Best wheel cleaner ?

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Old Dec 5, 1999 | 06:27 PM
  #1  
54regcab's Avatar
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From: Oklahoma City
Lightbulb Best wheel cleaner ?

What is the best way to clean wheels/tires ?
What is the best cleaner to use ?
That damn brake dust is driving me crazy.


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99 XLT 5.4L reg cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Jensen 50x2 RMS for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
Looking for reasonably priced used running boards
regcab54@sc.rr.com in Columbia SC


 
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Old Dec 5, 1999 | 06:40 PM
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seacrow's Avatar
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I have the same wheels as yours, Wheel Magic and high pressure water work well. It may be easier to take the things off and wash both sides every once in a while.
 
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Old Dec 5, 1999 | 07:22 PM
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54reg,

I too, am driven crazy by wheel dust! I have found that spraying water on the inside of the wheels helps to keep the dust down to a minimum. Be sure to spray the brake calipers and the rotor, as well. Then, when I rotate my tires, I always wipe the inside of the wheels clean, too.
I use Bleeche-White to clean the tires and Tire Wet to spray on afterwards. Problem is that mostly all of these tire dressing products tend to attract dust once they have been applied! I guess it's the price we have to pay for clean trucks!!

Hope this helps.

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2000 F-150,XLT,Bright Red Clearcoat, 4x4,ORP,SC,4-speed auto., 5.4L, 3.55 LS,Tow Package, Ford factory Tonneau cover, Cab Rails, Lund Bug Shield, Mudflaps, Tennatoys 18" antenna, Pendaliner bedliner. Asking Santa for K&N air filter and Superchip
 
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Old Dec 5, 1999 | 08:23 PM
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From: College Station/Houston, Texas
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Hey Guys~
The best thing that I have found to clean my wheels is 409 Glass and Surface Cleaner. It works better than anything I have used designed to clean wheels. Best wishes . . .

***JaSoN***

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Oxford White 1998 F-150 STX, reg. cab, flareside, 4.2, auto, 3.55s, tint, Prestige alarm, Bel radar detector, Pioneer CD player, 4 Polk 5x7's, Stull billet grille and bumper insert, Flowmaster exhaust, K&N airfilter, V-Tech Tailight Covers(painted to match truck) Clear Corner Lenses FUTURE MODS: to indecisive to know for sure, but a FIPK and 2 in. shackles will be on by the end of December. GIG'EM AGGIES


 
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Old Dec 5, 1999 | 09:36 PM
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I use diluted Simple Green and a brush. Works great and it's supposed to be non-toxic.
 
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Old Dec 9, 1999 | 05:02 PM
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I use a stiff bristle scrub brush and 409 cleaner on the tires ONLY. Cleans the white outline letters just great. I hose it all off immediately and then allow the tires to dry. Then I use Armor-All...makes the tires look super.

As far as wheels...I had a '81 Camaro Z28 with painted and clear-coated aluminum wheels. I used to use this wheel cleaner (the name escapes me) that was supposed to reduce the amount of scrubbing, etc., and eventually, the stuff ate through my wheel clear coat...made the wheels look like crap! I learned a good lesson. Since then, I have used nothing more than car wash soap and water and a wash mitt and I just put in the extra elbow grease and give the wheels a good cleaning, no matter what kind of finish they have (I have the chrome wheels on my truck now). It takes a little extra effort, but I know my wheel finish will not be harmed at all. Afterwards, I polish them with wax (any non-abrasive wax will do). They look great.

Hope this helps!

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1999 F-150 4x4 SuperCab, Deep Wedgewood Blue, ORP, 4-Wheel ABS, Loaded, Flowmaster 50 series, K&N, Tint, Super-White headlights, Westin Nerf Bars, Toff Spray-On Bedliner, Pioneer DEH-P3000 and TS-A6815 speakers, ADS PQ/8 amp.

 
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Old Dec 9, 1999 | 07:32 PM
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I do not believe in wheel cleaner for use on coated wheels. It eats the coating off wheels (really quickly if you use it on hot wheels)or makes the wheels look dull and chalky. I use car wash soap and a sponge. My brother worked at a tire shop in a crappy neighborhood (lots of expensive wheels on crappy cars). Most of those people used Windex. Windex does work very well on chrome.

I use Bleach-white every fourth or fifth wash to clean the tires. I reapply the tire coating after every wash.

[This message has been edited by Bent6 (edited 12-10-1999).]
 
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Old Dec 10, 1999 | 06:43 PM
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I start out with an SOS pad on the tires then use dawn dish soap on the wheels with a soft bristle brush. After that I empty the bucket , rinse it out real good and proceed to the body of the truck. This has always worked pretty good for me, the SOS pad does a great job on the tires, cleans the white letters up real nice.

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98' F-150, Off Road, Short Box, Blue, 4.6, K&N, Auto, Captain Chairs, Dual Exhaust
Alpine CD Player, (2) 10" Rockford Fosgate Subwoofers and a big ol' Arctic Cat
sticker on the rear sliding window!!!!! Soon to be chipped!!!
 
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Old Dec 13, 1999 | 05:11 PM
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Just remember though, Dawn or any kind of dishwashing soap will strip the wax off any surface, if you keep your wheels waxed as often as the body of the truck, or more often, they will clean up much easier.

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.


 
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