Cleaning Alloys before refurb.

[jibcl500]

All

Just about to start refubing my AMG alloys but before I start the refurb I wanted to make sure they are really clean and this is what I did.

Buy some Mr Muscle oven cleaner, 2 cans should do 4 wheels but mine are really heavy with brake dust so I can assume 4 cans, 1 per wheel.

I havent bothered to wash these wheels as they are pretty bad so I thought I'd get stuck in.

A good brush is also required to work the cleaner into the wheels, first pic shows the wheel before I started, rinse wheels once clean with hose, other pictures show inside of the wheel and how bad the dirt was, each wheel will take about half an hour.
Hope this helps anyone looking to clean wheels, I wouldn't recommend anyone spray this cleaner onto tyres !!!!
Next write up is how to refurb alloys and polish the lip to a high shine by hand.

jib

 

[jibcl500]

Heres some more.
jib

 

[barose]

Really looking forward to the next phase. Do you think the Oven cleaner will 'spoil' the existing wheel paintwork for wheels that are only in need of partial restoration (rim only)?

 

[jibcl500]

Next part coming in the next few days, oven cleaner was tested first on an old wheel over a period of a few days, I sprayed a section of the wheel and left it to to dry and then sprayed the same area again and again. No damage was done to the painted finish.
The painted area on my AMG's is to be resprayed anyway so I wasnt that bothered.

When refurbing alloys its important that they are as clean as possible, any grit or dirt trapped between fine paper and the alloy will cause scoring.

later
jib