Marcho Polo

Please let's NOT turn this into another brake pad argument thread, there are enough of those already!!!!


I use simple green on the rims just before washing the car. Just spray them and let soak while I get the foam cannon ready and then wash the car and rims with soap. I use a long sponge thing on a stick to get the barrel of the rims clean during washing.

JMII

Same here. However I recently started using this stuff and it really cuts thru brake dust quickly due to the thick foam. The promo pictures even show it being used on a C7

speed4tu

Best thing I have ever tried is Sonax wheel cleaner. Been using it for a couple years with no negative effects on the OEM black wheels. Amazon has it. Melts the dust right away with minimal effort.

They also have a plus version that I've tried with success as well.

DALE#3

A word to the wise on wheel cleaners.Read the back label well.Even the smallest almost hidden warning.I learned the hard way.
Alot of these cleaners show how easy the crap comes off.Some are a very caustic solution.Do you know what caustic does to plating.It simply, Bang removes it.
Caustic cleans that good.It will make Metal Rust.
Your 2 piece rotors with those nuts studs will be accelerated into rusting.
If your label sez..Don't use on motorcycle wheels? That is your key to stay away.
True Story:My 2nd Harley had spokes.Thinking what a PIA To remove the brake dust from spokes.Purchased a wheel cleaner.Read the instruction.Except for that one (most important)sentence:Not for Motorcycles.
Sprayed rims and while rinsing saw my spokes turn Black.Plating,Gone.
Called Eagle One,Teck line.Told him what happened.Sorry he said you removed the plating.It is on the back label,No Cycles
My mistake.Re-spoked both rims with about 1500 miles on the bike.
I believe some of your caliper hardware is plated also.I used Tough Stuff once.
My Nuts weren't Happy

Matthewstorm

bigblock427

I use the same car shampoo (Adams) that I use to wash the car body. I wash the wheels each time I wash the car. My GS with black wheels is my daily driver and for the most part I don't notice the brake dust.

Phanni

Never had a "pitting" problem, or cleaning problem on my chrome wheels.

JerryU

^^^

Chrome should not have the same problem of painted wheels. My Black OEM wheels on my Z51 were pitting my wheels if I didn't the excess brake dust from the OEM brake pads off after ~2 trips to town, ~100 miles total. Real PIA!

Mayor111

Here you go:

JMII

Thanks for the heads up. I checked the label on the product I linked above (Armor All Extreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner) - it claims to be safe for clear coat and painted wheels but DO NOT use on aluminum! It recommends you use gloves so its apparently pretty aggressive (which is why it works so well I bet) and carries two other warnings: only apply to cool wet wheels and rinse thoroughly. Apparently you need to neutralize and remove this stuff completely.

Thunder22

I have been using Sonax for years.

DALE#3

I believe your calipers and rims are Aluminum.Your suspension is.I bet it will stain.Any cleaner that sez no Aluminum means NO CORVETTE.

LIStingray

I don't use any wheel cleaner on any of our cars that isn't safe for aluminum wheels. I have been using the Meguiars Hot Rims Aluminum (Blue) wheel cleaner for many years and it doesn't even remove the wax on the wheels in less than 6 months www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/meguiars-hot-rims-aluminum-wheel-cleaner-g14324-24-oz-spray. Keep in mind, al painted rims should be coated with wax/polish to protect them as they are nothing but paint. Mine all are coated with Rejex.

chefcg1

shineocd

There are lots of cleaners including the Sonax brand mentioned that will safely clean all types of rims After you have cleaned them apply a ceramic coating and you are golden Yes this coating CAN be applied to all types of rims. This brand is my favorite but there are others as well.
http://gyeonquartz.com/product/rim/

JMII

Suspension for sure, calipers are as well, but those are painted so they should be OK. Current wheels are chrome, once again OK there.
However just to be safe I'll switch to something that approved for use on aluminum like the Meguiars mentioned above.

ersatz928

Acidic cleaners designed for aluminum will cause the composite leaf spring to delaminate/crack, if the spray gets on it.

JMII

Back to Simple Green then? Normal driving brake dust isn't a big deal its the after track day, caked on, thick black layer that needs something stronger that foams up to help remove it.

FLEXjs

I don't bother with wheel cleaner anymore because it generally doesn't do a better job than generic auto soap and water.

BUT

There are a couple of companies making a spray to put on the wheels after they are clean to prevent brake dust build-up and they really are amazing.

I have used Armor-all wheel protectant and AUTOGLYM wheel protector with excellent results. Barley any brake dust sticks to the wheels after a quick spray on a clean wheel. Buddy of mine gave me a can of the armorall stuff and I was very skeptical so I didn't even try it for about a year and wished I had done so earlier.

Also, for all you guys complaining about the brake dust that's life with stock pads on a high performance car; my SRT is the same way.