GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Whelan,I need to know your take on getting baked in brake dust off a wheel... I used some wheel polish, a cream based product last night and it worked rather well, I just speared it on and let it set as long as I could (as it was drying) and some elbow grease dod a lot for the wheels, but I want to know your take and the product you would suggest... there is some on the wheel that looks like it going to be a PITA to remove.. Would a Power Ball mini be a good investment here?

I'm no Whelan (but this is what we have IMs for), but I find this work VERY well with little effort...

I've personally never had much experience with Mr. Clean Auto products. When I've had caked on dust I've used Mother's Mag and Aluminum Wheel polish which works wonders. I use either shop rags or those heavy duty blue paper towels to apply. It takes some time but works really well.I would have no issue investing in the powerball for the wheels. I have heard really good things about them, plus the faster action allows you to break the product down better thus revealing better results.

Sweet,Thanks VThaks Whelan.. I'll look into both..

Mothers Wheel Mist is all I use for any job I do. The spray on, hose off products do not work! Mothers Wheel Mist works and you should scrub it in with an old tooth brush. I have tried many products when I detailed and this stuff is the only stuff to use. Safe for clearcoats as well. I have recommended it to others and each time the person comes back to me and says it was fantastic!In this link, third product down. Use the polish after all the dust is off. The mist makes it easy to get off.http://www.mothers.com/product....html

i use the orange blast tire wheel cleaner..gets the dust off, it works pretty good, cept for my pump thing doesnt work now for some reason

Are any of these cleaners safe for the plastic hubcaps as well?

At the rental car company i clean cars for we have used Bug Off type products with great success to remove brake dust from rims and hubcaps.I spray on let sit a few seconds then use the car soap and brush to brush clean while cleaning the rest of the car.

Guys, quit spending money on expensive brand name cleaning cr@p.Go to the hardware store and buy a gallon of Kerosene. I use it on all my cars for wheels/bugs on plastic and on my entire bike. Once you use it you'll never go back.

kerosene?? never heard of using that. but no thanks, i like to smoke when i'm washing my car, so i think i'll stick with my simple green, followed by eagle one wadding polishnon-flammable FTMFW!!!

Quote, originally posted by michaelj1978 »Guys, quit spending money on expensive brand name cleaning cr@p.Go to the hardware store and buy a gallon of Kerosene. I use it on all my cars for wheels/bugs on plastic and on my entire bike. Once you use it you'll never go back.Was this really posted??? Not that I'm here to flame, but maybe back years ago prior to things like Goo Gone and the likes, people would use those types of products, i.e. like gas on a rag for glue or residue removal. It may work ok, but you are also probably doing long term harm by deteriorating any kind of cleaner or sealant you have on the car, not to mention clear coat problems. If the solvent is not chemically designed to deal with today's car paints, which are vastly different than they were even a decade ago, then it probably is not good for them.And from your top statement, you are basically saying that the entire car care products industry is a fluke? But I can asure you that while there are some product lines that are cheap knock-offs and do not work to their full potential, I have always been a believer in you get what you pay for. Buy a Mercedes for 50k or a Kia for 10k. You get what you pay for. Use some no name wax vs. a Meguiar's or Mother's product, the difference is very noticeable.A lot of people who take care of their cars or who drop them at the $20 wax while you wait carwash after running them through the brushes from hell wash station, or us the foam brush at the self-wash bay simply believe that having a soft and smooth feel to the paint means it is detailed. eh, wrong. Heck, my car has not been detailed since last fall (due for the annual in a few weeks), and I washed it the other day, still felt smooth. But the swirls, contaminants, fallout, acid rain, etching, small scratches, etc. all account for an unclean paint. Hence you remove the contaminants, then clean off the markings, then polish the paint back to it's luster and seal with a good quality wax that offers more protection and longer lasting shine.Sorry to go off the handle folks, but I am kinda low on tolerance for these kinds of comments, although you all know I welcome new ideas.

I think I remember reading something about using clay bar does wonders for mags