Stubborn Brake Dust On Chrome Part Of Rim

[nuffsaid]

Hi all

My current rims have a chrome lip, and due to brake dust there has been some slight tarnishing/patchiness/staining and build up of guk on the bits of the chrome.

I can kinda scratch it off with my finger nails, and in some sections, it just looks a bit tarnished.

Tried some light polish, some meguiars products, nothing can get it off.

I am guessing its due to the brake dust because the rear wheels are completely fine, just the front rims.

It kinda looks like water marks and is not as smooth when you run your finger over the chrome lip.

Any suggestions on what I can do?

Thanks all

Edited October 30, 2006 by nuffsaid

[Mr Eps]

acid?

my wheels have anodised steel on the outer and it's a lil faded, perhaps someone can help me too?

[VAGABOND]

i read somewhere about this. there really isnt anything you can do apart from getting your rims resprayed to look like new again. the best thing to do is when you have new rims is regularly clean them because its the dirt and brake dust that damages them

[nuffsaid]

Yeah I noticed that it only just recently came up because I hadnt washed my wheels in 3 weeks and my pads are pretty dusty.

Cmon, tell me there is something I can do, wheels look terrible now! =(

[SKY031]

metho will remove the staining, but if you want to give it a go, be EXTREMELY careful and make sure you don't get any on the tyres. Put the metho on a rag, apply it directly to the stained areas and rub.

*Disclaimer: If your tyres melt, i won't take responsibility for it!

If you want to try something a bit safer, have a go with some autosol.

[nuffsaid]

How about kerosene? will that work? Dont think I have any metho lying around.

[SKY031]

yeah kero should work, but again, be ULTRA CAREFUL not to get it on the tyres.

[nuffsaid]

Ill give it a go, ill put it on a ray then wipe, should keep it off the rubber.

Will it damage/mark/scar the topcoat on the chrome? or dull the finish?

[ctjet]

citric acid works really well... in pure form its strip the shit out of just about anything

[SKY031]

if it's chrome, spirits shouldn't dull the finish, if you're scared of scratches, make sure you get any surface grit off first.

If you have the slightest concern about using spirits near the rubber, then try autosol first

if you can't find autosol (or don't want to spend money on something that might not work) go and raid the kitchen.

vinegar and bicarb is a very user friendly (and enviro friendly) combination for any cleaning task!

[nuffsaid]

Do the Meguiars Hot Rims or similar products work?

Those spray on hose off kind of products.

[nuffsaid]

Also, I have autosol at home but it seems rather chalky and I am worried it will scratch the chrome part of the rim.

[N1GTR]

Pics of before and after?

I have this problem with one of my sets, the worst part is, the national electroplating union says no one in Oz does car wheel dipping, heaps do trucks, but none to car rims....

[nuffsaid]

I put some Meguiars paint cleaner on it yesterday and rubbed the hell out of it with a terry towel. Seems to have cleared up most of the problem.

Also scratched off the really stubborn bits with my finger nail heheh

Anyone have any other good tricks?

[Marsss]

depending on the type of chrome you have.. if it's not high quality take care not to use any abrasive products like Autosol or cutting creams... at this stage you'll need lots of elbow grease and WINDEX... and use a cotton cloth like an old T-shirt.

[nuffsaid]

Yeah I think I may have already slightly scratched it, its not really noticeable anyway so I am not too fussed.

I waxed the chrome part of the rim so that the brake dust should come off easier next time.

Alot of elbow grease went into it last nite, most of it seemed to have come off.

The chrome feels very plastic-ky though, not like solid metal. seems as if there is a clearcoat on them

[Marsss]

my point exactly..try not to let the dust build up...if it's black dust maybe you should consider changing your brake pads to Bendix Ultimates as the dust is "white" and not as harsh on chrome.

[nuffsaid]

Its brown dust, that usually, if i wash my wheels once a week, comes off really easily. Problem is this time I left it on to bake too long.

My Formula Ferodo pads are just way too dusty for me, maybe on par with Ultimates, but they give off a brownish dust which is the adhesive compound in the pad material moreso than metal filings.

I have given up on finding performance pads with low dust, i think its like asking for good tyres that last a long time.

[SKY031]

the national electroplating union says no one in Oz does car wheel dipping, heaps do trucks, but none to car rims....

Many mag manufacturers have total control over their products, which means that some multi piece rims can't be disassembled by anyone other than the manufacturer.

If this is the case with the brand mags that you have, the only option is to send them back to the manufacturer for repair/restoration work.

However, unless the finish on the plating has somehow been compromised, they wouldn't need to be re-plated.

There are heaps of places that specialise in mag wheel polishing/restoration, but after having a quick look, I couldn't find any local to you.

[N1GTR]

Many mag manufacturers have total control over their products, which means that some multi piece rims can't be disassembled by anyone other than the manufacturer.

If this is the case with the brand mags that you have, the only option is to send them back to the manufacturer for repair/restoration work.

However, unless the finish on the plating has somehow been compromised, they wouldn't need to be re-plated.

There are heaps of places that specialise in mag wheel polishing/restoration, but after having a quick look, I couldn't find any local to you.

Thanks for that mate

yeah i spent a day ringing every place in Australia, no one will do them back to how they are now

All i can do for them, is have them polished and the middles sprayed with black (powdercoat), but thats a fair bit of hassle, i think its time for them to go