Motoring Discussion > Wheel Sealant	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Skip	Replies: 26

New Wed 8 Jun 16 20:31   Wheel Sealant - Skip

Just reading Auto Express (6 issues for a quid - the only time buy it !) and they have tested alloy wheel sealants which I hadn't heard of. Anyone on here used them and found them to be any good as despite weekly washing after about 20k miles mine always have a build up of baked on black brake dust in the "corners" which even wheel cleaner won't shift ? Last edited by: Skip on Wed 8 Jun 16 at 20:32 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 20:51   Wheel Sealant - Boxsterboy

I picked one up for free somewhere along the line and so tried it. The benefits seemed marginal/short-lasting to me. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 20:53   Wheel Sealant - Skip

I'm wondering if using car polish on them would do the same job. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 20:57   Wheel Sealant - WillDeBeest

I don't see the problem. Wheels will get dirty, but the LEC's still come up presentable the couple of times a year it gets a wash. The chariot is at the dealer tomorrow to have a climate control glitch fixed. Should get a wash then - and a little bottle of BMW water in the drink holder. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 21:58   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Any brand of "smokers" grade toothpaste and an old toothbrush will get the wheels sparkling. Dip the toothbrush in a bit of warm water from time to time while you're doing it and wash off the residue before it dries. You might get some funny looks but it works. Don't ask me how I know. ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 22:12   Wheel Sealant - Skip

>> Any brand of "smokers" grade toothpaste and an old toothbrush will get the wheels sparkling. OK, I will give that a go. Do you think that soaking them in the bath with Steradent tablets would have the same effect ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 22:19   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Got to be worth a try I suppose. Reminds me of the time my friend shot a deer ( legally ) and brought it home and butchered it in the bath. He then went out to the pub for a bit not really considering the possibility that his wife, who had no idea he'd been shooting that day, might in the meanwhile come home from work, throw back the shower curtain to have a shower, only to be met with a most unexpected scene of utter carnage and dismemberment in her bath... It wasn't an especially great or popular move apparently... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 22:23   Wheel Sealant - No FM2R

But what an excellent opportunity to use a slightly bored; "Yes Dear, I know". Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 22:45   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Or, as he, it soon transpired inadvisedly said, "What did you shay was in the bath darling? Don't be shilly, you musht be imagining thingsh...by the way, you look ever show shexy when you're angry..." Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 8 Jun 16 22:31   Wheel Sealant - Dog

I started a thread some time ago about the amount of brake pad dust I used to get on my front alloy wheels. I couldn't make out why the front wheels got so bad compared to the rears [Zero and others did explain it to me] Well, I had my front pads changed at my last service, and now the wheels hardly suffer from brake pad dust at all. So, I asked the garage what make of brake parts they used = Bendix! Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 07:09   Wheel Sealant - Skip

>> I couldn't make out why the front wheels got so bad compared to the rears >> [Zero and others did explain it to me] Isn't that just because the front brakes do something like 80% of the work ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 08:14   Wheel Sealant - Old Navy

>> So, I asked the garage what make of brake parts they used = Bendix! >> Harder pads equals more brake disc wear, budget for new discs next time. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 08:32   Wheel Sealant - Dog

Well, the discs are 8 years old ON, so about time they went for the big sleep :) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 09:48   Wheel Sealant - bathtub tom

I polished and waxed my alloys before the Winter. Seems to make the removal of dirt and brake dust much easier. I don't know if it's worthwhile, took ages to do. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 10:14   Wheel Sealant - WillDeBeest

Question and answer in the same sentence, BT. }:---) Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 10:16   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

My new car has black alloys. Not sure if this will be a good thing or not but with less than a 1000 miles on it so far they still look clean. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 9 Jun 16 10:26   Wheel Sealant - VxFan

>> Harder pads equals more brake disc wear, budget for new discs next time. :-) All pads are harder these days because they're no longer made of asbestos. Becoming more and more common to replace the discs at the same time because of it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 14:13   Wheel Sealant - Cliff Pope

I have seen advertisements for plastic discs to fit on the studs behind the wheels, to stop brake dust coming through the vents. But that's probably a clue as to why they might not be a good thing - ventilation and cooling. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 19:59   Wheel Sealant - Skip

>> I have seen advertisements for plastic discs to fit on the studs behind the wheels, >> to stop brake dust coming through the vents. But that's probably a clue as to >> why they might not be a good thing - ventilation and cooling. >> I used to sell those when I ran a motor factors back in the 80's. I can't remember who made them now but they were supposed to bend back away from the wheel at speed to help keep the brakes cool, I'm not sure if they did though or even kept the brake dust off of the wheels. They may still be around however I should imagine that there would be too many liability issues to use them these days. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 21:04   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Fiat Panda hubcaps used to be held on by the wheel bolts. Not sure why I've remembered that, or why I've mentioned it in a thread about brake dust really. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 21:23   Wheel Sealant - Skip

>> Fiat Panda hubcaps used to be held on by the wheel bolts. Not sure why >> I've remembered that, or why I've mentioned it in a thread about brake dust really. An "age thing" probably :-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 21:24   Wheel Sealant - Skip

>> Fiat Panda hubcaps used to be held on by the wheel bolts. So were the ones on the Citroen BX as we are on that topic ! Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 21:27   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Quite good idea really. I bought my ex-wife some new hubcaps for her Panda once. Well, it was her birthday after all. ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 23:39   Wheel Sealant - bathtub tom

>> Quite good idea really. I bought my ex-wife some new hubcaps for her Panda once. >> Well, it was her birthday after all. You should have gone for a new belt and bag - the vacuum cleaner would've been far more efficient. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 10 Jun 16 23:45   Wheel Sealant - Runfer D'Hills

Special stuff like that was saved for anniversaries Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 12 Jun 16 15:27   Wheel Sealant - Dutchie

No matter what you put on wheels they are soon covered in muck.Regular cleaning but is that the obvious answer? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 12 Jun 16 22:35   Wheel Sealant - Fullchat

Throw all the snake oil you like at wheels. They are living in a very harsh environment and whatever is put on will soon wash off. All you can do is keep clean with a suitable cleaner and maybe apply a bit of polish at regular intervals. The diamond cut wheels will soon exhibit signs of corrosion once a nick in the paint finish allows moisture to attack the aluminium. Reply to this message | Report message