knock brake crud off in nothing flat but you have to be able to rinse (drown) it within a few seconds.

It could mess a finish up in no time if left on there. Contains acid. Meant for cleaning aluminum truck trailers but I have seen a video where it was used on a Porsche engine case.

Please research plenty. I have used it many times on wheels. Dilutible for the timid. :-)

https://zep.com/products/zep-a-lume-106324

From my experience with track wheels, once the brake dust gets wet it adheres to the rims clear coat like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes it so baked in it just doesn't come off.

It's a melamine foam which in the sponge form works like extra fine sandpaper. So, it will scratch a surface that is not hard enough to withstand it.

I have used a product in the past called "Wheel Acid. Makes your rims look like new without touching or scrubbing. Takes off road tar, brake dust, etc. I would definitely use gloves and a mask while using, it's aggressive.

You guys must have very mean brake dust. I've never done anything special with wheels. I just include them in the wash and wax. Each wheel gets about 10 seconds of scrubbing and haven't had a pitting issue.

That's a great suggestion. I'll be trying that myself. My wheels come pretty clean, but definitely don't look "new" (trying to not think about the curb rash that was a gift from the missus whole felt horrible), but it would be nice to get some of the extra crud off, and I'll bet those things will do it!

Good to know, I've always wondered.

Be very careful about what you use. Some wheels are painted, some are raw/anodized Al, etc.... Something that's probably fine on painted wheels may be very nasty on raw or anodized wheels etc....

I don't know that I've even seen pitting, but brake dust (I wonder how much is actually road dust) does seem to stick like mad. I know lots of folks assume that the dust that "sticks" has actually embedded itself into the finish. I assume that's possible, but unlikely and probably more likely is just REALLY stuck on the wheel's finish.

I suspect it sits there (sticks there) then there is some sort of electrolysis type corrosion. So guessing if you wash the stuff off it won't have been around long enough for corrosion to occur. And wash it off with anything.

I noticed some of the Pro Automotive detailers use a product that removes iron deposits that are imbedded in the paint before they ceramic coat. I am guessing some of the deposits would end up on the rims also. I have used a similar product to remove reddish brown stains from my boat.

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Didn't work that great on my Audi. Damned semi metallic pads turned my black wheels red/brown. THe fronts aren't that bad since I put on ceramic pads. Pulled the left rear off over the weekend, scrubbed with Simple Green full strength and most of the brake is still there. Couldn't change the pads because I found out I had those adjustable pistons out back. Waiting for the tool to arrive. Then will try the Dawn method.

Back in the day, one of my fanatical friends used IronX to clean off the brake dust. You have to pull the wheels, soak them in IronX and scrub hard.

Simple green works well - but it will tear up any bare aluminum.

I've had really good luck with Sonax wheel cleaner - but its expensive.