How to get stubborn brake dust off my wheel?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
How to get stubborn brake dust off my wheel?
I've had my ML500 for 4 years now and its been running with OE brake pad until last month. I notice a bit different in brake dust deposit on my wheel now but I'm not able to clean out the 4 years of brake dust that accumulated on my OEM wheel. I tried simple green and other stuff but non worked. Anyone know a good way to get my wheel back to new car shine? Thanks.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 288
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by honda96vf750
I would try some motorcycle cleaner S-100 from Dr.wack it cleans all the grit and grime and chain spray from my alu rims with ease
Would it be to powerful for the wheel finish?
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: oregon
2011 C300
Originally Posted by m500
I've had my ML500 for 4 years now and its been running with OE brake pad until last month. I notice a bit different in brake dust deposit on my wheel now but I'm not able to clean out the 4 years of brake dust that accumulated on my OEM wheel. I tried simple green and other stuff but non worked. Anyone know a good way to get my wheel back to new car shine? Thanks.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 288
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by JDM
..Did I get that right? you havent cleaned the wheels in four years? or you havent cleaned the inside of the rims in four years? Brake dust left to set is really tuff to get off, and may never be entirely removed. It will take a chemical. I doubt a clay bar would do it..but I've never tried. Be careful about the finish on the wheel, some chemicals will eat it. I recommend cleaning the wheels with soap and water thoroughly every time you wash, at least once a month. I feed a cloth into the inside part of the wheels, and wash inside the wheel too. Then you never have to worry about build up baking on, and never have to use a chemical to get it off.
I washed my car at least once a month and occationally if the weather permits in Cali I would let it go 6 weeks before my next wash. I use to wash my wheel every other week for the first year but the brake dust was so much and re-appears in 3 days I finally gave up and just clean it when I washing my car. Now with the new brake pad I notice my wheel stay clean for weeks and I wanted to bring my wheel back to life again.
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From: oregon
2011 C300
I see..mine start to get dusty after about 3 days of driving as well, but washing them every two to three weeks has kept them perfect. My friends bmw went about 5 months with no wash, and the brake dust stuck like paint. Nice to hear you found a pad that will give you a break. I hate brake dust, but maybe the soft pads preserve the rotors longer. Oh well, give and take I guess.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
The armor all wheel cleaner seems to be good, soak ur wheel with the soap then brush it, and then spray it off.
it works alot better if you have a Husky 1850psi washer =]
it works alot better if you have a Husky 1850psi washer =]
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Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
I have had good luck with a pressure washer...
Just yesterday, I was washing my car, and noticed that brake dust had stuck hard on the lips of the rims, where the rim meets the tire. I just focussed the pressure washer jet on the edge, and it nicely blew of all the brake dust...
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Boston, MA
00 MB ML55, 91 Toyota Supra Turbo(sold), 06 E500(gone), 03 BMW M3
Originally Posted by m500
I washed my car at least once a month and occationally if the weather permits in Cali I would let it go 6 weeks before my next wash. I use to wash my wheel every other week for the first year but the brake dust was so much and re-appears in 3 days I finally gave up and just clean it when I washing my car. Now with the new brake pad I notice my wheel stay clean for weeks and I wanted to bring my wheel back to life again.
Your best bet is to get them looking new again is to pull them all off 1 by 1 and use compound, to work all that crap out of the paint, also use warm-hot water and simple green, to get the stuff off on the inside with a soft bristle brush.
No easy way to do this and if they are as bad as I assume they are, you have an easy 6+ hours of restoration time.
