Cleaning Black Wheels
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: PENSACOLA
Cleaning Black Wheels
So today I decided to try something new to clean my black wheels.
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year or so.
I don't know if the pictures will do justice for the before and after affect.
Top pic = before
bottom pic = after
UPDATE: 4 hours after application - There was a slight haze on the wheels.... maybe because I waxed them before the Armor All Wheel Protectant or maybe because I applied the AAWP in about 58-60 degree weather and it's very humid today (they say apply in 65 or over). I wiped the haze off with a microfiber towel. They still feel very smooth and look even better than before the haze... they look like black chrome... hopefully the haze doesn't return.
pics:
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year or so.
I don't know if the pictures will do justice for the before and after affect.
Top pic = before
bottom pic = after
UPDATE: 4 hours after application - There was a slight haze on the wheels.... maybe because I waxed them before the Armor All Wheel Protectant or maybe because I applied the AAWP in about 58-60 degree weather and it's very humid today (they say apply in 65 or over). I wiped the haze off with a microfiber towel. They still feel very smooth and look even better than before the haze... they look like black chrome... hopefully the haze doesn't return.
pics:
Last edited by TX Navy Vet; Feb 2, 2014 at 06:25 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Vonore TN
So today I decided to try something new to clean my black wheels.
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year or so.
I don't know if the pictures will do justice for the before and after affect.
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year or so.
I don't know if the pictures will do justice for the before and after affect.
NICE
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 828
Likes: 40
From: Mountaintop PA
I have black wheels. I was detailing the car today. Cleaned them. Black Fire Polish , then Blackfire Crystal Seal. Did the same to the capilers. I also replaced the chrome lugs with black ones.
I will post a pic later
I will post a pic later
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 632
Likes: 90
From: Horseshoe Bay TX
The wheels look awesome, great job. All your methods should work well. I did pretty much the same thing (took all 4 off, cleaned them up really well) but then put a coat of Opti Coat 2 on inside and out of all 4 wheels.
I'll check back with you in a month or so and see which is the better way. You're right, once a year is plenty to do it. Keep us updated.
I'll check back with you in a month or so and see which is the better way. You're right, once a year is plenty to do it. Keep us updated.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 531
Likes: 44
From: Lake Keowee, SC
[QUOTE=TX Navy Vet;1586074367]So today I decided to try something new to clean my black wheels.
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year
Thanks for the post! Glad to hear the of the results as my C7 I'll pick up at the museum soon has the same black wheels. I'm a huge fan of the Armor All Brake Dust repellant. Keep 2-3 cans on hand from AutoZone all the time as my wife's Z06 demands it for her chrome wheels. Also use it on my chrome C5 and F150 wheels. Doesn't take much to work but I don't think there will be another product ever made that works as good as this stuff.
I took each wheel off to clean them.
First I cleaned them off with Windex.
Next I waxed them with Adam's Buttery Wax.
Next I sprayed them with Armor All Wheel Protectant.
I can tell you the Armor All Wheel Protectant added a whole new level of glossy to them ever after they were cleaned and waxed.
Now I just hope they repel the brake dust as advertised.... there is no way I'm taking the wheels off to clean them every time... Maybe 1x per year
Thanks for the post! Glad to hear the of the results as my C7 I'll pick up at the museum soon has the same black wheels. I'm a huge fan of the Armor All Brake Dust repellant. Keep 2-3 cans on hand from AutoZone all the time as my wife's Z06 demands it for her chrome wheels. Also use it on my chrome C5 and F150 wheels. Doesn't take much to work but I don't think there will be another product ever made that works as good as this stuff.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 828
Likes: 40
From: Mountaintop PA
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 531
Likes: 44
From: Lake Keowee, SC
You could be right. After chrome wheels on our C5 and C6Z I'm looking forward to the change of pace. Also not going with a red Vette this time and the chrome wheels on Arctic White didn't look as good to me as the black wheels.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 77
From: Forsyth GA
I agree they are a fad, I have them on my 911, NEVER again, they are the worst wheels ever to keep clean, they show every little swirl, and good luck not getting chips in them.
I will stick with Silver going forward, even better Hyper Silver.
Yours look good, good luck keeping them that way.
I will stick with Silver going forward, even better Hyper Silver.
Yours look good, good luck keeping them that way.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: PENSACOLA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,477
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
The problem with the GM black wheels is they used std car paint, the top coat being a clear. And just like a back car, the wheels will craze, mar and scratch easily down in the muck and mire to which they are exposed long term.
What they need is a harder clear coat or a covering like XPEL. A film is impossible , so you are left with the permanent coatings like CQuartz, 22PLE or Opti coat. Brake dust is easy to combat, but abrasion is harder. Strip the wheels with something like Sonax Full Effect and apply a coating as mentioned above. The absolute best coating would be CQuartz Finest or OptiCoat Pro, heavier and better, and only avail to trained detailer.
What they need is a harder clear coat or a covering like XPEL. A film is impossible , so you are left with the permanent coatings like CQuartz, 22PLE or Opti coat. Brake dust is easy to combat, but abrasion is harder. Strip the wheels with something like Sonax Full Effect and apply a coating as mentioned above. The absolute best coating would be CQuartz Finest or OptiCoat Pro, heavier and better, and only avail to trained detailer.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 531
Likes: 44
From: Lake Keowee, SC
You are spot-on, in the cooler temps the brake dust repellant can leave a haze, sometimes with a blue hue tone. When 65 or higher it dries very clear. Also takes just a single light coating to make it work (you may already know this). This time of year when I use it in cooler temps I let each side of car face the sun after application when air temps are below 65.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: PENSACOLA
You are spot-on, in the cooler temps the brake dust repellant can leave a haze, sometimes with a blue hue tone. When 65 or higher it dries very clear. Also takes just a single light coating to make it work (you may already know this). This time of year when I use it in cooler temps I let each side of car face the sun after application when air temps are below 65.
I had one thin coat on at first.... then I watched a youtube video that said to put it on thick so I did a second thicker coat... I wish I had stopped with the thin coat....
but they are looking good now....