How to Remove Brake Dust From Tire Rims
Brake dust is unsightly, and if left uncleaned, it can pit into your expensive wheels. If your vehicle has special rims with clear-coat finish, you should thoroughly clean your wheels with noncorrosive cleaners on a regular basis. The wheel-cleaning process is fairly straightforward, and it can be done with a sponge and soapy water when you wash your car. If the brake dust is firmly entrenched in your wheels, then you will need to use special wheel cleaner and a brush to remove it.
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Things You'll Need
- Auto wax
- Wax applicator
- Soft bristle wheel brush
- Aluminum wheel cleaner
- 2 clean microfiber cloths
- Hose
Instructions
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Spray your wheels with hose water. While the wheel is wet, spray the wheel cleaner on the wheels, making sure to cover the wheel completely.
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Let the cleaner sit for about a minute. Do not let the foam dry on the wheel.
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3
Scrub the wheels using a wheel brush. Make sure to get in the corners at the ends of the spokes where brake dust accumulates, and on the interior of the wheel behind the spokes. Do not scrub too hard.
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4
Rinse the wheel completely with water. Once the foam is gone, dry the wheel with a microfiber cloth so that water spots don't form.
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Apply a coat of wax to the wheel's surface with the wax applicator. Wait until the wax hazes over, and buff it off with a clean microfiber cloth. This will protect your wheels from brake dust and grime.
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Tips & Warnings
If one cleaning pass does not remove all brake dust, repeat the cleaning process before applying wax to the wheels. Scrubbing lightly a second time is preferential to scrubbing more aggressively.
Do not use the wrong type of wheel cleaner on your wheels. Chrome wheels need different cleaner than aluminum and painted wheels.
References
- Photo Credit wheel image by sasha from Fotolia.com
