Well... I am conducting a test... I cleaned my rims up really well, and then applied a coat of Rain-X to my rims.

What do I expect to gain out of this test?

Well... I first want to see if it will repel brake dust and dirt. I also want to see how well it does at just basically keeping the rims tidy. I also want to see how easily the dirt comes off the next time I wash it in the next 3 to 4 months.

I'll probably keep it running for 3 or 4 months, or unless it just doesn't work out.

Who knows, right?

Could mystically magically solve a problem...

 

Interesting test....why not use something like this

http://www.brakedustcover.com/

 

I can't get the rims off my truck...

J/k...

Yes, I was thinking of getting a set of those...

But personally, I don't think it's worth it for me because I got a stick shift, and I down shift a lot, and generally go obnoxiously slow.

But then again, it would be a cool little device to add to my truck.

 

ive heard that those sheilds are very bad. rumor has it they block the airstream that cools your brakes. but who knows maybe some people have had no problems. personally i think they would be ok as long as your not a race car driver or tow lots.

 

Both have merit for the test, however, round these parts, (care and detail section) brake dust isn't a problem. Most OCD'ers wash and detail their trucks weekly...

My truck gets a weekly wash and is wiped down daily.(QD'd for the non OCD'er) I can go two weeks without a wash and when I do, I spend 10 min and work on my wheels in addition to wiping down the paint.

Maybe its just me, but I have never had an issue with brake pad dust even when towing our 5er.

BTW, I have 2 6 Ton bottle Jacks and Air-tools, I can get wheels off my truck in less than 10 min and have the insides detailed.

One trick I do, and yes this is way OCD is that when I got to Discount to have my tires rotated. I take my own buckets and some APC+ when they take them off I use their water hose and spray down the wheels and wash them right there before they put them back on.

other than that, I do it myself between rotations.

 

^^^Same here, mostly. Skip the last 4 paragraphs (if you can call them that...)

All sorts of poeple talk about how much brake dust sucks, but I have yet to run into the problem (knock on wood)... It seems that every time I wash, the regular wash solution (used AFTER the paint is washed and with a DEDICATED mitt) seems to do just fine. The only times I use a specialized cleaner or harsh chemical are:

1. On customer vehicles, just to get EVERYTHING off
2. If I am doing a full-on detail and feel like adding another product to the list
3. If I am trying to get rid of some chemical (running out of space makes me do this)

Interesting test you are running. Here is the test I ran:

Use DuPont Teflon Wheel Cleaner on rims. It claims to have all sorts of protection and such. It ended up making it easier to clean off, and the rims did look better for longer; however, it was only marginally better than NXT on rims, and I dont know how harsh the stuff is since my rims are cleared. So I dont use it often. I am interested to see how the Rain-X does, though...

 

I use Poorboy's Wheel Sealant and I like it !!

 

Interesting indeed. Are you going to touch the wheels at all, or just let them do their thing until you wash it next?

It might be worth spraying them with the hose once you've built up some dust, just see if it rinses right off.

- NCSU

 

I want to refrain from touching them..

My ultimate goal is to possibly be able to just to wash them off...

Which in reality, if you've ever seen the rain-x commercial where they throw a bucket of mud on a windshield, it just slides right off. So I'm hoping the next time I wash them or even have the rain get to them, that the brake dust should just come off without having to scrub it off. If the rain will get it off... I can call them "self-cleaning" rims.

We'll see... I need some brake dust and some water...

 

Why not install Centric Posi-Quiet pads ?

 

Since I went to ceramic pads and premium rotors, I have no brake dust. ZERO.

 

Thanks for the suggestions on the brake pads... but I can't see throwing away good brake pads.

When my truck gets 50k on them, maybe I'll get rid of them.

But right now, I don't have too much of a brake dust problem because I drive stick and I tend to downshift a lot to slow down.

However, this week I'm forcing myself to use the brakes more to see my results.

Boy, boy, boy... all these little tests to my little F150... last week it was extreme loads, this week applying crazy substances to it's wheels... when will it ever end?!

I'm surprised it hasn't grown some legs and a tail, because I'll call it a lab rat soon.

 

I bought some michelin i believe it is spray that repels brake dust, yellow spray can blue lid from AZone. works pretty well dont use it every time.

I really stoped caring about these stock wheels.... maybe ill get new ones in a couple months

 

I bet the rain x will be gone before you know it.

 

I have been working on my OEM 20's this week. The truck now has 30k, and the inside of the wheels have never been cleaned. I bought the truck with 24k on it in September of 07. I have been prepping about 1 wheel a night, and applying sealant the 2nd night. I am removing the wheels to do this. I first washed them with PBs car wash. Then I used PB's SSR1 to polish the inside and out. I applied 2 coats of PB's wheel sealant inside and out. The results are looking very good so far. I went to take before and after pictures tonight but the battery was dead. I still have 2 more wheels to go. So pictures will follow in a new thread. I am really liking this PB's stuff.