Any of you on Detailing World might recognise this post but I thought it might be worth posting here. Basically it's a guide to detailing alloys and also a request for help to improve my technique and see how I can get the insides of the wheels fully grime free (I gave up at about 80% clean)

I started off by removing the alloy to blocks of wood for protection. Here are the befores:





Using an old microfibre mitt, I cleaned off the excess dirt with AG Shampoo. Didn't think there was much point doing a whole lot to the faces of the alloys so i set about degreasing the back. Used AG Clean Wheels diluted 4:1 (haven't invested in Bilberry yet and was afraid of acidic nature of product). Spent hours with an assortment of scrubbing brushes, wheel brushes, scouring pads, toothbrushes and fingernails trying to shift the grime from the inner wheel. The result is much improved but by no means perfect, as you can see from the after picture:



My question is, how the hell do you safely remove the baked on brake dust, especially on the back of the spokes - it seems all the elbow grease in the world will only do so much?

Having very little to show for my morning's work i set about making the easy side look good with this gear... (ok I know it's basic enough but i'm in the early stages of this Detailing OCD!!)



Please note carnage in background from the morning's efforts...

First off was some AG Intensive Tar Remover, left to soak on tar spots and removed with AG Shampoo/MF mitt/rinsed with water.

Then using the Megs Quik Clay (I'm saving my Sonus Green for the bodywok), clayed the wheel, which left it looking like this..



After that, with the alloys nice and smooth, it was time for the polish - AG SRP to be exact. Applied with a Megs foam applicator. Buffed off with a MF work towel. This was followed by CG Acrylic Creme Glaze II applied and removed with the same method. Protected by two coats of PB Wheel Sealant, again with Megs foam pad and buffed off by MF towel. This is the result:



Not too bad, I know there are some tiny tar spots on the front of the alloys but it was getting very monotonous having spent a whole day on one wheel!

Comments and advice welcome, thanks for looking. How can I improve on this, it's bloody hard even to get leverage to work on the inner alloy..

 

The OEM Subaru alloys are notoriously hard to maintain if not been been protected from day one. The finish in the inside of the rim is quite poor and is not smooth so all the brake dust and contaminants get stuck and bond. Maybe try using a more aggressive clay.

 

How about Jeffs Werkstatt Prime Strong?

 

What about using an acidic wheel cleaner and do a spoke at a time and masking the face of the rim and that may remove more of that baked on brake dust. Worth a shot.

 

As said above, once wheels with a rough inner surface texture get heavily contaminated they can be extremely difficult to fully clean. A strong wheel acid like Meguiars Wheel Brightener can be useful, but there is a limit as to how far you should push things, particularly if there are any minor nicks in the lacquer surface, or if any signs of surface corrosion are present. After acid, claying can help greatly, as can a good tar & glue remover. Using a strong chemical polish like Jeffs Prime Strong normally helps further, and also seals the rims too, ready for further coats of sealant or wax. Aside from a stronger acid mix, you may have reached the limit of what is attainable on these rims - perfection is not always possible unless a refurb is considered!