Cleaning metal / brake dust off an alloy wheel

[strath44]

Before Christmas I was away with work for a while and when I came home noticed my wives car (an A6) had a very brown rear alloy. It turned out to be that the brake calliper had seized and worn the inner pad down to the metal (the noise was surely a give away - anyway!).

It was all a bit of a mess and I was annoyed because had I been around would have caught it sooner!

Anyway the wheel is now a bit of a mess, basically the wet salty weather seems to have solidified the metal filings from the rear of the brake pad and the disc to the wheel - over the whole wheel!

I had some of this basic wonder wheel cleaner in the garage
http://www.carplan.co.uk/index.cfm?page=74
that combined with the pressure washer has lifted a bit but not really touched the surface, has anyone got any wheel cleaner suggestions!????

[Prizam]

This stuff Is very good, but will probably require multiple applications.

[Bailey93]

Devils blood is really good, but smells so bad. Think stink bomb x10

[Krikkit]

Iron-X and a clay bar are probably your best bet... The metal will be embedded into the lacquer on the top surface, so needs something more suited than a boggo wheel cleaner.

[strath44]

thanks I will have a look through those, at a glance iron-x seems to get good reviews!

[TimmyMallett]

I have hot wheels and I also bought a iron removal product (AF iron out) as well just out of interest and I can honestly say the wonder wheels product won. I'm not sure on the active ingredients but back to back on identically dirty front wheels, the ww removed considerably more deposits with less agitation. Plus, it's cheaper.

Edited by TimmyMallett on Friday 13th January 14:43

[drmotorsport]

Bilt Hamber Autowheel is good strong stuff but depending how bad the issue is may need several treatments and then tidying up with a clay bar.

[strath44]

Wonder wheels is very good and at the price is great I think £5-8 at asda & sainsburys etc

I use it every couple of months and it gives good results. I now tend to take the wheels off the cars before cleaning. I don't think people realise how strong these cleaners are, they remove antisieze on the brake pads and tend to make uncoated calipers (look) rusty.

The worst stuff is that used by drive through hand car washes!

[anonymous-user]

Burberry wheel cleaner. It's what the pros use and smells of cherries! Get yourself a wheel cleaning brush too. Both available from Amazon.

Ironx is good but it's not for cleaning wheels.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 13th January 20:26