Cleaning Race Pads off wheels?
 

I spent an hour with a brillo pad and half a bottle of wheel cleaner. Any super formula that brakes up this crud? Mine is caked on like paint.

Don't use wheel cleaners!! Wheel cleaners sure make it easier to take off brake dust, but ultimately they're acidic chemicals, which if used too much, or too often, will over time peel away at the clear coat of wheels. I'd suggest just soap and water, and if that doesn't work out, then get a pressure washer and blast them off. If it's caked on like paint as you say, well then I'd suggest to do your best to get it off, then put a fresh coat of wheel wax over them so that you don't have to do it all over again the next track day.

Or just buy track wheels that you don't care about and leave it dirty as hell... That's what I do.

What pads were you using? Some pads are wheel friendly, while others are not.
@ModBargains.com: not all wheels utilize a clearcoat...

I'm running racing pads on the street.

The fronts which cake on the matter are Wilwood BP-30s.

The rears are carbotech xp-10s but those just take a little TLC, the fronts are a mission.

Carbotech dust is super easy to take off, as long as you don't bake it on at a wet track day.

The BP30... good luck :clap:

After you're done, I suggest you put sealant on your wheels. It may make the next cleaning easier.

I used Acetone to clean my wheels. Maybe that's not the right direction for you but it worked really well for me. :) Acetone or Brakleen work wonders. Heck, if your woman uses Acetone to take off her nail polish you have to believe it's not going to rot away your wheels otherwise... WTF are her nails made of?

PS: My wheels are $130/per and I commonly break 1-2 of them a year.

run dark colored wheels, been doing it for years. If it gets bad I have a young guy who helps out at the shop, he will scrub them if he gets to take the car for a spin.

My opticoated my wheels when I got them. Waiting for a track day or two and time before I post how effective it is.

Rain?

Oh you mean actually clean them?

Dunno, buy black wheels and roll with it. :)

<< doesn't clean his track wheels.

We have a secret video on washing a car with opti-coated wheels. Mind is :eyebulge:

Good to know :D guess ill offer this service to people more. I did it for my stock wheels and I hated them so I didn't bother to try to clean them too much x_x

Try wheel wax to lay down a base coat. Brakleen is not good for paint or finishes. That will take off anything.

Disclaimer: It was race pad dust under light use conditions.

FYI - I think I'll pull the wheels off one weekend clean them and apply PoorBoys:
http://www.poorboysworld.com/wheel-sealant.htm

Hopefully that will help out or I need to get some gunmetal wheels. :lol: