Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim

Dr Dave · 06-13-2009, 06:41 PM

Hello All, just discovered this forum. I appologize in advance if this has been covered before.

2003 / 65K miles. Have front weeks off for brake job and trying to clean all the brake dust off the inside of the rims. I have used Eagle One A2Z with a scotch brite pad and have as much off as I can get, but the rims are still horrible. I was hoping to get them spotless and spray the inside of the rims with some clear Krylon spray paint to seal the aluminum and make them easier to clean in the future.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dr Dave

oweezy9 · 06-13-2009, 07:02 PM

Have you tried a cleaning product like Simple Green or a degreaser? Might help

Sisk · 06-13-2009, 07:55 PM

x2...Simple green will work wonders. I haven't had it not work on brake dust yet. Just spray on, let it sit for a bit and soak in, and wipe off.

Dr Dave · 06-13-2009, 07:59 PM

I started with Formula 409 and a Scotch Brite pad....then SOS/Brillo....then Eagle One A2Z All Wheel & Tire Cleaner with Scotch Brite pad....then Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish with a Scotch Brite pad and the inside of the rim is still specled with millions of little black dots where the brake dust appears to have pitted the rim.

Peco · 06-13-2009, 11:36 PM

I use Purple Power 50/50 mix as a scotch brite pad. Then go over the inside with a Magic Eraser as the final step. Heres a pic of my 95 Grand Prix (front)rim.

Dr. Steve · 06-13-2009, 11:40 PM

x3 simple green is the stuff to use man

Sisk · 06-14-2009, 09:23 AM

Simply green is just so...well simple. lol. None of this scotch bright pad stuff, just spray on and wipe off. No multiple products.

Dr Dave · 06-14-2009, 10:27 AM

Thanks for all your help. I'll pick up and try the products suggested. The problem is the brake dust appears to have invaded the micro pores in the wheel casting. I took a picture this AM and this is the best I can do.

Not sure this attachment is going to work

2009-06-14 Left Front 02 Cropped.JPG

GeorgesBlazah · 06-14-2009, 10:46 PM

If you buy an aggressive claybar you might be able to get some of that stuff off with clay.

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/ht-12bu.html

Make sure you throw it away after and dont use it on your paint lol.

556mm · 06-14-2009, 10:49 PM

what kind of rims are they?

Dr Dave · 06-15-2009, 07:47 AM

Standard factory rims that came with the 2003's.

Simple Green and Purple Power made no additional progress over the picture posted earlier. I even tried E-Z Off oven cleaner. I'm resigned to the fact that the rims are permanently damaged. I did hit the inside with a few coats of Krylon Clear spray pant. Hopefully this will seal the aluminum and not make the situation any worse. Should also be easier to clean.

What was GM thinking not sealing the inside if the rims???

Sisk · 06-15-2009, 08:17 AM

Damn....I've never had simple green not work before, and I've used it for years. I'd be inclined to think your rims are perma-f'd lol.

BoSoxFanSims34 · 06-15-2009, 01:32 PM

Ive never seen anything work better than this stuff. Spray it one let it sit for a minute scrub with a brush then wash it off.

carolinaboy · 06-17-2009, 08:19 AM

I like Simple Green but you have to be VERY CAREFUL when using it because it can dry on the wheel and then you will have to spend a long time polishing them back out.

Trust me I learned the hard way

BTE · 06-17-2009, 08:15 PM

Purple Power works awesome too.

Dr Dave · 06-21-2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Took me a few stores, but I finally found the Eagle One Etching Mag Cleaner...and with a scotch brite pad I was able to get the inside of the rims as clean as they are ever going to get. There is some definite damage where the brake dust must have eaten into the pours of the Aluminum casting. About 95% clean.

I'm going to hit them with some Krylon Clear and see if that helps future cleaning.

