I'm having the brake dust blues...

[Hank3]

As we all know, the stock pads are uber good at shooting out brake dust on the rims - especially the front set. If you've got the stock rims, you know how fun it is to clean all those spokes. I've accepted this, along with our exhaust tip collecting soot like nobody's business due to the car running rich.

Have any of you found a good product to clean the wheels? I'm particularly interested in the spray on stuff and then rinse off with water product. It seems like every time I walk into Autozone, Pep Boys, Advance Discount Auto, or whichever store, they advertise all these different products that claim you spray on their stuff and the brake dust will magically disappear after rinsing with water. I realize the best solution is to hand wash and then put a coat of wax on there, but I'd like to find a good solution that will hold me over until I get to hand wash the entire vehicle. The brake dust accumulates almost as fast as the soot on the exhaust tip. I'm not expecting a miracle product but something that does the job where I notice a difference. Any suggestions?

 

[bgibb68]

change your pads....get ceramics....almost no dust

 

[Hank3]

Any particular brand? How much do they cost?

 

[bgibb68]

everyone on here raves about hawk pads and one other one.....i went to autozone and just got a set of ceramics there for my p5 and they were like 60....about 10 more than oem style but they have also lasted me about 70k right now and there is still almost 50% of the pad left

 

[coyfish]

Or you can get the proper wheel cleaning supplies if you wash your car by hand. Proper rim cleaner and a nice brush make the job very easy even with all the spokes.

 

[Rotus8]

Or you can get the proper wheel cleaning supplies if you wash your car by hand. Proper rim cleaner and a nice brush make the job very easy even with all the spokes.

Can you recommend a "proper wheel cleaning supply" that really works? I am interested in this too, and is what the OP was asking. Thanks!

 

[Hank3]

I'm trying to keep from buying a new set of pads for the time being. I guess looking for a cheap/effective way to tackle this problem is a farce idea (hah)

 

[fructus]

The dust issue on this car is not nearly as bad as the one I had with Brembo's on my TL. But that's the price of performance braking.
I think the best cleaning solution is your regular Palmolive dish soap with water. Pepboys has small sheepskin wheel cleaning brushes that fit between the spokes.

 

[coyfish]

Yeah I just have a nice brush that fits well between the spokes. The big thing is just the rim cleaning solution which I found at walmart. Spray it on and leave it for a couple min. Come back and wash it off and 75% comes off just like that. Im sure there are better brand cleaning solution available online but I just get whatever I can find and it seems to work alright.

 

[Kain]

The silver lining for me is I always thought the stock silver was too light, so this is like free powdercoating.

Your best bet is preventative. Wash your wheels thoroughly and then wax them. It will make cleaning them with any solution much easier. Careful to make sure the soap you use, like dishwashing liquid, won't strip wax.

 

[FunkyBuddha]

I get almost no dust with KVR Carbon Fiber pads on my MSP.

 

[NCZ13]

Can you recommend a "proper wheel cleaning supply" that really works? I am interested in this too, and is what the OP was asking. Thanks!

P21s gel wheel cleaner.
I use a swissvax brush to get the spokes and nooks and stuff, and a long handled inner wheel brush to get the barrels. all of this can be had at detailersdomain.com

p21 is a highly effective gel based wheel cleaner. It isnt acid based so its perfect for all wheels and brake components. Its an extrememly safe product. THe plus to being a gel is that it wont run off the vertcal surfaces. It clings so it can do its job.

It is an expensive product however. About 20 a quart. However there is an alternative. I have been using Chemical Guys gel wheel cleaner. Works the same at a fraction of the cost. The CG version needs to be diluted which makes it much more cost effective.

 

[Hank3]

Thanks for the info, NCZ!

 

[el_Don]

everyone on here raves about hawk pads and one other one.....i went to autozone and just got a set of ceramics there for my p5 and they were like 60....about 10 more than oem style but they have also lasted me about 70k right now and there is still almost 50% of the pad left

They don't sell ceramic brakepads for my protege at the autozones near me...one time they "had" them but the pads were the wrong size.

 

[squidmotion]

have to be careful...some of the products claim to be clear coat safe and for 'all wheels' ... but i have found that some of the cleaners can mess up the plastic center caps on some wheels... i like the p21 as well... also the eagle one works well..

i find these work the best if you put it on, before you even hose down the car... and activate it with a soft brush.. then spray it off with the hose before it has a chance to dry... works pretty good!

 

[DaleNixon]

I just wash mine with the same car wash I wash the car with every week.

 

[NCZ13]

I just wash mine with the same car wash I wash the car with every week.

this works well when the car is cleaned regularly. For the people who dont clean their cars every week, and let the brake dust build up car wash becomes less effective.

personally i love my cleaning my wheels every week, so i dont mind busting out the bottles and brushes.

 

[Invictus]

I get the dust off with a wheel rag and some water, then do each wheel again with a wheel wax.

 

[Hank3]

I just wash mine with the same car wash I wash the car with every week.

This is what I typically do. Although it's more like every other week these days. Just looking for a solution if the rest of the car is clean except the brake-dusted wheels.

 

[oaklandopen]

I just wash mine with the same car wash I wash the car with every week.

ditto