Planet 9

**phil@detailersdomain** · #1 05-10-2009, 06:45 AM

Okay so a couple years back i did a write up on how to clean wheels, here is another one with most of the same products, however I switched up a few things.

Here is the set up, I have had the STI now for over 3000 miles and unfortunately I have had no time to give it even a proper wash, actually I haven't washed it yet. The day I figured I had some time it got just too hot to finish it. (98 degrees!)

Anyway here is a teaser. I got started on the wheels and after 3000 miles of caked on brake dust I decided to go all out!

By this I mean wheels were off the car, wheel wells were cleaned and dressed, brakes were polished and waxed.

Products used:

Uber Wheel Kit
Menzerna PO85RD
Sears Jack
19mm Socket
Ratchet
Torque Wrench
Cam Spray Pressure Washer

Now to the pictures:

Before shots of the wheels.

Before Brakes and Wheel Wells. (reference left side, forgot to take all the complete shots, both sides were pretty dirty)

Wheel being pulled off using ratchet and jack.

Wheel off the car.

Back

P21S Gel on the wheels, I let it dwell while I cleaned the wheel wells and brakes
Back of the wheel

Front of the wheel

What it looks like after P21S sits for a while, the P21S Wheel Gelis pretty thick.

**phil@detailersdomain** · #2 05-10-2009, 06:46 AM

Cleaned both the front side and the back side with the Uber Boar's Hair Wheel Brush, The Uber Spoke Brush, and the Swissvax Wheel Brush, each one helped with the process of cleaning all that brake dust and dirt off the wheels.

After I applied Swissvax Autobahn on them.

Results from all that hard work on the wheels.

Now that the wheels were done...on to the wheel wells.
P21S Total Auto Wash was used to cut the dirt and grime off the wheel wells as well as the suspension bits, and brake calipers.

Brushes were used to help clean up the wheel wells etc

After everything was rinsed and cleaned up, I moved on to polishing the brake calipers with Menzerna PO85RD after I put a nice coat of Swissvax Autobahn on them to give them a nice shine and protection.

Caliper After Polish and before Autobahn

**phil@detailersdomain** · #3 05-10-2009, 06:46 AM

Applying the SV Autobahn

Removing the SV Autobahn

Adam's Undercarriage Spray was applied to bring back a nice new look to the wheel well covers (note I did wipe down any access to prevent a oily greasy look, I was going for a matte finish)

Rear Before

Rear After

Front Before

Front After

After of the wheel back on the car (less the tire dressing)

**His987CS** · #4 05-10-2009, 08:15 AM

Hey,

I just did this last weekend to Her987CS's CaymanS. Different products but same approach. A lot of work but big payoffs in how the car looks. My CayamnS gets the treatment next weekend.

Mark

In2Esses · #5 05-10-2009, 04:35 PM

I just spent the afternoon doing this little project as our first PCA club concours is next weekend. Changed my brake pads out as well, as they were a bit too worn for me for a DE in a few weeks.

This is one of those things that if you keep them clean all the time, it's not that big of a deal (love those 5 spoke CaymanS wheels!), as I always do a full wheel clean, wipe off the calipers, and wipe down the wheel wells every time I wash. But, to go 10/10s, you need to use something on the wheel well plastic, and get in and around everything you can't get to with the wheels on, etc.

Using a detailing spray when you wipe down / dry your wheels and brake calipers every time pays off big dividends........

And, it is certainly one of the keys to having a car that people look at and can't quite figure out why it looks so clean.

Regards!

Phil, I did my engine a couple of weeks ago, and it came out great (another 3 hour project). Thanks for the suggestions!!!

**phil@detailersdomain** · #6 05-10-2009, 05:58 PM

thanks guys more to come.