[Oli_e90]

Hi all!

I'm in the process of tidying my wheels up at the moment now I'm starting to travel again as lockdown has ended here in the UK.

I am going to wax them with the Poor Boys wheel wax once clean, but any recommendations on what to use to get the clean first?

I've had a look, and shortlisted the following 3 fallout removers (looking for something pH neutral):

Autoglym Magma https://www.autoglym.com/magma
Auto Finesse Iron Out https://www.autofinesse.com/en/iron-...lout-remover-2
Duel Autocare Toxin https://www.duelautocare.co.uk/produ...c949&_ss=r

Any advice gratefully received!

Cheers

Oli

[Billfitz]

Flash Brown Royal. Use it 50/50 for wheels and brakes, 20/80 for the engine. It stinks like hell, but works great. https://www.flashautodetailproducts....-tire-cleaner/

[chowser51]

I was using Flash Brown Royal at the 50/50 mix and am just using it on tires now.
I started using Meguiar's Iron Decon (D1801) since a gallon was on sale. So far it's great. It stinks more than the Flash.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Flash Brown Royal. Use it 50/50 for wheels and brakes, 20/80 for the engine. It stinks like hell, but works great. https://www.flashautodetailproducts....-tire-cleaner/

When they say "high pressure water", do they mean a pressure washer or just putting the nozzle on a jet setting?

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Oli_e90

Hi all!

I'm in the process of tidying my wheels up at the moment now I'm starting to travel again as lockdown has ended here in the UK.

I am going to wax them with the Poor Boys wheel wax once clean, but any recommendations on what to use to get the clean first?

I've had a look, and shortlisted the following 3 fallout removers (looking for something pH neutral):

Autoglym Magma https://www.autoglym.com/magma
Auto Finesse Iron Out https://www.autofinesse.com/en/iron-...lout-remover-2
Duel Autocare Toxin https://www.duelautocare.co.uk/produ...c949&_ss=r

Any advice gratefully received!

Cheers

Oli

Sonax makes some excellent products. See photo. However, avoid the new Sonax "The Beast" wheel cleaner. See video

My suggestion would be to clean your wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus. And then ceramic coat them.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

When they say "high pressure water", do they mean a pressure washer or just putting the nozzle on a jet setting?

Jet. You don't need to use a power washer. If you use it regularly just a rinse will do. I use it in the fall when I rotate my tires to clean the inside of the rims. Worst case give it a bit of a scrub with Scotch Brite and they come as clean as new.

[visionaut]

My fave after a lot of trial is Sonax wheel cleaner plus. Once a month, apply and rinse at the beginning of a car wash. Most all brake dust comes right off. Towel off to remove any remaining film - no need for any scrubbing. Works on inner barrels and wheel bolts too. Super clean finish, even on that heavy MSport brake dust from several wet backroad ‘coffee runs’. I buy it in bulk size now. It’s ph is even great on my 02s vintage 3-pc Epsilon meshies.

Tom

[Oli_e90]

Thanks guys, much appreciated. I'll have a go with Sonax as I can get it over here in the UK on Amazon. I haven't been able to find the Flash Brown Royal over here.

I have the 403m wheels, so will probably end up taking them off for the first clean so I can properly get in to the lip of the barrel behind the spokes.

Cheers

Oli

[jasonjo]

Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel is another good one…

If you can't fully ceramic coat them (which is the best way to keep them clean in the long run) then maybe look at Gyeon Cancoat or Wowos Crystal Sealant to help try and prolong them between washes

[Oli_e90]

Thanks man, much appreciated.

have many of you guys ceramic coated your rims? does it limit the products you can use once done?

[jasonjo]

It's quite common to coat them as it makes them a lot, lot easier to look after and remove brake dust - I don't really need proper wheel cleaners now, as most of the time a pressure washer and shampoo/APC is enough once coated

I then use BH AutoWheel or Korrosol (fallout remover) every few washes to mainly decontaminate them

Once coated you can still clean them with whatever you want, you just might find you don't need special wheel cleaner products anymore if you clean them regularly

P.S. I've never really found wheel waxes lasted that long for the effort, especially Poor Boys - the best thing I'd used was a sealant like Wowos or maybe something like BSD if you do it as part of your regular wash routine to keep it topped up each time

[Orion4]

Since I recently did a full brake job and replaced my OEM pads with the Akebono Ceramic, the only thing i need is a quick flush with the power washer (20degree) during my pre-wash spray down.

