The Horror of Wheel Wells
08-01-2006, 11:15 PM
#1
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The Horror of Wheel Wells
Well, I've wanted to do this for about the last year and especially this summer--clean the wheel wells to remove the 10 years of nastiness that is grime, grit, grease, oil, cosmoline, and a bit of tar. The previous owners never got under the car, but instead just brought it to the dealer for service. Obviously, dealers don't clean. 
In March, when I got under the car to replace the suspension, I was confronted with the horror that is my wheel wells. Since March is not the time for outdoor washing sessions here in Michigan, I ended up replacing the suspension and putting off the undercarriage cleaning.
Well, today was the day to pay the piper.
I went out and bought 6 cans of Gunk Citrus Degreaser, some brass brushes, some nylon brushes, and some brake cleaner.
After removing the wheels and soaking the wells with degreaser (about 20 minutes), I pulled out the power washer (2300PSI) and started at it. You would not believe the amount of crud that came out of those wells! I repeated the process 3 times per well, including scrubing the problem areas with the brushes. After I was done, I dressed the wells with Aerospace 303 Protectant and moved to the wheels themselves. Although they had some attentions a few months ago, it was time to scrub again.
You can see from the pictures below, it has been quite a transformation. It certainly isn't full concours level, but it is a HUGE improvement!! (MORE PICTURES HERE: http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto/porsche_wheel_wells )
In March, when I got under the car to replace the suspension, I was confronted with the horror that is my wheel wells. Since March is not the time for outdoor washing sessions here in Michigan, I ended up replacing the suspension and putting off the undercarriage cleaning.
Well, today was the day to pay the piper.
I went out and bought 6 cans of Gunk Citrus Degreaser, some brass brushes, some nylon brushes, and some brake cleaner.After removing the wheels and soaking the wells with degreaser (about 20 minutes), I pulled out the power washer (2300PSI) and started at it. You would not believe the amount of crud that came out of those wells! I repeated the process 3 times per well, including scrubing the problem areas with the brushes. After I was done, I dressed the wells with Aerospace 303 Protectant and moved to the wheels themselves. Although they had some attentions a few months ago, it was time to scrub again.
You can see from the pictures below, it has been quite a transformation. It certainly isn't full concours level, but it is a HUGE improvement!! (MORE PICTURES HERE: http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto/porsche_wheel_wells )
Here is the RR before the suspension install
Here is the RR after the suspension install with one crude cleaning at the local carwash, but before the detailed cleaning today
AND NOW AFTER!!!
Here is the right front before the suspension install
Here is the right front before cleaning today
AND NOW AFTER!!!
OVERALL, IT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT!
Here is the RR after the suspension install with one crude cleaning at the local carwash, but before the detailed cleaning today
AND NOW AFTER!!!
Here is the right front before the suspension install
Here is the right front before cleaning today
AND NOW AFTER!!!
OVERALL, IT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT!
08-03-2006, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by dhicks
...now how the hell do you keep them that clean!!!
Fortunately/unfortunately, my 993 is a fair weather friend, so it doesn't seem any winter or rain driving--I have a lease car to bang on when the weather stinks.
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08-05-2006, 01:08 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Are you using the Gunk Citrus Brite Engine degreaser, you have inspired me to tackle the wheel wells of my 1987 Turbo Look Cab. It only has 7k miles, but damn I thought they were suppossed to be black....but I guess not, I have had a little success just testing stuff out, but need the citrus I think, and I assume you dont get too close with the pressure washer.. some of the black satin paint on the brake lines came off, but I guess I will have to redo that... I will take a series off pics as I start... I am actually excited about this, that is sick.
08-06-2006, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 4s
Anthony- Looks great!!If your ever in Southern Cal let me know. I have some wheel wells for you.
(I think you have the names confused.)
08-06-2006, 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by shaynes
Are you using the Gunk Citrus Brite Engine degreaser, you have inspired me to tackle the wheel wells of my 1987 Turbo Look Cab. It only has 7k miles, but damn I thought they were suppossed to be black....but I guess not, I have had a little success just testing stuff out, but need the citrus I think, and I assume you dont get too close with the pressure washer.. some of the black satin paint on the brake lines came off, but I guess I will have to redo that... I will take a series off pics as I start... I am actually excited about this, that is sick.
Good luck and let us see the before and afters.
08-11-2006, 06:36 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
Ok, I am one wheel well done and 5 hours of sweat... mine have a low sheen black spray over the body color that doesn't completely cover, I was thinking according to others who have 3.2's that they were body color, although this is paint baby... The cosmoline was there , and a pantload of it, but that was evident to see and the difference is big, but I wore off the black in a couple of places, and even scrubbed a little much and hit white primer, so I will be touching that wheel well up with low sheen black... Time to hit the PCA Tech and see what they say about this before I continue.
08-12-2006, 08:29 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
My narrow body cars have all had body color wheel wells, and my 968 also, yet I have heard 87-89 some 491 or turbos have a black overspray, this is below the shock towers up into the wheel wells behind the brake lines etc, so it wasn't an afterthought...