Cleaning Alloy Wheels -- Regular Procedure or PITA ? or Both
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
Cleaning Alloy Wheels -- Regular Procedure or PITA ? or Both
Hi Guys/Gals --
Was wondering what is your procedure for cleaning wheels. I noticed that while it took about 12 minutes to exterior wash the TT, 15 minutes to dry and touch up places and another 15 to clean windows and do miscellaneous, it takes about 1 hour to clean the wheels -- anything better? This is what I do for the wheels when I haven't washed in two weeks (probably wouldn't take as much time once per week) :
1. Spray with Water and Cleaner
2. Agitate with Various Brushes -- large brush for outside, smaller brushes for backside of wheel spokes and inside of rim, toilet bowl brush for rear of inner rim/brakes, toothbrush for lug nut holes, agitate/brush down brakes -- put cleaner on brushes while brushing
3. Rinse Continuously while doing above
3. Wipe down outside and inside of wheel -- inner rim and inner spokes with cotton cloth
4. Put Zaino Z-6 on to hopefully make clear coat a bit slicker
That takes about an hour
Then every once in a while, I will get an aluminum polisher (Wenol or Mothers), put that on the wheels outside and in for spots, then put Zaino polish on the outside of the wheel and the clear coat; then Z-6 again
That takes another hour.
Is there a better way? I've got more brushes for wheels than I do for the car.
Wheels are a back and knee killer. In addition, the new wife thinks I'm a car nut or that I'm just nuts.
Was wondering what is your procedure for cleaning wheels. I noticed that while it took about 12 minutes to exterior wash the TT, 15 minutes to dry and touch up places and another 15 to clean windows and do miscellaneous, it takes about 1 hour to clean the wheels -- anything better? This is what I do for the wheels when I haven't washed in two weeks (probably wouldn't take as much time once per week) :
1. Spray with Water and Cleaner
2. Agitate with Various Brushes -- large brush for outside, smaller brushes for backside of wheel spokes and inside of rim, toilet bowl brush for rear of inner rim/brakes, toothbrush for lug nut holes, agitate/brush down brakes -- put cleaner on brushes while brushing
3. Rinse Continuously while doing above
3. Wipe down outside and inside of wheel -- inner rim and inner spokes with cotton cloth
4. Put Zaino Z-6 on to hopefully make clear coat a bit slicker
That takes about an hour
Then every once in a while, I will get an aluminum polisher (Wenol or Mothers), put that on the wheels outside and in for spots, then put Zaino polish on the outside of the wheel and the clear coat; then Z-6 again
That takes another hour.
Is there a better way? I've got more brushes for wheels than I do for the car.
Wheels are a back and knee killer. In addition, the new wife thinks I'm a car nut or that I'm just nuts.
Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,770
Likes: 0
You are very meticulous...
It takes me about 15 minutes to do all four wheels for normal cleaning.
I use the same soapy water from washing the car, then take a large brush and scrub. After rinsing I take a dry towel and get any of the dust I missed.
When I rotate the wheels/tires I clean the inside of the wheel ~ prolly 10 minutes/wheel.
I use the same soapy water from washing the car, then take a large brush and scrub. After rinsing I take a dry towel and get any of the dust I missed.
When I rotate the wheels/tires I clean the inside of the wheel ~ prolly 10 minutes/wheel.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
I do pretty much the same thing you do...
I spray Meguiars hot rims cleaner on them then spray them with water. Then I wipe them down with towels because there's always some brake dust left on the spokes. Then I spray Z6 on them and wipe them down again. It takes forever. Hopefully when I get new wheels it won't be as bad. I also need to put Porterfields on the front. I have them in the rear and there is hardly any dust.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
Yes, starting getting **** when I let the dealer clean the car twice
when I brought it in -- I was getting ready for my wedding and didn't have time to do the regular wash (usually don't let dealer wash as I have issues with swirls)
So when I get back from the honeymoon and look at the car -- I find out that the dealer hasn't been cleaning the inside of the wheels -- so all of this black stuff was caking up inside of the wheel and on the brakes -- and once it takes hold -- it's difficult to get off -- so I have been **** the last 2 months about the wheels.
So when I get back from the honeymoon and look at the car -- I find out that the dealer hasn't been cleaning the inside of the wheels -- so all of this black stuff was caking up inside of the wheel and on the brakes -- and once it takes hold -- it's difficult to get off -- so I have been **** the last 2 months about the wheels.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 13,257
Likes: 0
Spray wheels with Meguires Hot Wheel cleaner - rinse then use wash mitt with leftover soap from
washing car. No brushes, no scrubbing, just really clean wheels. Finish with a little quick detailer after doing tires.
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 0
Yes, if you don't -- then it will cake up with permanent brake dust bunnies
and can corrode your wheels
Some on the board take their wheels off the car every 6 months or so and clean and wax the inside of the wheels
Some on the board take their wheels off the car every 6 months or so and clean and wax the inside of the wheels