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diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6163

Cleaning alloys? what to use?

I did a shearch, but not much came up.

I have a set of alloys (deep dish), which are "dirty", baked on brake dust and general grubbyness. hot water and a scrubbing brush won't shift it.

They're currently tyre-less, so I was wondering what chemical I could get to really clean them up? I don't really want them to the "new" standard of shotblasting and re-painting, but just to clean up the existing surface.

The inside lip is especially dirty too.

Anyone got any ideas? There is a mobile company here in town that refurbs wheels, might be worth giving them a shout and see if they have a tank of nastyness that will clean off muck.

22nd Sep 2013 6:44pm

Lou Sparts

Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver

Concrete cleaner from one of the big DIY chains gets baked on brake dust off.

As a normal cleaner i use Quantum alloy wheel cleaner from VW,s trade parts outlet TPS,works a treat. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve

22nd Sep 2013 6:58pm

geobloke

Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

WD40 works well, as does Autoglym Clean Wheels

22nd Sep 2013 7:01pm

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

Just remember WD40 eats Rubber

so thats your valve gone and your black round rubbery things

22nd Sep 2013 7:05pm

mattlab

Member Since: 16 May 2011
Location: suffolk
Posts: 143

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Galway Green

neat TFR, traffic film remover, use gloves as it drys your skin out and your look like a lepper for days. have always used it for alloy wheels, found nothing better.

LIFE`S TOO SHORT TO DRIVE A BORING VEHICLE

22nd Sep 2013 7:07pm

Les Brock

Member Since: 20 Mar 2012
Location: Stroud, Glos
Posts: 178

Iron-X - Nothing more needed !

22nd Sep 2013 7:27pm

a13x

Member Since: 25 Sep 2011
Location: Burton on Trent
Posts: 553

Iron x is very good but it only removed what it is designed for, so will still need a tar remover. Steam cleaner if you have one in the home.

Then plenty of elbow grease.

22nd Sep 2013 7:31pm

Sockpuppet

Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: Leicester
Posts: 479

I've always used caustic soda and water in a mister.

Just don't breathe in when doing it!

22nd Sep 2013 7:33pm

Les Brock

Member Since: 20 Mar 2012
Location: Stroud, Glos
Posts: 178

a13x wrote:
Iron x is very good but it only removed what it is designed for, so will still need a tar remover. Steam cleaner if you have one in the home.

Then plenty of elbow grease.

Or use TriX

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-e..._1033.html

22nd Sep 2013 7:43pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6163

Looks good. cheers all.

Trix look like the ticket

22nd Sep 2013 8:36pm

x-isle

Member Since: 26 May 2011
Location: Midlands
Posts: 1327

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

Been using Wonder Wheels for years. Expensive, but damn good. Craig Rogers

2007 Puma 110 XS
2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux
www.craigrogers.photography

22nd Sep 2013 8:57pm

skyeplumb

Member Since: 22 Apr 2013
Location: Isle of Skye
Posts: 134

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Rimini Red

Autoglym Cleen wheels for brake dust and general grime, tar remover for tar and over sprayed wax oil worked for me Series IIa Lightweight - Long Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi - Sold
Defender 110 XS 07MY Utility

22nd Sep 2013 9:00pm

geobloke

Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

ken wrote:
Just remember WD40 eats Rubber so thats your valve gone and your black round rubbery things

Crikey it's not that quick at eating rubber. Use WD40 to clean the rims and wash off afterwards. Incidentally that is also why all wheel cleaning products say to wash off thoroughly, they contain some strong stuff...

22nd Sep 2013 9:10pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

I've tried lots of different ones, I now use the halfords alloy wheel cleaner, you can buy a gallon cheap enough and pour into a window cleaner spray bottle, it's acidic so much be washed off the tyres

22nd Sep 2013 9:20pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6163

22nd Sep 2013 9:33pm

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