Sorry another question... Wheels this time...

[charlescrawley]

Can anyone recommend a good wheel cleaner to help get all that grime from around the split rim bolts on my car and clean up the wheel itself?
I checked out some Autoglym wheel cleaner, but it advised against using it on certain types of wheel, so again, I'm just making sure!
I really want to get the shine back on them, as they're a bit mucky and dulled right now. What really hit me was seeing another S4s (after 2 years living in Lux and seeing none) the other day, with absolutely spanking shiny wheels...

[ErnestM]

Maguires and a toothbrush (for nooks and crannys) may do the trick...

ErnestM

PS: Get some Porterfield R4s pads and you will reduce the brake dust buildup

[sanj]

ErnestM said:

Get some Porterfield R4s pads and you will reduce the brake dust buildup

I beg to differ, but I found these to be perhaps the dustiest pads I've ever used.

Cheers,
Sanj

[rob.e]

Whatever you do, don't use the ones that say "don't use on split rims" they will destroy your lacquer. Maybe a quick call to OZ or their distributor??

Alternatively, try posting on the yahoo group see what the other S4s people use.

Cheers
Rob


ps - regarding brake dust - yep, on my V8 with AP brakes, porterfield pads R4s i do get a lot of brake dust. After my recent European trip the wheels were completely black with dust (anyone who saw the car at supercar sunday can verify this!).

Ernie - maybe you're not driving it hard enough

[johnwatkins]

The wheels aren't lacquered, don't know why, they're just polished.

I did have the car valeted & the dirt was blasted off the wheels with a power washer to reveal corrosion around the bolt heads holding them together

The only way to remove that would be to disassemble them.

I used Belgom Alu, which I got from a bike shop, to polish the rims. This is by far the best aluminium polish & I've still got some if you fancy a trip over to pick it up & take me for a spin in her

Cheers,

John W
Ex '95 Azure Blue S4s

[charlescrawley]

johnwatkins said:

The wheels aren't lacquered, don't know why, they're just polished. I did have the car valeted & the dirt was blasted off the wheels with a power washer to reveal corrosion around the bolt heads holding them together The only way to remove that would be to disassemble them. I used Belgom Alu, which I got from a bike shop, to polish the rims. This is by far the best aluminium polish & I've still got some if you fancy a trip over to pick it up & take me for a spin in her Cheers, John W Ex '95 Azure Blue S4s

Thanks John, though I'm not sure when I'll next be back in England with her, but I'll definitely try to pop down when I am... After the gales last week, I headed back to Lux on Sunday afternoon and had a fantastic run (bar the 20kms of roadworks in Belgium). She didn't miss a beat and even had some chaps in matching Brabus Mercs salivating and taking pictures!
In light of what you said, I might consider getting the wheels refurbed over the worst winter months (it gets *extremely* cold and icy here in February)...

[ErnestM]

I had oem pads on when I acquired the car. I used to get a layer of dust every time I drove it. I drive the car the same amount now that I did then and the same style. Dust just doesn't seem to accumulate as much (3 or 4 spirited drives prior to the layer developing).

I will say this: At about the same time I started using Mother's polish for alloy painted wheels (www.mothers.com). The polish actually protects the wheels and the dust may not be accumulating because of that. I just always thought it was the pads...

They do have better bite than the oems IMHO...

ErnestM

[fflyingdog]

Hi All
Here are my words of wisdom (for what they are worth) I use either Mr Sheen (regular household polish) or WD40,learnt the trick after many years of owning bikes ,chain lube ,brake dust etc.
The house hold polish really does work very well ! Plus its very cheap,WD40 on the other hand works well and leaves a layer of protective film which in turns makes it easier to clean next time.I use Green Stuff pads front and rear and find that these pads dont generate as much dust as the origanal fit.(and i should add work really well ie: stop the car very nicely ! )

Nick 1995 S4s

>> Edited by fflyingdog on Friday 2nd July 14:19

[benfell100]

I used Greenstuff on my S4 and found they didn't give a significant improvement in stopping over the oem pads on the Toyota setup. Now thats not the best brake setup ever introduced on a car let alone a sports car. I have gone to the AP kit and put on Ferodo DS3000 pads. If you want to see G-forces in braking and test your abs by the squeel of the tyres locking and unlocking, then get these. They do create dust but hey thats cosmetic right? Its the stopping power that will impress.
Oh, and I just use soapy water and a sponge to clean them.
Dom

[karlfranz]

sanj said:

ErnestM said: Get some Porterfield R4s pads and you will reduce the brake dust buildup I beg to differ, but I found these to be perhaps the dustiest pads I've ever used. Cheers, Sanj

Hi Sanj,

I'm confused by this. I have heard others state this before, however my experience is the same as Ernie's. When I had the OEM Brembo pads, my wheels would get absolutely FILTHY in just one short drive. After switching to the Porterfield R4-S I get almost NO brake dust. I can drive the car for weeks and the wheels still look clean. Are you sure that you weren't sent a set of R4 (race) pads by mistake.

[sanj]

karlfranz said:

Hi Sanj, Are you sure that you weren't sent a set of R4 (race) pads by mistake.

Quite sure, in fact I tried a couple of sets before I decided they were useless on the track (yes, I know they're not meant for track use) and not that good on the street either. I'm curently running the XP9 full race compound from Carbotech. They actually have better cold performance than the R4-S, along with less dust even when tracked heavily.

Cheers,
Sanj

[johnwatkins]

Charles,

Here's a link from LEW about a guy who refurbed his S4s wheels, no small task

www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/wheelrefurb.html

Cheers,

John W

[charlescrawley]

johnwatkins said:

Charles, Here's a link from LEW about a guy who refurbed his S4s wheels, no small task <a href="http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/wheelrefurb.html">www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/wheelrefurb.html</a> Cheers, John W

Yes, I read that with interest! Certainly I'm not going to lose my wheels for a week or so in the height of summer (sic), so I'm going to relegate a toothbrush for wheel cleaning duties this coming weekend. I was hoping to spend a day cleaning last weekend, but the weather's been pretty awful here... Ah well... At least it's not been so bad that I can't go for a drive... The roads around here are damn good... No cameras, little traffic, better quality road surfaces and only physical policemen to keep an eye out for... Bliss!

Cheers,



Charles
'95 Azure Blue S4s

>> Edited by charlescrawley on Monday 5th July 13:05

[sunar]

John W

Refurbishing the wheels was indeed a big job.

Regards, Arne (the one who did it)
89 Non SE