Did anyone ever find a cheap source for the DIY acid bath??
09-07-2004, 11:47 AM
#1
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Did anyone ever find a cheap source for the DIY acid bath??
I need to clean my rough cast wheels on the miata and I think this would be the perfect approach. The brake dust from my racing pads is on there pretty good and does not want to come off.
09-07-2004, 12:14 PM
#2
I tried it on a very heavy brake dust problem and it didn't do anything.
I have a set of (nice) wheels that have such bad brake dust build-up that I have been scraping away at it with a small screwdriver. I can't even count the time that I've spent on the two wheels that have the problem. Probably 60 hours on the first wheel and 40 on the second with a lot more work to do.
Scott
Scott
09-07-2004, 12:16 PM
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That's why I thought an acid bath might get it...
It's pretty new, only about two-three weeks old. But the cobalt pads are pretty caustic and it's a pain. Maybe with a wire brush, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
09-07-2004, 12:26 PM
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Home Depot sells two heavy duty citrus based cleaner/degreasers
There is a purple one with acid (real acid)in it and an orange one that is amazing.
I used a mixture of the two on an intake manifold with the baked on goop and it took everything off in a couple hours with only gentle agitation using a throw away paint brush. I suspect it etched the alu too. Think that was the purple stuff's acid.
The Orange stuff will clean wheels like crazy, but may be too strong? YOu get to decide how dilute to make it.
I used a mixture of the two on an intake manifold with the baked on goop and it took everything off in a couple hours with only gentle agitation using a throw away paint brush. I suspect it etched the alu too. Think that was the purple stuff's acid.
The Orange stuff will clean wheels like crazy, but may be too strong? YOu get to decide how dilute to make it.
09-07-2004, 12:27 PM
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Ok, so you've tried it and nothing???
Damn... I guess it's the wire brush and patience then?? Fortunately these are not the nice wheels, but I do use them on the streets. The track wheels are nice and clean, I will put a coat or two of wax onto those to keep them that way though.
Any other suggestions?
Any other suggestions?
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09-07-2004, 12:29 PM
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Have you tried those clean everything wheel cleaner products in Auto parts stores?
They might eat your paint, and the one's I use need rubbing to really clean up a mess, but they are pretty effective on brake dust build up.
09-07-2004, 12:31 PM
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It's Commercial Zep CITRUS cleaner & degreaser
Comes with lots of cautions. The orange stuff claims to remove grease oil and soils from concrete, metal other hard non porous surfaces...
The purple stuff- sorry no package to quote from- says similar things but includes additional text with more cautions appropriate for acid.
The purple stuff- sorry no package to quote from- says similar things but includes additional text with more cautions appropriate for acid.
09-07-2004, 12:33 PM
#10
Yep...I've tried it and nothing. It didn't help at all.
As for suggestions...I have none. I think I've tried everything there is to try and nothing has worked. I've resorted to scraping it off with a tiny screw driver. A wire brush would certainly work, but I don't want to hurt the finish of the wheels.
I do plan on trying the stuff that patience is posting about.
I do plan on trying the stuff that patience is posting about.