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Old 09-22-2008, 11:57 PM   #1
dnbtactics
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Default Permanent Brake dust on rims & cleaning seats

07 STI with the blue and black interior-
whats the best cleaning foam to use to clean these seats? The car only has 12K miles on it, but the seats arn't as bright blue as when i bought it =). I just want to make sure I use something that won't be to chemy and damage or fray the fabric. Thanks in advance.
Also question 2: I clean the factory gold bbs rims like once a week (I know the brake dust is killer), but I've noticed that theres always some very small pin sized permanent brake dust spots on the rims, that arn't visiable from a few feet away but up close I can see them easily. Anyone know of a solution or cleaning agent that can remove these spots permanently? thanks again guys
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Old 09-23-2008, 12:18 AM   #2
haberkorn
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Try to clay bar the wheels, that will usually get the contaminant off esp if it's just brake dust embedded in the clear coat of the wheel. After that just wax your wheels and the brake dust won't ever stick to them again.
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Old 09-23-2008, 12:20 AM   #3
lotarg
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That stuff will keep building and building, the car can't stay new forever... But if you really want the dots off, you can probably chip them off with something that is less abrasive than metal, maybe even a thick piece of plastic... or try bug and tar remover.

I believe you can even wax your wheels. I bet that would prevent the dots, but I have never bothered. Cars are meant to get worn!
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Old 09-23-2008, 01:45 AM   #4
jymy04sti
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I wish all i had was brake dust spots. My major problem is gravel chips!!
Although try scrubbing them down with a brush or something that's not too harsh, but could still get the job done. I have never tried to wax my wheels, but sounds good to me! Also, you might be better off getting better brake pads than stock, because i have noticed that some aftermarket pads reduce brake dust quite a bit, and you stop faster! lol
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Old 09-23-2008, 09:40 AM   #5
TexSurfer
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for the etching on the wheels try claybar. But most likely once etched in it will take something more. Try a good steamer and use p21s wheel gel. That doesn't work, its probably too late.
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Old 09-23-2008, 10:08 AM   #6
kaised
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For the seats try renting a carpet machine with the furniture attachment. I've had pretty good luck with those and getting dirt and stains out.
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Old 09-23-2008, 11:40 AM   #7
sorrowfulkiller
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One thing that works great for rims is actual spray on rim/wheel cleaner mixed with windex! Spray a good coating of the wheel cleaner on it first then spray on another healthy dose of windex. Works great, I just painted my stock rims after 114k miles and as far as I know they have never been cleaned from the back. Sprayed the two on and let it sit for about 3 mins and low and behold 95% came off with one swipe of a rag. Then just use a plastic bristle brush for the rest.
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Old 09-23-2008, 12:55 PM   #8
dangerousatom
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaised View Post
For the seats try renting a carpet machine with the furniture attachment. I've had pretty good luck with those and getting dirt and stains out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaised View Post
For the seats try renting a carpet machine with the furniture attachment. I've had pretty good luck with those and getting dirt and stains out.
kaised is on the rite track for the seats.....

Im a facilities manager/janitor at a large church with a 200+ kid day school so things get wrecked wicked fast. I have to clean upholstery all the freeking time
If you have a shop vac or access to one ( the more powerful the better ) it can be used as a carpet extractor. Find a good carpet cleaning solution or make your own ( 4oz simple green-2oz liquid laundry soap-2-3oz color safe bleach - into 1gal hot water " shaken not stirred") In your case .....car seats Id take them out of the car 1st or at least the rear one. Wet the seat down with a spray bottle full of ONLY WATER. You want the seat damp so it draws the clearing solution in quickly. Since it should be mildly scotch guarded from the factory, you may need to massage the water in a bit. Once the water is absorbed and not beading up all over the seat, get the shop vac ready. Spray small sections with cleaning solution and suck it out with the shop vac. If you are using my mix do not let it remain on the seat for more than a good 20 count due to the bleach. Id recommend re-scotch guarding while its damp or even can of camp dry will work.
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Old 09-23-2008, 01:03 PM   #9
Kean
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lotarg View Post
That stuff will keep building and building, the car can't stay new forever... But if you really want the dots off, you can probably chip them off with something that is less abrasive than metal, maybe even a thick piece of plastic... or try bug and tar remover.

I believe you can even wax your wheels. I bet that would prevent the dots, but I have never bothered. Cars are meant to get worn!
....sounds like an acquaintance of mine (friend of a friend). We both had 1/2 ton trucks at the time. He teased me about the fact that I took a little extra care with mine. "It's a truck" he would always say. "It's meant to get beat up". ....fast forward a few years later when we were both looking at new vehicles around the same time. He was shocked at the fact that everyone was "lowballing" him on the value of his well worn, beat up truck. .....on the other hand, I was able to get several thousand more for my newer looking, well maintained trade-in.

Call me weird, but I try to take care of things that I own. .....they tend to last longer, fetch a better price and I get the satisfaction of having something that looks good/works well for many years.
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Old 09-23-2008, 01:22 PM   #10
punk
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For the wheels, go buy some P21S and clean them with that first; I used a yellow Chore Boy non-metal scrubber. That removed a good amount of the caked on brake dust (and just about everything else). Anything that I couldn't get off with the sponge, I used my thumb nail and scraped along the spotty areas, that got all of the stuff on the surface off. Then use a clay bar to finish getting all of the caked on and baked in brake dust off.

Wax and seal the wheels after that to help maintain a "new" look, and make future cleaning easier...
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Old 09-23-2008, 02:00 PM   #11
Zspectrum
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Try megs wheel brightenener cut 4:1 with a foaming sprayer and then aggitate. If that does work your probably screwed.
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Old 09-23-2008, 03:38 PM   #12
Cre8ive
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For the rims try a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I use them on my rims after cleaning to get the last of the embedded brake dust off. Then follow up with a good waxing.
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Old 09-23-2008, 03:47 PM   #13
subaru3169
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For the rims try a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I use them on my rims after cleaning to get the last of the embedded brake dust off. Then follow up with a good waxing.
that's very interesting.. i should give that a shot
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Old 09-23-2008, 07:15 PM   #14
eurospek
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Try Meg's Wheel Brightener.
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