Track brake pad stuck to wheels

[wahwill]

I went to the track with pfc08 pads and didnt get a chance to clean the brake dust off for a week.

The dust was caked on and I was able to remove most of it by claying but the dust on one of the wheels just won't come off. Is there any product I can use to get it off?

[Estoril Blue]

Did the wheels get wet after you came off track? If so - thats going to be tougher.

Some people use 3M scrub pads, oven cleaner and specific tough brake dust remover. Keep in mind that any of these can affect your wheel finish.

[roastbeef]

sonax full effect.

[wahwill]

Originally Posted by Estoril Blue

Did the wheels get wet after you came off track? If so - thats going to be tougher.

Some people use 3M scrub pads, oven cleaner and specific tough brake dust remover. Keep in mind that any of these can affect your wheel finish.

Yes, in fact I gave the wheels a rinse after the track day thinking it would make it easier to washlatet on. Didn't realize it would make it worse.

[wahwill]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

sonax full effect.

Will this remove caked on dust that even clay bar won't remove?

[ICTZHP]

You might try Optimum FereX - the stuff smells bad, but works. I had a similar situation to yours last fall with my wife's car. My M3 went in the garage after our HPDE, but she needed to drive her 335 before I got the wheels and pads swapped back. Well, it rained and the brake dust turned to concrete on the wheels. It took patience, but the FereX did the job. I found a light spray of Ferex (anything more seems to be wasted), let it sit and turn purple, wipe it down with a wet wheel cleaning mitt, rinse, and repeat. It took me an entire bottle to get the wheels to about 99% clean - there were some nooks and crannies that persisted, but they are track wheels.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

[tdott]

Parked my M3 in the garage after a long day at the track yesterday, I'll clean the wheels off today, hopefully I'm still good and it isn't caked on there.

First time using Hawk DTC-70 track pads and I was impressed, in heavy braking corners I can break much later and harder than cars running similar times as me but with upgraded brakes or factory multi piston setups.

[scotty_miller]

I don't really take care of my track wheels all that well as far as detailing goes usually just keep them in the tire totes dirty. If I ever clean them I just use brake cleaner from crc. So if you aren't that picky and they're a dedicated track set it does the trick

[The HACK]

Use a soft metal polish, like mag wheel polish (magnesium). Don't scrub too hard, lightly wipe on and wipe off. Caked/baked/rusted on brake dust comes right off with zero effort.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by wahwill

Will this remove caked on dust that even clay bar won't remove?

not sure, but it is the best stuff i have ever used.

[Datka]

Originally Posted by wahwill

Will this remove caked on dust that even clay bar won't remove?

No. I did try this product, but it didn't remove caked on brake dust.

[dparm]

Once you get the wheels clean, you might want to consider a ceramic coating such as Cquartz, Modesta, etc. -- it will make cleaning much easier in the future.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dparm

Once you get the wheels clean, you might want to consider a ceramic coating such as Cquartz, Modesta, etc. -- it will make cleaning much easier in the future.

It does help.

In the old days when we raced chariots (barefoot, uphill, in the snow), the Hawk Blue pad dust was (and still is) the nuclear waste of brake pad dust. Get that shit wet and your wheels were done. We should use it to armor tanks and humvees as nothing could knock it off of your wheels.

[Siajoon]

Apologize for reviving this thread but ever since I purchased my car 2 years ago there's been baked on brake dust that I could never get off from simply using sonax it any other wheel cleaner...

I'm reaching out in hopes for someone to have a safe and easy remedy to get this brake dust off, my wheels are flawless otherwise and have no chips, but the black that's stuck to my zcp wheels are so ugly. Attached are some pictures

Appreciate any help

[TheeE86]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

Apologize for reviving this thread but ever since I purchased my car 2 years ago there's been baked on brake dust that I could never get off from simply using sonax it any other wheel cleaner...

I'm reaching out in hopes for someone to have a safe and easy remedy to get this brake dust off, my wheels are flawless otherwise and have no chips, but the black that's stuck to my zcp wheels are so ugly. Attached are some pictures

Appreciate any help

Not an expert, but I have to deal with dark brown burnt, caked on, hardened brake dust after ever winter. It usually takes me multiple applications of Sonax to come clean from neglecting them for so long.

First make sure you were using Sonax “Wheel Cleaner Plus”, it may require multiple applications, and you need to rub it in and let it sit. I use a rubber glove and rub it in with my finger. Other types of Sonax are not as strong
Next I would try a wheel acid, I can’t imagine this wouldn’t work. Not sure where you can get it online? Wheel acid is very strong, burnt the face right off a friends Apple Watch and gets wheels back to new with basically with 0 effort. Spray and wash off.
The last method id try would be to use an auto polish, maybe a clay bar, or even a rubbing compound and attempt to sand away the layer of baked on dust. A polish is least abrasive so start with that.