Cleaning the backside of the rims

[Silverbird01]

What would be a good way to remove the old brake dust and hardened stuff on the backside of my stock rims? I tried tar remover, simple green, brake clean, carburetor cleaner, ect... and nothing has really done that well. I'm not trying to strip/polish the rims, just clean the crap off of the backs.
Maybe someone has an idea of what will work and not damage the rims.

[raynor139]

Ironx will help neutralize everything and make it easier to clean. But if its been on their a few years. Claying and other cleaners will help but it will take a full polishing to get rid of it all. Brake dust if not neutralized will etch into the surface and cause grooves were it will bind to it.

[speedyWS6]

Hiya,

Been there, done this and although my cleaning of the back of the rims is a pre-cursor to further
work with abrasive papers and flap wheels and stuff my initial cleaning is with acetone and a
scotchbrite.

If you don't want to scratch things then a fine one or a worn one and this is just enough "bite"
to loosen the crap with the acetone. As always start mild and work up so you may find that acetone
and a rough type of shop rag will do??!

Hope this helps.

Trev

[pajeff02]

I was going to say that you'll probably need some type of solvent to really get that stuff off. Whatever you use, test it first in a small area before you go nuts on the whole back of the rim.

[Silverbird01]

Thanks for all the ideas, I kind of figured it was going to be difficult. I wonder if lacquer thinner would loosen the crud up?
I will try a few different chemicals/solvents and some fine abrasive or steel wool and see where that gets me.
Thanks again!

[cammed goat]

Lacquer thinner might work, but I don't know if it will stain the finish permanently. I have used brake cleaner and a wire brush to remove brake dust when I balance polished wheels using tape weights.