I just got a set of polished aluminum wheels for cheap, they are in good shape but they have been neglected for some time. They have so much brake dust on them they are completly brown almost every where. Is there anything cheap I could use to remove so much brake dust? I just need to get it off thereso I can polish them.

 

You can use a clay bar on them to pull some of the contaminants out. You should also look at a Mothers Power Ball and some Mothers aluminum polish or get some of Justin's MetalRxwww.obsessivedetail.com . You could also try a Wheel cleaner like Meguiars Hot Rims will help.

 

I have used MOthers before with great results....

 

Are they bare aluminum or late-model factory clearcoated?

Either way, if they're as brown as they sound, use a spray-on, hose-off wheel cleaner first... it'll get the loose stuff off. The Hot Rims in the purple bottle is what I tried and I wasn't that excited with it... I like either the Mothers All Wheel or FX Wheel Cleaner, or Eagle One All Wheel & Tire -- use whatever's safe for the finish.

If they're bare aluminum, I wouldn't bother claying them, but I would use the PowerBall and either PowerMetal or Mag & Aluminum Polish. If they're finely cast, follow with Billet Polish.

 

I have tried Turtle wax F1 wheel cleaner and the mequires stuff, It works ok for taking the surface stuff off but it doesnt work miracles. Id say try one of the commercial wheel cleaners, hose it off, and get a rag and wipe off anything else. Let it all dry and polish it by hand with mothers mag and aluminum polish. Dont use a power ball just yet because you will get it all contaminated with crap. Once you have it clean after polishing it by hand, use the power ball to really polish them up.

Jim