Are rotors supposed to be cleaned at all? What about the inside of the wheel ( drums) ? Tks

 

Rotors? They get cleaned every time you brake.

Wheel barrels? Yes. Best low-maintenance way is to clean them up really well and then ceramic coat the barrel (and the wheel face) so that they wash off easily in the future.

 

I bought a huge jug of Sonax wheel cleaner which I use to soak the wheel, rotors and calipers. I also used a brush to swirl everything around and get into the small nooks/crannies.

I personally dont believe the rotors are necessary to wash the way I do.

 

yes, you should wash out all the brakes and suspension parts. Take wheels off, wash everything and dry with air

 

Yes, and yes.

I use a MasterBlaster. First, I blow out the rotors and calipers while everything is dry. After the dust clears, , I wash everthing with just car soap and water (a properly coated wheel [RejeX Wax or Optimum Gloss Coat] does not need a fancy wheel cleaner). Then blow dry with the MB.

 

I've never used/needed a wheel cleaner ....ever. If you wash at reasonable intervals wheels are simple to clean IMO. If you don't clean the barrels regularly you could end up with balance issues. Rain cleans brakes............

 

Supposed to, no. It just depends on what level of clean you want. If you want really clean rotors, just replace them. At $100/rotor, you could change them out when rinsing with soap and water don't clean them to your standards anymore. Joking, but not really. It depends on your OCD for cleanliness. I'd rather replace rotors than try to clean them to perfection.

 

OMG! Lex's wheels look like new....and I know how many miles he puts on his car too. Wow. I need to get busy.

 

Don't fall for it. He Photoshops those just like he does the pics of the WeatherTech girls!!!

 

LMAO!

I usually wash the inside of the wheel and the brake caliper with just soap, probably every other time i wash the car.....

 

Same, except every time I wash the car. I use the soap bucket I've just washed the car with and an old wash mitt. Get in there, swish the mitt around, rinse with a hose. Takes a couple of minutes per wheel. I also wash down the tires and inside of wheel well as well while I'm down there. Oh, I don't do the rotors. Let the brake pads do that.

 

If I only knew how to use photoshop, I would have rotated the crest to point towards the value stem.

 

Dam made me look...

 

Anybody use WD40 ?

 

I use WD40 for a lot of things, just not on my brakes. Are you trying to avoid instant rust build up on the rotor's surface?

I wash my wheels, brakes and wheel wells at the end when I'm done washing and drying the car. Sometimes I do it the next day.