10 Years of Dirt and Brake Dust is Just Too Much

Discussion in 'Pre Wash, Wash, Decon, Claying, Engine, Wheels, an' started by froboy272, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. froboy272

    froboy272 Obsessive Detailer

    2001 Honda Odyssey Rim



    Tried Sonax


    Then Tried Megs WB at 1:3


    Before the WB I Applied Tarminator and then Grime Reaper 1:3. Guess these rims are just shot. 10 years is too long to recover from having never been cleaned.
  2. spyder

    spyder Virgin Detailer

    Iron x might be worth a shot. Or maybe P21s power gel left to dwell for a few hours?
  3. froboy272

    froboy272 Obsessive Detailer

    I felt like the Sonax would have attacked any Iron Particles so Iron X would be redundant. Maybe I should try that anyway. I was scrubbing the hell out of it with a very very stiff brush that i usually use to clean the tires with. How long can Sonax and Megs WB be left to dwell?
  4. luke093

    luke093 Welcome to Detailing

    Yep, had the same issue with the CRV. Used everything. So I ended up using a wire brush since the inside is not clear coated and what seemed to be metal. Did the job, but it did not get 100%, about 85%.
  5. 604_Snooze

    604_Snooze Obsessive Detailer

    I thought you have some Brown Royal, give it a try
  6. Chaseme

    Chaseme DB Forum Supporter

    Reminds me of some old Mercedes I've seen when I worked at a MB dealer.

    The acidy stuff we used couldn't knock it off.
  7. 911Fanatic

    911Fanatic DB Pro Supporter

    Megs WB at full strength will be stronger than brown Royal. Spray on, let sit for 30 seconds or so and scrub with a stiff nylon bristle brush.
  8. froboy272

    froboy272 Obsessive Detailer

    I got rid of my brown royal i couldn't take the smell. Crazy but id rather Iron X or Sonax than the BR smell. And of course I put the whole 6 oz sample of WB I had into this 1:3 bottle I made up.
  9. autoaesthetica

    autoaesthetica Virgin Detailer

    As popular as it is, Sonax gets laughed at in situations like these. Very quickly exposes the weakness of Sonax and the like.

    I would check Ardex's website and see if there is someone close to you, I believe Buster is the name of the cleaner that literally will destroy that stuff(and you if youre not careful :)). Use caution please. This is one of the few situations where you WILL have to break out the artillery.

  10. cu2mike

    cu2mike DB Forum Supporter

    On top of Ardex, maybe can try some #0000 steel wool to scrub?
  11. tfish1

    tfish1 Birth of a Detailer

    i think buster is mainly for bmw and german cars, yea i couldnt agree enough that sonax isnt a tough wheel cleaner just a maintenance cleaner, ardex makes a product called attack its a strong acid and id do it up 1:1 or 1:2 let it dwell a bit and brush with a nylon i would imagine the steel wool would get clogged fast
  12. autoaesthetica

    autoaesthetica Virgin Detailer

    Yea thats a good point. The brake dust, largely exposed and reacted is more than likely going to need some sort of abrasive method along with it.

    I think steel wool is a mild steel wire so acidic products might eat right through it though I could be wrong. Definitely has his work cut out for him.
  13. 911Fanatic

    911Fanatic DB Pro Supporter

    We have had success with 000 steel wool on uncoated barrels when used with strong wheel cleaners. As stated, any non acid wheel cleaner will only do so much and then you will have to use an acid based products.
  14. RefPerfection

    RefPerfection Birth of a Detailer

    Ardex Buster is an awesome product, and will take care of your needs here. Even just allowing dwell time will make a huge difference. Some agitation will offer a perfect/near perfect finish, free of brake dust, and brake dust staining. It's marketed for higher-end European wheels, but I've used it full strength on a variety of wheels with no issues. I remember reading it can be used diluted for general purpose wheel cleaning. Here's a quick link to some more information: http://ardexwax.com/uploads/Buster_V150327.pdf
  15. hamza7

    hamza7 Welcome to Detailing

    P21S polishing soap?
  16. froboy272

    froboy272 Obsessive Detailer

    I'm gonna look into these ardex products. Isn't Wheel Brightener Acidic? Are these ardex cleaners really that much stronger?
  17. autoaesthetica

    autoaesthetica Virgin Detailer

    Yes, Megs WB contains Ammonium BiFluoride which when hydrated is Hydrofluoric acid - awful stuff. We don't even stock a large amount of Wheel Brightener - carry a few cases just in case.

    .... and its not terribly effective in the applications I have used it for. Its not so much that they are stronger(Attack definitely is) but they are more effective. You still have alot of work ahead of you, you unfortunately won't be reliant on just the chemical.

  18. cu2mike

    cu2mike DB Forum Supporter

    Just out of curiosity..... the FK paint decon system would work, right?
    As far as I remember, its a combo of alkaline/acidic/ph neutral based decon system isn't it?
  19. Emile

    Emile Welcome to Detailing

    I told you, bitch.
  20. 911Fanatic

    911Fanatic DB Pro Supporter


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