Alloy cleaning

ethos · 24-06-2007, 15:05

Hi guys,

How do you clean your alloys?

I bought a brush from halfords today, but it was pretty rubbish. Ended up wetting a microfibre towel with nxt wash and wiping all the brake dust / rubbish off then chucking some water over it.

Is it ok to do this?! Don't want to scratch the alloys!

When I get my 915 wax i'll polish them with autoglym super resin polish and then wax em. That's what's recommend yea?

Lummox · 24-06-2007, 15:23

Getting them super clean and then waxing does usually make it easy to keep them clean. I tend to wash mine with a sponge and what ever im washing the car with. Use the two bucket method though and a differeent sponge to what you wash the car with to stop and transfer of dirt onto the body.

Works for me

gillywibble · 24-06-2007, 15:27

If they're really dirty, might be worth getting something like Megs wheel brightener, diluting 4:1 to start with and agitating with a decent wheel brush. After waxing, you can still use Megs diluted to 10:1 although I prefer a non-acidic product at that point (specifically from Auto Brite).

mluton · 24-06-2007, 15:38

I use a soth brisseled tooth brush for the harder area's using the same stuff im washing the car with.

i dont put anything on them after, but i will start to soon, to make life easier.

anonymouse · 24-06-2007, 15:43

Just polished mine - after cleaning of course. Polishing was a pain in the neck but so worthwhile after - no hard rubbing, dirt & brake dust just glides off.

Irf · 24-06-2007, 16:40

If your using the origional 17" spider wheels then an AG Wheel brush is great to get inbetween the spokes and inside the wheel. I use AG wheel cleaner and it works fine for me. For the outside of the spokes I use a spare microfibre glove. Not waxed my wheels yet so they're harder to clean but that AG seems to do the trick without being too strong for the finish.

vRSLen · 24-06-2007, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Getting them super clean and then waxing does usually make it easy to keep them clean. I tend to wash mine with a sponge and what ever im washing the car with. Use the two bucket method though and a differeent sponge to what you wash the car with to stop and transfer of dirt onto the body.

Works for me

Me too

My MKI Octy wheels took ages to clean but the MKII 18" one are a lot easier

mattbeef · 24-06-2007, 18:42

Ive got a megs brush which is good but because of my wheels they flick the brake dust at you so all being well ill get the wheels off tomorrow and then get some wheel guard on them

scary_leary · 26-06-2007, 07:04

I use a babies bottle brush..
the shape is spot on for cleaning spoked wheels ie: vrs ones.

stevenh · 26-06-2007, 11:58

I use a microfiber cloth, but then S3 alloys are a damn sight easier to clean than the original Octy ones!

(And being graphite coloured, don't need doing as often

)

I did cover them with 4 coats of Poorboys Wheel Sealant when I got them refurbed - must redo them sometime!

cheezemonkhai · 27-06-2007, 19:01

I gave them a good clean with the autoglym acid free wheel cleaner and the AG wheel brush, then treated them with the nano protect stuff by carplan.

The brake dust just comes off with the pressure washer on a low pressure setting

richie · 30-06-2007, 11:05

Try Car Plan alloy wheel cleaner. Simply paint on with the provided brush, let the stuff do its magic and clean off with a hose or jet wash.

Zebra · 30-06-2007, 11:56

I use a good paintbrush and some Mothers California Gold car shampoo and water in a small container.

I'll wetb the wheel first and wash them with the paintbrush and soap solution. When they are clean and dry I apply Rejex polymer to prevent build up and also to continue to make them easy to clean.

orbital · 01-07-2007, 10:44

tesco sell an alloy wheel cleaning brush abt £2.50 i think.its much better quality than anything halfrauds sell!

vRSLen · 01-07-2007, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbital

tesco sell an alloy wheel cleaning brush abt £2.50 i think.its much better quality than anything halfrauds sell!

And they have a tendancy to break after a few times

Tom_vRS · 01-07-2007, 20:16

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/styli...52/#post958541

Thats how I did mine!

The most important thing imho, is you can't clean an alloy properly when its on the car. Lay it on a couple of batons or something though as its quite likely the spokes will sit proud. Fortunately they don't on the Passat, but I did damage the spokes of my old Corsas wheel.

Marwood · 14-07-2007, 21:14

May I suggest the following. Works well on my Mkll vRS 18s.

Sonus Rim Bright Alloy Wheel Cleaner

Black Wheel ShMitt

Paul

24-06-2007, 15:05	#1
ethos Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,186 Members Car: Thanks: 61 Thanked 37 Times in 33 Posts	Alloy cleaning Hi guys, How do you clean your alloys? I bought a brush from halfords today, but it was pretty rubbish. Ended up wetting a microfibre towel with nxt wash and wiping all the brake dust / rubbish off then chucking some water over it. Is it ok to do this?! Don't want to scratch the alloys! When I get my 915 wax i'll polish them with autoglym super resin polish and then wax em. That's what's recommend yea?

