Cleaning Severe Brake Dust from Wheels from Track Events
#17
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try 3M adhesive remover. It can be used on the clear coat without hurting it, but you should re-wax them. To reduce the amount of dust that stays on the wheels in the first place, I have had great success with REJEX, an industrial type synthetic wax that has been discussed on the Rennlist before. It can handle the heat, and seems to significantly reduce the amount of dust that I've had to deal with. It is great on the paint, windows...No affiliation, etc.
#18
Billowing in the Wind
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I bought a set of wheels that were coated in brake dust. By accident I found out that Armor All removed the dust. YMMV, but it worked for me.
#20
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One of the ingredents in Easy Off is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). You find it in a lot cleaning products like oven cleaner and drain cleaners. The problem is that NaOH will dissolve aluminum oxides. Easy Off also makes a great paint remover, it is inexpensive and people use it to strip car paint. If you use it make sure it doesn't sit too long and get it ALL off of aluminum or painted wheels.
#22
Race Director
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George, I have the same CCW wheels as you do and although my wheels were wax with RejeX they brake dust still caked on. I got just about all of it off with brake cleaner. I got this tip from a Indy car crew member. They also use this aerosol spray degreaser that works ok but most use brake parts cleaner.
#24
uninformed gas bag
(contemplating on whether gas bag is one or two words)
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Bet the metal was aluminum.
One of the ingredents in Easy Off is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). You find it in a lot cleaning products like oven cleaner and drain cleaners. The problem is that NaOH will dissolve aluminum oxides. Easy Off also makes a great paint remover, it is inexpensive and people use it to strip car paint. If you use it make sure it doesn't sit too long and get it ALL off of aluminum or painted wheels.
One of the ingredents in Easy Off is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). You find it in a lot cleaning products like oven cleaner and drain cleaners. The problem is that NaOH will dissolve aluminum oxides. Easy Off also makes a great paint remover, it is inexpensive and people use it to strip car paint. If you use it make sure it doesn't sit too long and get it ALL off of aluminum or painted wheels.
#25
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Thread Starter
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Well, I tried all the stuff you guys recommended. The best one was EZ Off oven cleaner. You see, my problem was not brake DUST, it was brake dust baked and caked on pretty bad. Like crud. It took me an hour with the safety glasses and rubber gloves and wire brush and scotch pad, but I was only able to get about 93% of it off. Still look a lot better
Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
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Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
.
#27
Race Car
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Did the brake dust get wet and then dry again on the surface of the wheel...or is it simply buildup?
You may be able to get the rest of it out with an acid based wheel cleaner. I actualy use straight wheel acid cut 50/50 with water on tougher jobs but you have to be very careful and be maticulous with your process to insure you don't harm the finish of your wheels (which you already tried a scotchbright pad on???).
There's also a couple of commercially available acid based cleaners that are formulated to be safe(er) as long as you use them as directed. Check out Meguiars Wheel Brightener or Poorboys Spray and Rinse ('cept you really still have to scrub with it so I don't understand the name). As with the oven cleaner use a mask and gloves when using acid on your wheels.
Andy
You may be able to get the rest of it out with an acid based wheel cleaner. I actualy use straight wheel acid cut 50/50 with water on tougher jobs but you have to be very careful and be maticulous with your process to insure you don't harm the finish of your wheels (which you already tried a scotchbright pad on???).
There's also a couple of commercially available acid based cleaners that are formulated to be safe(er) as long as you use them as directed. Check out Meguiars Wheel Brightener or Poorboys Spray and Rinse ('cept you really still have to scrub with it so I don't understand the name). As with the oven cleaner use a mask and gloves when using acid on your wheels.
Andy
Well, I tried all the stuff you guys recommended. The best one was EZ Off oven cleaner. You see, my problem was not brake DUST, it was brake dust baked and caked on pretty bad. Like crud. It took me an hour with the safety glasses and rubber gloves and wire brush and scotch pad, but I was only able to get about 93% of it off. Still look a lot better
Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
.
Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
.
#28
Rennlist Member
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Well, I tried all the stuff you guys recommended. The best one was EZ Off oven cleaner. You see, my problem was not brake DUST, it was brake dust baked and caked on pretty bad. Like crud. It took me an hour with the safety glasses and rubber gloves and wire brush and scotch pad, but I was only able to get about 93% of it off. Still look a lot better
Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
.
Thanks guys !!!
![Cheers](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/beerchug.gif)
.
![Big Grin](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#29
Race Director
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Well I've got to try the EZ-OFF on my CCW wheels this weekend. There does not seem to be a clearcoat on CCW wheels. Anyway maybe I will take one of those Mothers Polishing ***** and shine them up a little because the silver CCW wheels are rather dull.