06-13-2009, 06:41 PM	#1
Dr Dave Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Hello All, just discovered this forum. I appologize in advance if this has been covered before. 2003 / 65K miles. Have front weeks off for brake job and trying to clean all the brake dust off the inside of the rims. I have used Eagle One A2Z with a scotch brite pad and have as much off as I can get, but the rims are still horrible. I was hoping to get them spotless and spray the inside of the rims with some clear Krylon spray paint to seal the aluminum and make them easier to clean in the future. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dr Dave
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-13-2009, 07:02 PM	#2
oweezy9 Yes-Man Age: 23 Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 37 Location: College Station, TX User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Have you tried a cleaning product like Simple Green or a degreaser? Might help
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-13-2009, 07:55 PM	#3
Sisk Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 216 Location: Dartmouth, NS, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim x2...Simple green will work wonders. I haven't had it not work on brake dust yet. Just spray on, let it sit for a bit and soak in, and wipe off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-13-2009, 07:59 PM	#4
Dr Dave Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim I started with Formula 409 and a Scotch Brite pad....then SOS/Brillo....then Eagle One A2Z All Wheel & Tire Cleaner with Scotch Brite pad....then Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish with a Scotch Brite pad and the inside of the rim is still specled with millions of little black dots where the brake dust appears to have pitted the rim.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-13-2009, 11:36 PM	#5
Peco Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 142 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim I use Purple Power 50/50 mix as a scotch brite pad. Then go over the inside with a Magic Eraser as the final step. Heres a pic of my 95 Grand Prix (front)rim.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-13-2009, 11:40 PM	#6
Dr. Steve Keepin' it Gangsta! Age: 27 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,281 Location: Levittown, PA-☆-NE Philly-☆-Trenton, NJ-☆Tha 19057 Bitches☆ User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim x3 simple green is the stuff to use man
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-14-2009, 09:23 AM	#7
Sisk Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 216 Location: Dartmouth, NS, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Simply green is just so...well simple. lol. None of this scotch bright pad stuff, just spray on and wipe off. No multiple products.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-14-2009, 10:27 AM	#8
Dr Dave Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Thanks for all your help. I'll pick up and try the products suggested. The problem is the brake dust appears to have invaded the micro pores in the wheel casting. I took a picture this AM and this is the best I can do. Not sure this attachment is going to work 2009-06-14 Left Front 02 Cropped.JPG
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-14-2009, 10:46 PM	#9
GeorgesBlazah Slap my meat on your pita Age: 24 Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,214 Location: south jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim If you buy an aggressive claybar you might be able to get some of that stuff off with clay. http://www.autodetailingsolutions.net/ht-12bu.html Make sure you throw it away after and dont use it on your paint lol.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-14-2009, 10:49 PM	#10
556mm &amp;lt;3 redheads Age: 27 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 25,729 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim what kind of rims are they?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2009, 07:47 AM	#11
Dr Dave Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Standard factory rims that came with the 2003's. Simple Green and Purple Power made no additional progress over the picture posted earlier. I even tried E-Z Off oven cleaner. I'm resigned to the fact that the rims are permanently damaged. I did hit the inside with a few coats of Krylon Clear spray pant. Hopefully this will seal the aluminum and not make the situation any worse. Should also be easier to clean. What was GM thinking not sealing the inside if the rims???
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2009, 08:17 AM	#12
Sisk Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 216 Location: Dartmouth, NS, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Damn....I've never had simple green not work before, and I've used it for years. I'd be inclined to think your rims are perma-f'd lol.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2009, 01:32 PM	#13
BoSoxFanSims34 Registered User Age: 18 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 357 Location: Bradley IL User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Ive never seen anything work better than this stuff. Spray it one let it sit for a minute scrub with a brush then wash it off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-17-2009, 08:19 AM	#14
carolinaboy Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 17 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim I like Simple Green but you have to be VERY CAREFUL when using it because it can dry on the wheel and then you will have to spend a long time polishing them back out. Trust me I learned the hard way
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-17-2009, 08:15 PM	#15
BTE I have no idea Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 895 Location: Amherst User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Purple Power works awesome too.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 12:30 PM	#16
Dr Dave Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Cleaning Brake Dust Off Front Rim Thanks to everyone who replied. Took me a few stores, but I finally found the Eagle One Etching Mag Cleaner...and with a scotch brite pad I was able to get the inside of the rims as clean as they are ever going to get. There is some definite damage where the brake dust must have eaten into the pours of the Aluminum casting. About 95% clean. I'm going to hit them with some Krylon Clear and see if that helps future cleaning.
	[Reply w/Quote]