Cleaning the inner rim?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
I pull the wheels once a year over the winter to clean and wax the inner barrels.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,409
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
What kind of wheels do you have? Is there enough room, between the spokes, for you to reach in with a sponge, as you're washing the car?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I have had the best luck with one of these (LARGE BENDABLE WHEEL BRUSH) if trying to clean the wheels mounted...
https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...e=&from=Search
https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...e=&from=Search
Last edited by Choreo; Oct 22, 2016 at 09:51 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I have thinspokes and I'd be careful of using any type of cleaner on em. I've cleaned them good when they were off the car, and a friend of mine bought me a set of super nice wheel brushes for my birthday. I don't recall what brand they are but they're really nice.
I got sandpaper (wet/r/dry) for doing a new polishing job on them but I've been way too involved with other stuff to bother with that. I clean them on every wash and they look pretty nice inside. I wouldn't say new looking, but pretty close. And I just use the car wash water at the end when the rest of the car is done.
I got sandpaper (wet/r/dry) for doing a new polishing job on them but I've been way too involved with other stuff to bother with that. I clean them on every wash and they look pretty nice inside. I wouldn't say new looking, but pretty close. And I just use the car wash water at the end when the rest of the car is done.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 29
From: N. Florida
I use the Speedmaster wheel brushes. Got mine from forum sponsor Autogeek. They often run deals on both sizes as a combo pack. Handy to have both depending on what car/wheels you are working on.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
dark stains galore they are there to stay
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 430
From: Birmingham Al
I would be very careful with that simple green good for the right use . I like Dawn works on most clean ups you'll have on your corvette and don't mess up paint shine ,simple green is good just don't get it on your paint.. I show my 04 through the year might take the wheels off 10 times in a year and clean them ,yes lots of work..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
If they are truly nasty with heavy brake dust accumulation, the only thing that will work is oven cleaner. Spray on and leave for a few minutes wipe off and rinse. Works well on Z06 wheels, c5 mag wheels and c7 wheels that I know of.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
The wheel on the left is 15 years old and has 80,000 miles on it. The wheel on the right ( same CCW but wider, is brand new ( note the tire sticker. ) these wheels are unprotected polished aluminum. Al it takes is common sense, and some elbow grease. The trick to keeping them clean, is to keep them clean. Don't allow road tar and brake dust to accumulate. A once a month dismount, and cleaning is all that is necessary once you bring them back to New conditions.
ng takes about an hour. If you are looking for a quick fix, I cant help you.
ng takes about an hour. If you are looking for a quick fix, I cant help you.
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Take them off the car and get the barrels clean. After that, what I do is every time I detail the car I jack the car up on each side, get under the car and use a damp rag while spinning the wheel to remove any grime that has gotten on the barrel. Follow up with a clean, dry cloth and the wheel will stay looking good.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 337
Likes: 79
From: Smith Mountain Lake VA
Take them off the car and get the barrels clean. After that, what I do is every time I detail the car I jack the car up on each side, get under the car and use a damp rag while spinning the wheel to remove any grime that has gotten on the barrel. Follow up with a clean, dry cloth and the wheel will stay looking good.
How dirty can those wheels get. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 118
From: San Gabriel Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
You can surface clean them, if you do it regularly. But (I think) you must just take the Wheels off the car, to deep clean them properly.
Make it just part of your regular maintenance of C5. Like vacuuming & wiping down the interior, or cleaning debris out of the area near the radiator/air cond condensor, or checking the oil.
Before I retired, I got paid on the 13th and 28th of each month. I used to do the two fronts on (or near) the 13th, and the two rears on the 28th, or the end of the month. Maybe you can do less, if you don't daily drive your car?
Always re-torque your wheels lug nuts back on (to 100 ft lbs) carefully, when you're done.
Don
Make it just part of your regular maintenance of C5. Like vacuuming & wiping down the interior, or cleaning debris out of the area near the radiator/air cond condensor, or checking the oil.
Before I retired, I got paid on the 13th and 28th of each month. I used to do the two fronts on (or near) the 13th, and the two rears on the 28th, or the end of the month. Maybe you can do less, if you don't daily drive your car?
Always re-torque your wheels lug nuts back on (to 100 ft lbs) carefully, when you're done.
Don
Last edited by donald4972; Oct 22, 2016 at 06:06 PM. Reason: spelling
