72firebird
Active Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2004
- Messages
- 1,327
After owning my TTA for almost a year I have gotten pretty fed up with having to wash the brake dust off all the time and them still not really having much of a shine. When I heard about the new Mothers Powerball ( http://store1.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1850_169561859 ) I knew I had to try it. After using the Powerball and adding some NXT wax to the wheels I was able to make a 170 mile trip to a car show and when I got there there was only a very very light film of brake dust, it wasn't even really noticeable. Now in the past a trip like that would have resulted in some pretty gray wheels. Oh and I also did a lot of hard braking because I had just got new tires the same day so i was testing their capabilities. All the products I used can be found at your local Pep Boys, Advance, etc.
Anwyays on to the process (I'll try to include some picture too):
1. Just normally wash your wheels with some wheel cleaner. I prefer Meguiars Hot Rims (http://images.crossmediaservices.com/dyn_li/200.0.88.0/Retailers/pepboys/meguiars_hot_rims_clnr.jpg) because it normally removes the brake dust with minimal effort.
2. I removed the wheels just for the convenience of laying them down and me being able to sit on a chair.
3. Make a cardboard cutout to cover the gold part of your wheels. The gold section is textured and if wax gets into the texture you're going to have a hell of a time getting it out. Here's mine http://home.comcast.net/~FIRE72BIRD/IMG_0320.JPG (big picture) The blue is painters tape that I used because I don't have any cutting skills and cut my cardboard all funky so I used it to cover open spots. I wouldn't suggest using regular masking tape because it might leave a residue.
4. I used Mguiars NXT Tech Wax ( http://www.cardesign.ch/catalog/images/G12718 NXT Tech Wax new0.JPG ) but you can use your wax of choice and applied it along the lip. The wheels have clear on them so if you repeatidley just use wheel cleaner and never wax them the clear will start to peel or thin out.
5. Now use the powerball on your normal home drill and run it around the lip. You'll get the hang of it after doing the first wheel. Let the wax sit for about an hour and then remove it like normal. You might want to do a second coat if you desire.
6. Now that the lip is clean on to the gold. I use Eagle 1s Wax As You Dry ( http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/07/8c/Eagle_One_Wax_As_You_Dry-resized200.jpg )but you can use whatever spray wax you prefer but I suggest NOT using the NXT spray wax. Spray the cleaner on the gold and I used cuetips and ran along every nook and cranny on the wheel. It's time consumin but when you see your final product you'll be proud. Plus later on down the road it only takes like 5 minutes to get your wheels back to perfect.
7. Once the gold is done if you choose to clean the center cap and the lug nut caps it only takes a few minutes. I used Wizards Black Renew ( http://www.aawsales.com/ProductImages/Thumb_66309.jpg ) but it's kind of hard to find I ordered it online. Check their site and you might find a distributor for their products near you. I just rubbed it on with my fingers let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and then rubbed it off with a towel. It'll make your caps a nice shiny black.
8. Last but not least the tires. I'd have to say the best tire shine I have tried would be Dupont Tire Shine ( http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002JMD8Q.01-ADG953YR6NRBF._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg ) I'd suggest it to anyone who actually drives their car. I haven't had any problems with it getting on my paint when I drive it. Anyways I just spray it really heavily on a paper towel and then wipe it on the tire. I then let it sit for a minute or two and then wipe it off with another paper towel.
Your ending product should be very nice. I had a lot of compliments on my wheels at the show I went to this last weekend. You're ugnna see the imperfections in your wheels a lot greater but for a standard glance you can't see them. Here's a picture of my passenger front wheel ( my fronts are sooo much cleaner than my rears because the rears have a bunch of dings and such) http://home.comcast.net/~FIRE72BIRD/GLFG5.jpg
For the inside lip I sprayed with the wheel cleaner and scrubbed with a brush. My wheels had soo much brake dust built up I couldn't get it all off but you can't see in there anyways.
Anwyays on to the process (I'll try to include some picture too):
1. Just normally wash your wheels with some wheel cleaner. I prefer Meguiars Hot Rims (http://images.crossmediaservices.com/dyn_li/200.0.88.0/Retailers/pepboys/meguiars_hot_rims_clnr.jpg) because it normally removes the brake dust with minimal effort.
2. I removed the wheels just for the convenience of laying them down and me being able to sit on a chair.
3. Make a cardboard cutout to cover the gold part of your wheels. The gold section is textured and if wax gets into the texture you're going to have a hell of a time getting it out. Here's mine http://home.comcast.net/~FIRE72BIRD/IMG_0320.JPG (big picture) The blue is painters tape that I used because I don't have any cutting skills and cut my cardboard all funky so I used it to cover open spots. I wouldn't suggest using regular masking tape because it might leave a residue.
4. I used Mguiars NXT Tech Wax ( http://www.cardesign.ch/catalog/images/G12718 NXT Tech Wax new0.JPG ) but you can use your wax of choice and applied it along the lip. The wheels have clear on them so if you repeatidley just use wheel cleaner and never wax them the clear will start to peel or thin out.
5. Now use the powerball on your normal home drill and run it around the lip. You'll get the hang of it after doing the first wheel. Let the wax sit for about an hour and then remove it like normal. You might want to do a second coat if you desire.
6. Now that the lip is clean on to the gold. I use Eagle 1s Wax As You Dry ( http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/07/8c/Eagle_One_Wax_As_You_Dry-resized200.jpg )but you can use whatever spray wax you prefer but I suggest NOT using the NXT spray wax. Spray the cleaner on the gold and I used cuetips and ran along every nook and cranny on the wheel. It's time consumin but when you see your final product you'll be proud. Plus later on down the road it only takes like 5 minutes to get your wheels back to perfect.
7. Once the gold is done if you choose to clean the center cap and the lug nut caps it only takes a few minutes. I used Wizards Black Renew ( http://www.aawsales.com/ProductImages/Thumb_66309.jpg ) but it's kind of hard to find I ordered it online. Check their site and you might find a distributor for their products near you. I just rubbed it on with my fingers let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and then rubbed it off with a towel. It'll make your caps a nice shiny black.
8. Last but not least the tires. I'd have to say the best tire shine I have tried would be Dupont Tire Shine ( http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002JMD8Q.01-ADG953YR6NRBF._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg ) I'd suggest it to anyone who actually drives their car. I haven't had any problems with it getting on my paint when I drive it. Anyways I just spray it really heavily on a paper towel and then wipe it on the tire. I then let it sit for a minute or two and then wipe it off with another paper towel.
Your ending product should be very nice. I had a lot of compliments on my wheels at the show I went to this last weekend. You're ugnna see the imperfections in your wheels a lot greater but for a standard glance you can't see them. Here's a picture of my passenger front wheel ( my fronts are sooo much cleaner than my rears because the rears have a bunch of dings and such) http://home.comcast.net/~FIRE72BIRD/GLFG5.jpg
For the inside lip I sprayed with the wheel cleaner and scrubbed with a brush. My wheels had soo much brake dust built up I couldn't get it all off but you can't see in there anyways.
