Matte Wheel and Painted Caliper Cleaning

[tlr3715]

My GT performance pack came with matte black wheels which I am finding is extremely hard to keep clean and have bronze spots from brake dust no matter how much I scrub it. It also came with red painted calipers and can’t get to them well through the wheel which has been a challenge to clean also. Anyone have cleaning suggestions?

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[Sofa King]

Ceramic coating the wheels and calipers will help the brake dust come off easier... then a matter of finding a good cleaner and wheel brushes that fit your wheels (try several to find a good fit). I also remove wheels once in a while to clean inside and the calipers... really the only way to do a thorough job.

 

[tankcj]

I have the same problem but I have the bronze package. It appears that changing to ceramic pads is the best option for all but eliminating the dust. In the mean time, waxing or ceramic coating and/or getting a crap load of assorted brushes for cleaning will get you by.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

@tlr3715 --not sure what design wheels your Mustang came with. Mine came with the 20 x 9 silver 10 spoke into 20 spoke wheels. It was the devil's own to get to the calipers through all those spokes! Solved it by swapping out to a set of 5 spoke wheels.

Earlier this year I had the OEM brake pads swapped out for a set of Power Stop Z26 CF/Ceramic pads. I use my GT for a grocery getter cruiser mostly. The Z 26s stop great and feel great at the pedal and DUST WWAAYY less than OEM.

I've got 4 different brushes I use to clean the wheels and calipers with.

Like @Sofa King said; pulling the wheels is still the best way to thoroughly clean your calipers. Good luck!

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Ceramic coating your wheels is essential to keeping them clean. Also get a wheel brush kit and find a good wheel cleaner like P&S brake buster. To give the calipers a good cleaning you'll need to remove the wheels.

 

[DFB5.0]

Matte finishes are a nightmare. Because they lack a traditional clearcoat, which acts as barrier to brake dust and grime, the finish is somewhat porous. That means its extremely difficult to remove contamination, even with strong wheel cleaners and brushes.

A ceramic coating is a must, but not the complete solution you'd hope for. Again, the porous nature causes the finish to inhale the coating rather than being a full barrier to dirt, brake dust and road grime. So, most certainly apply a coating, but be aware of what you'll achieve.

On my matte Ford Performance wheels, I have them ceramic coated with Armour Detail Supply Wheel Coating. Don't mess with alternatives, this is THE wheel coating to use for longevity, slickness and water behavior. Most wheel coatings lack slickness and extreme water beading, the tradeoff for heat and abrasion resistance, which with the durability is the reason why I like this coating so much.

Armour Wheel Coating – Armour Detail Supply
Armour Detail - Wheel Coating | The Rag Company

On used wheels, you'll want to remove them from the car, then clean with an iron remover wheel cleaner. Do the calipers at the same time. On the wheels, you'll want to clay them, but be careful on the calipers, especially around the Brembo decals. Fully dry, then wipe down with a panel prep (I do that twice to be thorough).

Armour Detail - Panel Prep | The Rag Company

Applying the coating, it'll go on a little sticky but will transform to a slick surface on the wipe off. You'll find the wheels will soak up a lot of coating, which is why its highly recommended to apply a second layer on matte finishes. The second layer can go on 1 hour after the first.

On mine, I did two layers on the wheels and one on the calipers, using every last drop of the 30ml bottle.

I know that coating is more expensive than alternatives, but its slicker, sheds contamination easier, and lasts longer.

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