24-06-2007, 15:23	#2
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,420 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 746 Times in 626 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning Getting them super clean and then waxing does usually make it easy to keep them clean. I tend to wash mine with a sponge and what ever im washing the car with. Use the two bucket method though and a differeent sponge to what you wash the car with to stop and transfer of dirt onto the body. Works for me __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

24-06-2007, 15:27	#3
gillywibble Cuthbert Dibble Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Watching Tom peeping at Lady Godiva. Posts: 7,121 Members Car: Octavia Elegance 2.0 Tdi Thanks: 231 Thanked 261 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning If they're really dirty, might be worth getting something like Megs wheel brightener, diluting 4:1 to start with and agitating with a decent wheel brush. After waxing, you can still use Megs diluted to 10:1 although I prefer a non-acidic product at that point (specifically from Auto Brite). __________________ I drink, therefore I spam.

24-06-2007, 15:38	#4
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,398 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 226 Times in 201 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning I use a soth brisseled tooth brush for the harder area's using the same stuff im washing the car with. i dont put anything on them after, but i will start to soon, to make life easier. __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

24-06-2007, 15:43	#5
anonymouse Nuts Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 8,452 Members Car: Fabia vRS Thanks: 152 Thanked 258 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning Just polished mine - after cleaning of course. Polishing was a pain in the neck but so worthwhile after - no hard rubbing, dirt & brake dust just glides off. __________________ "Stupidity, if left untreated, is self-correcting." - Heinlein

24-06-2007, 16:40	#6
Irf Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 691 Members Car: Furby vRS Thanks: 148 Thanked 60 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning If your using the origional 17" spider wheels then an AG Wheel brush is great to get inbetween the spokes and inside the wheel. I use AG wheel cleaner and it works fine for me. For the outside of the spokes I use a spare microfibre glove. Not waxed my wheels yet so they're harder to clean but that AG seems to do the trick without being too strong for the finish. __________________ FURBY VRS: cruise, xenons, ESP, heated seats, Revo, Eibachs, Koni FSDs, PD160 pipe, Jabba rear arb, Allard EGR pipe, EGR totally removed, Powertec induction kit, Milltek full system, Garrett GT17, Forge FMIC, 17" Octy wheels, debadged, side strips removed, Seat Cupra splitter, 312mm brakes... ICE: Alpine 9835, Alpine changer, Alpine X-Type sub, Alpine MRDM1000 & MRFV340 amps, Alpine Remote Amp Controller, Boston Acoustics Pro60.... NEXT: re-remap & clutch

24-06-2007, 18:42	#8
mattbeef Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 3,365 Members Car: Red Octy vRS Thanks: 36 Thanked 116 Times in 115 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning Ive got a megs brush which is good but because of my wheels they flick the brake dust at you so all being well ill get the wheels off tomorrow and then get some wheel guard on them __________________ I few bits here and there but im happy to Performance Torque Go on click me you know you want to

26-06-2007, 07:04	#9
scary_leary Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Blackburn Posts: 108 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Alloy cleaning I use a babies bottle brush.. the shape is spot on for cleaning spoked wheels ie: vrs ones. __________________

26-06-2007, 11:58	#10
stevenh Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Location, Location Posts: 1,052 Members Car: Octavia vRS Thanks: 27 Thanked 33 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning I use a microfiber cloth, but then S3 alloys are a damn sight easier to clean than the original Octy ones! (And being graphite coloured, don't need doing as often ) I did cover them with 4 coats of Poorboys Wheel Sealant when I got them refurbed - must redo them sometime! __________________

27-06-2007, 19:01	#11
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,546 Members Car: Thanks: 110 Thanked 511 Times in 474 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning I gave them a good clean with the autoglym acid free wheel cleaner and the AG wheel brush, then treated them with the nano protect stuff by carplan. The brake dust just comes off with the pressure washer on a low pressure setting __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

30-06-2007, 11:05	#12
richie The Stig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heading back to Planet Wibble Posts: 3,111 Members Car: octavia vrs Thanks: 133 Thanked 42 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning Try Car Plan alloy wheel cleaner. Simply paint on with the provided brush, let the stuff do its magic and clean off with a hose or jet wash. __________________ Please see my advert in Members Services. Yorkshire born, Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm, thick in the head

30-06-2007, 11:56	#13
Zebra Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 256 Members Car: Skoda Fabia 3 Thanks: 25 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning I use a good paintbrush and some Mothers California Gold car shampoo and water in a small container. I'll wetb the wheel first and wash them with the paintbrush and soap solution. When they are clean and dry I apply Rejex polymer to prevent build up and also to continue to make them easy to clean.

01-07-2007, 10:44	#14
orbital Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: rochdale Posts: 50 Members Car: fabia vrs Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning tesco sell an alloy wheel cleaning brush abt £2.50 i think.its much better quality than anything halfrauds sell!

01-07-2007, 20:16	#16
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,545 Members Car: '97R BMW 328i Saloon Thanks: 682 Thanked 428 Times in 305 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning http://www.briskoda.net/forums/styli...52/#post958541 Thats how I did mine! The most important thing imho, is you can't clean an alloy properly when its on the car. Lay it on a couple of batons or something though as its quite likely the spokes will sit proud. Fortunately they don't on the Passat, but I did damage the spokes of my old Corsas wheel. __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green.

14-07-2007, 21:14	#17
Marwood Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 211 Members Car: Skoda Octavia. Thanks: 48 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Alloy cleaning May I suggest the following. Works well on my Mkll vRS 18s. Sonus Rim Bright Alloy Wheel Cleaner Black Wheel ShMitt Paul __________________ *"Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day."*

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