15" Heli spoke alloy cleaning question

5965 Views 23 Replies 9 Participants Last post by MiniMpi, Oct 19, 2016

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2016

I have the standard 15" alloys, I believe they are called Heli spoke.
Has anyone else got the same problem in trying to keep them clean ?
The amount of brake dust is crazy and next to impossible to remove.
I got my car ceramic coated in the summer and got the alloys done too.
My detailer had a huge job trying to get each wheel cleaned properly for the preparation for the ceramic coating. About 4 hours an alloy !
He recommended I use iron fallout on them on a regular basis to try and keep the brake dust at bay.
This has helped but I still have a build up of brake dust after thoroughly washing them after the fallout out has been on for about 20 minutes.
I don't agitate the fallout, maybe I should ?

Any help appreciated

I was actually thinking of getting them painted black, which would suit the Volcanic Orange better but mainly so I don't see the ingrained brake dust anymore !

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

jeremybingham

· #2 · Oct 6, 2016

Mine are black cosmos. I occasionally polish the wheels ie every six months or so and hardly ever need to use any wheel cleaner brake dust just falls off. Are you wheels a little rough? Very strange the dust should stick so firmly.also why is so much dust being made are your brakes ok? Not seizing?a proper paintjob should help but if my black wheels are dirty its just as obvious as on silver wheels to my mind as the lovely shine goes dull!

AarnMunro

· #3 · Oct 6, 2016

...In my wife car I use EBC green Stuff brake pads.
The pads are very good at the beginning and also when they 're hot...and the dust is reduced about of 50/60% of the original pads.
Reduced the brake dust, easier the wheel cleaning!

Reactions: 1

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 6, 2016

Thanks guys.
I think it's a combination of the lack of any real engine braking hence more use of the brakes and the design of the Heli spoke. On most alloys, there is a curved rim so the brake dust doesn't build up as easily but on these there is a straight edge so the brake dust just sits there and accumulates.

sootyvrs

· #5 · Oct 6, 2016

If you are having trouble cleaning brake dust off it's usually because your allowing the dust to be baked on from heat from braking process.

Do you clean your wheels regularly? e.g. every week

It helps if you clean regularly whilst not allowing the dust to settle on the wheel for too long.

Painting the wheels black or grey helps to hide the dust but it still will be there and again will bake on if you leave it too long.

My daugher washes her Mini once a month if that and I clean mine once a week on average and she has the same problem on her car... Brake dust in baked onto the wheels (especially the fronts) where I use a non acidic wheel cleaner (Bilberry) to try and shift it. I don't need to use it on my car due to regular washes.

Reactions: 2

sootyvrs

· #6 · Oct 6, 2016

Forgot to mention, I read that there are some nano coatings (e.g Gtechniq C5) that can be applied to wheels that leave a protective layer so that it's not so easy for brake dust to settle and dust is suppose to rince right off...

Not used it myself though so not sure if it really does what it says on the tin

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 6, 2016

Cheers mate. Yes I'm guilty of leaving it go for about three to four weeks depending on my shift work.
No doubt I should be cleaning it more often. I wonder if a wheel cleaner would be better than an iron fallout maybe ?

sootyvrs

· #8 · Oct 6, 2016

MiniMpi said:
Cheers mate. Yes I'm guilty of leaving it go for about three to four weeks depending on my shift work.
No doubt I should be cleaning it more often. I wonder if a wheel cleaner would be better than an iron fallout maybe ?

Iron fall out is normally used on bodywork where small iron spots end up on the paintwork and this removes it.

Not heard of using it on wheels to remove baked on brake dust though so can't vouch for it... Wheel cleaners (used with a small brush to help agitate the cleaner on the wheels) are designed for this type of work but be careful of acidic types which if left on too long or not rinsed off thoroughly can leave yellowing stains on your alloys.

Reactions: 1

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 6, 2016

I'll get some and try it.
Thanks again.

jeremybingham

· #10 · Oct 7, 2016

Try autoglym alloy wheelcleaner. Non caustic but effective j

Reactions: 1

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 7, 2016

Thanks for that

2017MiniS

· #12 · Oct 7, 2016

MiniMpi said:
I have the standard 15" alloys, I believe they are called Heli spoke.
Has anyone else got the same problem in trying to keep them clean ?
The amount of brake dust is crazy and next to impossible to remove.
I got my car ceramic coated in the summer and got the alloys done too.
My detailer had a huge job trying to get each wheel cleaned properly for the preparation for the ceramic coating. About 4 hours an alloy !
He recommended I use iron fallout on them on a regular basis to try and keep the brake dust at bay.
This has helped but I still have a build up of brake dust after thoroughly washing them after the fallout out has been on for about 20 minutes.
I don't agitate the fallout, maybe I should ?

Any help appreciated

I was actually thinking of getting them painted black, which would suit the Volcanic Orange better but mainly so I don't see the ingrained brake dust anymore !

A post without pics is useless!

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 7, 2016

Haha this is true

I'll try and take some later today.

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 7, 2016

This is after a week's driving after it was properly cleaned.

Hopefully you can see what I mean about the design of the alloy means that the brake dust has a 'shelf' to sit and accumulate on.

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daydotz

· #15 · Oct 7, 2016 (Edited)

Crikey mine haven't been cleaned for a few months & look nothing like that ?

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MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 7, 2016

See what I mean ! Lol
On your alloys the brake dust falls off but on mine with the design the brake dust just collects.

Evlkarl

· #17 · Oct 7, 2016

A good coat of wheel wax will solve that problem even Olive Oil will do the trick to keep them wheels looking good.

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daydotz

· #18 · Oct 7, 2016

Evlkarl said:
A good coat of wheel wax will solve that problem even Olive Oil will do the trick to keep them wheels looking good.

Last time I washed the car i used Sonax Xtreme Wheel Rim Coating Nano Pro ive no idea if that helped in anyway no doubt I will have to spend a age with bilberry wheel cleaner to clean them up
(cursing and loosing the will to live

)

Reactions: 1

MiniMpi

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 7, 2016

I've ordered some Bilberry alloy wheel cleaner for it.
Thanks for all the help.

mjc

· #20 · Oct 8, 2016

Interesting thread, I run a set of 15" Heli Spokes with Winters between November and March and I too noticed how dirty the Heli Spokes were when I removed them earlier in the year (I didn't have time to clean and protect them before fitting last year).

I removed 90% of the dirt/dust before storing them in March, planning on giving them a full cleanse, polish and wax (Auto Finesse Mint Rims) before refitting them next month.

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