[ECTO1]

I'm a big fan of brake buster diluted 1 to 3 for cleaning if I gonna coat them I will surface prep with car pro iron x and eraser before ceramic.

[Salty B.]

Used Sonax "acid free" cleaner today and now I have these nasty rust stains on the insides of the rims. The stuff turned purple immediately on hitting the brake discs. I didn't let it sit for more than a few minutes before rinsing. Hit the insides with a wheel brush while wet and did not see the orange staining until after everything dried.

I used Nextzett wheel cleaner before this stuff and never had this problem. Grrrr.

[Oli_e90]

Thanks all, I'll let you all know how I get on once I get round to taking the wheels off and cleaning them up and sealing one by one.

Originally Posted by Flying Badger

Used Sonax "acid free" cleaner today and now I have these nasty rust stains on the insides of the rims. The stuff turned purple immediately on hitting the brake discs. I didn't let it sit for more than a few minutes before rinsing. Hit the insides with a wheel brush while wet and did not see the orange staining until after everything dried.

I used Nextzett wheel cleaner before this stuff and never had this problem. Grrrr.

Shit man! What is that, run off from the Sonax reacting on your disks and then baking on to the barrel? Have you managed to get it off?

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Oli_e90

Shit man! What is that, run off from the Sonax reacting on your disks and then baking on to the barrel? Have you managed to get it off?

Beats the hell out of me. I haven't tried cleaning inside the rims yet but after a drive there were some rusty streaks that wiped off pretty easily. I'll have to get in there with my wheel brush

I used the Sonax on my ancient Volvo's alloys before this and didn't notice any rust stains.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by chowser51

I was using Flash Brown Royal at the 50/50 mix and am just using it on tires now.
I started using Meguiar's Iron Decon (D1801) since a gallon was on sale. So far it's great. It stinks more than the Flash.

Jiminy, that shit's expensive... $60! Why this over the Flash Brown?

[Desertnate]

Not sure if it is available in the UK OP, but I'm a big fan of Griots Garage Wheel Cleaner. It cleans so well, I've never been tempted to use their Heavy Duty wheel cleaner.

[chowser51]

Originally Posted by Flying Badger

Jiminy, that shit's expensive... $60! Why this over the Flash Brown?

Flash was working fine on my F33 wheels but for some reason it wasn't doing a good job on my F39. Do M brakes dust worse?

The Meguiar's does better with spray, wait and rinse.

[visionaut]

Originally Posted by Flying Badger

Used Sonax "acid free" cleaner today and now I have these nasty rust stains on the insides of the rims. The stuff turned purple immediately on hitting the brake discs. I didn't let it sit for more than a few minutes before rinsing. Hit the insides with a wheel brush while wet and did not see the orange staining until after everything dried.

I used Nextzett wheel cleaner before this stuff and never had this problem. Grrrr.

Well your wheels are no-rustable aluminum alloy. So it’s likely some other build-up. Try re-rinsing (or re-applying) and wipe it afterwards.

When the wheels are real dirty (like if you haven’t wiped down your inner barrels in awhile) it’ll take a wipe down after rinsing to see your barrel paint. On heavy dirt/dust (& MPerf pads) the Plus works better.

[Billfitz]

The wheels are aluminum, but the rotors are cast iron, and their edges are perpetually rusty. The edges of his rotors look suspiciously clean, so it could be that the wheel cleaner dissolved the rust on the rotor edges and it ended up on the wheel.

I've used 'the purple stuff', Flash Brown Royal has worked better for me, and it can be used as a de-greaser anywhere. When watered down per the label it's less expensive than most wheel cleaners too.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

The wheels are aluminum, but the rotors are cast iron, and their edges are perpetually rusty. The edges of his rotors look suspiciously clean, so it could be that the wheel cleaner dissolved the rust on the rotor edges and it ended up on the wheel.

That's one possibility. I've ordered Nexszett again which never caused this. And I used the same Sonax on my Volvo and didn't notice any rusty stains.

Guess I'll hit em again when the Nexszett arrives... and I think I'll get Flash Brown next.