brake dust relief - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

Kevin M · 2004-07-05, 02:44 PM

Okay, so I thought I was going to be selling my P1s (seems to have fallen through though... que sera and all that) and I decided to get them actually clean, since I try to be a nice guy and all. Plus, I have a public reputation to protect.

Anyways, I'm having a hell of a time getting the last of the dust. I know it's from the Thunder Hill track day, having lots of superheated brake dust from brand-new pads and rotors flung at the wheels at high speed. It's stuck on their pretty good and I can't figure out how to get it off without damaging the paint. It's almost like it's rust, but I don't think it's gotten through the paint on the wheels. Any suggestions? Simple Green, Windex, Amaze, and CLR have all failed. Now what do I try?

Dean · 2004-07-05, 05:59 PM

Brake cleaner maybe? Make sure you read the can first, and try a very small amount on the inside lip first to be safe...

khail19 · 2004-07-05, 11:07 PM

You might try paint thinner or acetone. The brake cleaner might do the trick too, but it's pretty toxic stuff so be careful with it. If you use acetone you might want to dilute it first. Before you go crazy with the industrial stuff, have you tried just a regular wheel cleaner? Sometimes they work pretty good if you let them soak on for a couple of minutes.

Kevin M · 2004-07-06, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean

Brake cleaner maybe? Make sure you read the can first, and try a very small amount on the inside lip first to be safe...

I'm all out. But, isn't it a bit sketchy using it on painted surfaces?

Kevin M · 2004-07-06, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khail19

You might try paint thinner or acetone. The brake cleaner might do the trick too, but it's pretty toxic stuff so be careful with it. If you use acetone you might want to dilute it first. Before you go crazy with the industrial stuff, have you tried just a regular wheel cleaner? Sometimes they work pretty good if you let them soak on for a couple of minutes.

Ran out of that too. I'm kinda hoping that some sort of household solvent like vinegar or something is the answer. I guess I'll just go invest in another bottle of wheel cleaner first.

Thanks for the help guys.

sperry · 2004-07-06, 08:02 AM

Don't forget, good ol' elbow grease works too.... I used wheel cleaner, simple green and a *ton* of rubbing to clean up all the Axxis Utimate dust from my SubZeros before tI sold them. It took a lot of work, but they came out clean as new!

2004-07-05, 02:44 PM	#1
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	brake dust relief Okay, so I thought I was going to be selling my P1s (seems to have fallen through though... que sera and all that) and I decided to get them actually clean, since I try to be a nice guy and all. Plus, I have a public reputation to protect. Anyways, I'm having a hell of a time getting the last of the dust. I know it's from the Thunder Hill track day, having lots of superheated brake dust from brand-new pads and rotors flung at the wheels at high speed. It's stuck on their pretty good and I can't figure out how to get it off without damaging the paint. It's almost like it's rust, but I don't think it's gotten through the paint on the wheels. Any suggestions? Simple Green, Windex, Amaze, and CLR have all failed. Now what do I try? __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2004-07-05, 05:59 PM	#2
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Brake cleaner maybe? Make sure you read the can first, and try a very small amount on the inside lip first to be safe... __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2004-07-06, 08:02 AM	#6
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	Don't forget, good ol' elbow grease works too.... I used wheel cleaner, simple green and a ton of rubbing to clean up all the Axxis Utimate dust from my SubZeros before tI sold them. It took a lot of work, but they came out clean as new! __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

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2004-07-05, 11:07 PM	#3
khail19 EJ205 Real Name: Khail Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,769 Car: 2016 VW GTI Meets? We have meets?	You might try paint thinner or acetone. The brake cleaner might do the trick too, but it's pretty toxic stuff so be careful with it. If you use acetone you might want to dilute it first. Before you go crazy with the industrial stuff, have you tried just a regular wheel cleaner? Sometimes they work pretty good if you let them soak on for a couple of minutes.