Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Cleaning Front Wheels

hi guys,

i hope this helps with wire wheel cleaning. its part of the article i wrote for mog mag but i am happy to help anyone who wants help.

cheers

henry


It’s the Wheel thing!

Of all parts of the car, without doubt the ones that get the hardest time when it comes to dirt and damage are your wheel rims and tyres. Subjected to contamination by brake dust and road grime on a continual basis maintaining them to a high standard can be difficult. Now add in the complication of wire wheels, and suddenly the task in hand can seem mountainous. But, there are a few hints and tips that will get you on the right track when it comes to doling out some TLC for these hard working parts. Whether it’s removing stubborn accumulations of brake dust safely and effectively, cleaning and protecting tyres, or applying sealant protection and preventing corrosion from setting in and causing permanent damage, we’ve got the answers. These processes can be used for chrome or stainless wire wheels and on Morgan alloys or minilites as well. And, the good news is that many of the processes for cleaning up wheels, are just the same as for exhausts, bumpers and other bright work.

First things First

To clean wheels properly, although it may seem extreme, detailers always remove the wheels from the car to work on them. It is much easier to clean a wheel when it is off a car, particularly spoke wheels where access to the rear makes life much easier. If you only ever tend to the front face of the rim, what will eventually happen is that corrosion will spread from the rear, negating your efforts.

To remove a wheel from your car you should start by parking on a level surface and ensuring that the handbrake is on. For safety, it’s advisable to chock the wheels at the opposite end of the car to the wheel you want to remove. Using a wheel brace, loosen the wheel nuts if you have alloys or loosen the centre nut using the tool provided in your tool kit. (See photo) Now jack up the car using either the jack supplied with your car or a trolley jack and with your car now raised place an axle stand beneath a suitable jacking point and carefully lower your car onto the stand. Finally, remove the loosened wheel nuts or nut and the wheel, taking care not to let the wheel fall off the hub.

Little Scrubber!

Get started by hosing off any loosely bonded surface contaminants using a hose or pressure washer, being careful not to knock any sticky balancing weights off. Next, scrub the tyre and rim using the wash mitt, being generous with the suds. It is perfectly acceptable to use either a mild non-acidic wheel cleaner or an all-purpose cleaner for this task. Take the time to get into all the nooks and crannies and remove as much contamination as possible. If the wheel is very dirty you could also scrub it first using a soft tipped wheel cleaning brush. After washing the wheel, rinse it off using a hose and finally dry both faces using a microfibre drying towel.

Top Tip: Be careful not to let the wheel fall over or rest with the front face on the ground, as this could easily cause damage. Two short lengths of timber are a great way to raise each wheel off the ground when working on them.

Whacky Wires

Alloys and chromes are one thing, but when it comes to cleaning wire wheels, you really do have your work cut out! Many owners have found their own unique ways of getting to grips with the challenge, one even swears by using blueberry juice to assist with the job (not something we’ve tried ourselves or can recommend to you, we hasten to add – but interesting!). I always advise you use a product called Citrus Power from Auto Finesse. It is a very powerful cleaning agent that is non acidic and wont remove wax etc.

http://www.williamspartsshop.co.uk/product/Auto_Finesse_Citrus_Power_AFCP1L#.USJD_x2-2So

Step by step guide to cleaning your wire wheels!

1. This is a typically dirty wheel in need of a good wash and spruce up. It looks fine on the outside but has never been cleaned on the inside.

2. Loose grime and debris is first blasted away using a hose or pressure washer. Once this is done spray with a non-acidic wheel cleaner to help break down the dirt. Do this on both sides of the wheel.

3. Give the inner rim a scrub with a strong shampoo mix and a wheel cleaning brush.

4. The outer wheel face should be washed more carefully using a soft microfibre wash mitt or sponge. Try and get into each spoke with your hand. If you need a small brush there are some on the market with small heads ideal for doing this – otherwise try a tooth or nail brush.

5. An open-ended hose is then used to rinse the wheel surfaces thoroughly.

6. All surfaces should then be fully dried off using a microfibre drying towel.

7. A good metal polish to clean the rest of the wheel removing any dull areas and brings back the shine but make sure its not very abrasive.

8. Lastly a good layer of wheel wax will protect your wheels.


Rim Trim

Having got to grips with clay bars for paintwork, you may be surprised to learn that when it comes to cleaning your wheel rims, a clay bar and lubricant are as good products as any if you discover that there are still a lot of surface contaminants bonded to the rim after the washing stage- although be prepared that with wires you will struggle to do every single spoke.

An alternative to the clay bar is to use a chemical paint cleaner designed to clean surfaces and put down a layer of either sealant or wax protection in a single step. When applied using a microfibre pad, such products have a relatively strong cleaning action that is capable of removing baked on brake dust in addition to tar spots and other bonded contaminants. Once all contaminants are fully removed, any residues should be buffed off using a microfibre towel.

Seal the Deal

With the wheel now clean, the next step in the process is to protect the rim using a wheel specific sealant. Such products are designed to be able to cope with higher temperatures than conventional sealants and waxes, and thus better resist etching caused by hot brake dust. You should take care at this stage to liberally cover every square inch of the rim, and apply two or three coats of protection one after the other. Each coat should be allowed to dry to a haze and then buffed off using a clean microfibre towel before applying the next coat.

TOP TIP: With chrome wheels, a non-abrasive polish is a good plan if you have the time. Abrasive versions are not suitable because they can thin the chrome. More importantly, sealing chrome wheels is vital to their longevity.

Dress to Impress

You are almost ready to put your wheel back onto the car, but before you do, give it the final showroom shine with a tyre dressing applied using a foam applicator pad. This not only makes the tyre look great but also protects and nourishes it. So that’s it on wheels – now, just three more to do!

There are a couple of other jobs you can be doing whilst your wheels are off - this is a great time to detail the inside of the wheel arches or to touch up any areas where the unseal is missing or needs replacing. You can also take this opportunity to clean the brake caliper.

Hope this helps and i will upload photos shortly!

henry

The article mentions pressure cleaning the wheels. I have used a pressure cleaner on my stainless wire wheels and am happy with the results. I then use the remains of the car wash water (with a a different sponge) rinse them off and then ultimately dry off any remaining water with a chamois. However it was mentioned in another thread that it is not recommended to pressure clean wire wheels. Clearly water can not get into the air chamber but I suppose water could enter the hub and spline area.

I did ask if anyone could tell me why it might not be a good idea but no one responded.

Autosol is fine on SS wires. I use a thin strip of material on the spokes but a shoelace will also work. Wrap once and make like lighting a fire.
I have to admit to cleaning the backs of my wheels after nearly every trip out..................sad but true.