Brake Dust Remedy
 

After searching the forum, it seems like one of the most effective solutions for cleaning/preventing brake dust build up is using WD-40. Can anyone post the best way to apply it? I've seen mixing it with boiling water and spraying it directly on the rims and tires posted here. What is the best technique to use this? I'd also be interested to hear other owner's brake dust solutions.

I'd be very leery of spraying WD40 (or any lubricant) near my brakes

CB

Armor All Wheel Protectant....

...and don't buy cheap brake pads.

http://www.armorall.com/products/wheels/brake-dust-repellent

I've tested this product on a bunch of cars (E350, Mini Cooper, Boxster and Carrera) and have not been impressed. It helps a little but not worth the money and time.

Getting low dust brake pads (German manufacturers seem to love brake pads that give off a lot of dust) will do more towards keeping your wheels clean.

Don't use WD-40 on or near your brakes!!

Ceramic pads - only way to really 'get rid of' brake dust. Higher end pads may help - but if you are going there, might as well take the next step.

I personally still have the stock pads on mine and the dust is horrible. Next change I will splurge and put on some ceramics.

This:
 

It actually fades off one or two meter later, or before you even have time to release the brake pedal if you prefer.

Always wash my tire, calipers, wheels, and prevent any dust sticking with diluted wd-40 in hot (HOT) water. Just needs a good brush and household/kitchen silicon gloves! NEVER ever used commercial products with nasty 'solvents', or those that leave intentional gray'ish residues on your tires.... tactics so that you have to use & buy more of their crap lollll

Those were 3 years old+ tires at the time of pic. Looking even better than new

https://c5.staticflickr.com/2/1648/2...c12b1751_b.jpg

WD-40 is not a lubricant

That is one damn fine looking car!

With butt-ugly taillights. IMO.

So let me get that.
You are using photoshop to remove the dust ? ;)

Coming from you Tom, I treat it as highest compliment. Thx bud

RE taillights, yup I have to agree with you that they are far from being half beautiful. They seemed okay at the time for some reason lolll I all seriousness, they look stunning in dark lighting conditions only. During day time they are chaos-fugly.

I have to disagree on the Butt metering-scale thing. I love butts, everybody lovesss butts :D

noooooo man, that was actually a bloody hard day of detailing work. I remember that day, was meant for photo shoots (in front of my condo... how poor lollllll).

PS'ed the ground concrete as it was still all wet with running soap traces and all. Looked terrible.

Survey: who uses these heavy duty solvent products to get grims and others off their brakes & wheels?

What's your (favorite) method?

Great contribution to the forums...glad you're here! :rolleyes:

I use the 3000psi pressure washer to get the rims clean, but watch out with techique.

My front bumper had a repair and respray with the previous owner and I inadvertently blew the paint right off the bumper..:eek:...big oh crap moment, but somewhat luckily the underlying bumper material is black so it is not obvious from 10' away till I can get that repainted.

I like your WD-40 tip for the rubber, i'll have to try that out.

Fred's tires and car look great, but WD-40 is a solvent.
I don't know if applying a solvent to rubber is such a good idea.

A lot of concours people like Gummi Fledge for rubber other than tires
http://www.1z-usa.com/products/gummi-pflege-stick.html

I use Aero protectant 303 for most of the non metal surfaces in my car
http://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant

WD40 on rubber is not a good idea, it makes it shine, but eats it.

On good clean wheels, the brake dust don't stick much.

I've polished mine with a very soft polishing compound, and they are very easy to clean with dish soap and hot water.

Had the wheels off the car and used a light cut compound followed by a polish and a sealer (Rejex). They clean up pretty easily with car wash bucket soap (after washing body) and a good wheel brush now. If needed, a few spritzes of Griot's Garage wheel cleaner works well too. For the tires, I use GG rubber cleaner and finish with Pinnacle tire black.

But I do agree Fred's tires look the balls using the hot water and WD-40. Not sure why this works. Water Displacement?

[emoji106]Gummi Fledge on the frunk, trunk and window gaskets! Plus I get to say Gummi Fledge again [emoji2]


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Paint your wheels black and/or switch to ceramic pads. No more dust ;)

Would that explain why they look so good after a good hot WD40 scrub? I mean, the natural and fresh rubber shows up, you literally see the natural jet black and purple'ish flares or natural rubber coming to life. NO SHINE, god I hate that look lollll

Takes away the old dry rubber layer also? Somehow my tire has so much more grip after a wash, fresh, refurbished, quality and natural looking rubber. Yummmy

See, advantages my friend, advantages!

ps. pls dont give me the but but but they will have less of a lifespawn, I change my tires each and every 3~4 years or something anyway. They have to look good (must)

Important to note: and before someone reading this thinks spraying WD-40 is the way to go to get tire to SHINE, that is not the technique or idea behind. In fact your tire are not going to shine anymore. For those that like the look.

Unless of course you just spray the thing and wipe it quickly, then yes you'll end up with fake looking shinny rubber but normally not for long.

I meant: SCRUB, with hot (very hot water) for the stuff to mix and be effective. Can be used straight (I'm guessing) but I diluted it for strength reason. Works equally good anyway, hot water being the key (soften the bubber!).

Obviously, you rinse and wash wheels + others with your regular soap and technique after. Helps flushing the driveway of other petroleum also ;)

No way let anyone or yourself using heavy duty solvents. Those you see on TV that magically clean brakes and wheels. This stuff is so strong it will prematurely corrode anything it touches; say bye to your caliper nipples... they'll seize up, dried brake hoses, and wheel bearings will need to be replaced in <50k miles

(scout promise!)

WARNING: Use at your own risks
 

So there, I was having a fight with mate/colleague Andy here RE how much I've screwed up my tires over the last 10+ years I've been using this WD40 tire rejuvenating technique and we pretty much got to the bottom of the story by calling his favorite car detailing professional to check.

Pro answer: "you are crazy to use WD40, you'll need to scrub all day long compared to commercial tire dressing kit available everywhere". You apply it and it will eat up your rubber in no time, no scrubbing required! They are all petroleum distillates based concentrates anyway and does just that, eat rubber.

As-in worst than WD40, which also has petroleum distillates lolll

So my guess is WD40 is definitely not better, but cheaper, and its only advantage is it doesn't have added "petroleum based oil" that commercial tire dressing kit normally comes with. These shinny oil additives are not natural essential oils I promise you that (nine8six promise). I don't even need to check lolllll

Shinny Oils, the stuff that grab every little dust and solidify them onto your tire :D

ps. brake and wheel heavy duty solvents are actually not solvents (apparently), they are acidic based products. Scary stuff when you think about it

Ditto. Clean wheels and dust removed every couple/few weeks with some soap and water and no problems. If you leave it on for months it will stain and etch the wheel clear coat and then the only way to get it off is with some kind of caustic stuff which removes more wheel coating.