how to clean matte powdercoat wheels
 

i am looking at a used set of forgeline wheels that used to be used for the track. they have seen better days... the matte powdercoat finish has gone cloudy, there are surface scratches, and there is brake dust baked into it.

they are agressively priced low because of this. i don't know what is safe to clean powdercoat, let alone a matte powdercoat. if i were to send them back to forgeline the cost to refinish them is too close to buying them new.

is there a cost-effective product out there that can save these?

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psad9544df.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps7328ed84.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps77633ee7.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps4d53c05d.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps55e2f5bf.jpg

powder coat is plastic eccentially bonded to the metal and cooked on.. so acids like wheel acid are a bad idea, what does work really well for break dust is a de-greaser like simple green

i would simple green them and get a couple magic erasers and go to work! once all clean wax those bishes up to prevent brake dust from settling again

does wax and a matte finish mix? won't be matte after waxing?

this is sort of what it should have looked like new:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...eline/10-7.jpg
http://www.forgeline.com/product_ima..._image-750.jpg

Claybar?
Posted via RS Mobile

i have been googling around and people are saying to claybar is good for normal brake dust, but leftovers from track pads is a different beast altogether :o

what about steam cleaning?

Use IronX to get rid of the baked on brake dust. It is safe for powder coated wheels. Snails is right, anything but a ph balanced cleaner could potentially stain the wheels. Clean them well and then have us Opticoat them. Should be able to use nothing more than soap and water, even after tracking them and the OC will only deepen the colour a bit without adding gloss. Bring one by and we'll try IronX on it.

i don`t think the seller would let me bring one in. i would have to buy them first... argh.

someone pm`d me asking why i am being such a cheapass and just buy them new... i wish i could, but these wheels new are around $1600usd each.

Let me know if I can help in any way.

thanks.... thinking hard!