The mere thought of crouching down on your knees and tackling the embedded brake dust on each wheel can deter even the most passionate car enthusiast. After all, who really looks inside the wheels anyway? Well…your wheels can sometimes be one of the most valuable components of your vehicle.

Replacing wheels due to lack of preventative care such as washing can cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. So what is the culprit here? According to zymol, brake pads are composed of asbestos, mono-filament carbon fiber, metal filings and adhesive. The adhesive used to mold brake pads is the problem, not the carbon fiber or asbestos. Brake pad adhesive will etch and pit if the dust is allowed to remain in contact with the heated wheel surface. Most wheels will average a running temperature of 190oF on warm summer days. A running wheel also sets up a small negative static charge that attracts brake dust and unfortunately the adhesive used to create the brake pad. The magnetic charge and heat is the perfect environment for collecting and holding this menace.

OK; so now that we know where the problem comes from, how do we remedy the situation? Should we rinse with water, solvent-based wheel cleaners, car wash soap, dish soap? The answer is a simple one. Most wheels, whether OEM or after market, are painted much like the finish of your car. Would you use your current wheel cleaner on your paint? If the answer is no, then you shouldn't be using it on the wheels either. Wheels are either painted with a clear coat or are polished. Both styles of wheels are easy to care for.

Whenever dealing with car care, you want to use the least aggressive product to get complete the job. When it comes to wheels, purchase non-acidic, non-phosphoric, low pH, 7-8, wheel wash designed to break the cohesive bond between brake pad dust and chrome, painted, coated alloy, aluminum or steel wheels. According to Porsche, if the pH of the cleaner is incorrect, the protective coating on the wheels will be destroyed. To be safe, stay with known accepted brands of wheel cleaner that provide full instructions and do not carry exposure cautions. Some excellent wheel cleaners are P21S Gel Wheel Wash and zymol Wheel Cleaner. Both are safe on all types of wheels.

Choose a wheel cleaner concentrate that can be used at the strength you need for your particular wheel condition and cleaning regimen. Apply the wheel cleaner to a damp wheel for best results and brush the wheel with a very soft, heavily populated, non-metal ferrule brush before rinsing thoroughly with cool water. Porsche recommends cleaning the wheels every two weeks depending on use.

The clear coated wheels are simple to care for. You clean them routinely and wax them using a product like Rejex or zymol Wheel Coat; Porsche recommends protecting the wheels with a wax every three months. Polished aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber wheels need a little more attention. Polished wheels need an additional step of cleaning to remove embedded materials even further. Over time, the finish becomes a bit dull and tarnished. Using a safe product like zymol Metall will gently and effectively brings back the patina in polished wheels. Always test a small area prior to applying polishes.

Caring for the wheels should not be a daunting and strenuous task. As long as you are diligent in your efforts, use safe and gentle products, the chore becomes a pleasure. After all, wheels are like jewelry for your car.

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Moe, I always follow your posts with great interest. I already use P21S Gel for cleaning, my question is regarding a wax or polymer that prevents all the brakedust from bedding in the first place, or at least reduce it. And I'm asking specifically for trackwheels, which of course get MUCH, MUCH hotter then regular wheels. Currently I use Klasse AIO and Klasse Sealant, which is okay, but not great. Any suggestions ?

 

You can apply 2-3 layers of Rejex over 2-3 days; Rejex needs about 6-12 hours to prperly cure. This should be of tremendous help. You would do this every 3-4 times on the track. In between, you can use the zymol wheel coat to freshen up the rejex.

 

What about cleaning and protecting calipers? Same as the wheels?

 

Great writeup Moe. I have by far the toughest wheels to clean. The tools that Moe offers take care of my rims very well.

Thansk Moe!

 

Just make sure you're using a safe and pH balanced cleaner. This will keep the color on the calipers vibrant. Waxing them with the Rejex and Wheel Coat will also help keep them in great shape.

 

Thanks Moe, I'll give Rejex a try. I REALLY despise cleaning wheels, almost as much as the interior

 

Hey Erik try a product called wheelwax I used it and tested it on a race car and the product works great It withstands up to 400 degrees and gives a nice gloss. I would put three coats on and you will be fine.

 

moe quick question, the barrels on my maya wheels are powder coated gloss black, there is alot of swirls and it has lost most of its glossy black shine, can I use the same polish process with my PC to take out the swirls and polish the barrels?

 

You can start by using a mild polish like Menzerna Final Polish and see if that helps. If it gets the results you're after, then do all the wheels.Then protect the wheels with a few layers of Rejex.

 

sounds good ill give that a try and see what happens