I just had my wheels re-finished due to brake dust build-up. I don't want to have to do it again. Any suggestions for ways to protect against the dust?

I searched this sub-forum and found a recommendation for Wheel Wax. Has anyone used the product? If so, how well did it work? How long did you go between applications? How long could you go without washing the wheels? (It's not that I'm a slob, but other people have suggested washing the wheels every day or every other day. I'm way too busy to do that.)

I recall reading somewhere the suggestion of coating the wheels with Vaseline to provide a physical barrier between the wheel and the dust. Has anyone tried that? Did it work well?

TIA,

 

Vaseline? i would think the vaseline would just cause more break dust to stick to it... i would think the best thing to use would be some kind of silicone based wax rather than a oil based one, but to help counteract the effects of break dust get some black rims lol

 

On one hand, the Vaseline would be a physical barrier. OTOH, like you said, it would trap other stuff, besides the brake dust. I'm not wild about "lubing" my wheels. I'm even less wild, though, about having them refinished again.

I think you're right about the silicone-based wax. I was hoping for some testimonials based on experience.

 

My suggestions:

1. Don't use pads that have corrosive dust (i.e. Hawk pads)

2. You can use Pam cooking spray. It will give you that protective barrier, its easy to put on, and washes off easily.

3. Lastly, clean your wheels more often.

However, if you do #1, you don't have to worry about #2.

 

George,
What exactly happened to your wheels (The Fikse's, right?) as result of the dust? Did it get caught up in the area where the halves bolt to the center?

 

I've already done #1 - went back to stock pads. I'm taking a belt-and-suspenders approach, though, since I don't want to have to do this again. I've had one other vote for PAM on another list. That person used it for track weekends, but had never had it on the wheels for more than two days. Any feedback on longer use?

As for #3, that's what I want to avoid. On my current schedule, I often have to go weeks without washing the car.

George

 

Just an accumulation of brake dust and rotor "dust". With competition pads, the rotors were "eaten", while the pads look almost new. As I'm sure you know, the hot metal will bond to the wheel. There is almost certainly stuff in the location you mentioned, but that wouldn't bother me. I'm not obsessive-compulsive about everything being shiny. However, the outer "dish" part of the wheel was discolored, so they really looked bad.

Yes, they are the Fikse FM-10's.

I've taken them to Ye Olde Wheel Shoppe, and they now look almost new. I'm just looking for an easy and reliable method to keep them that way.

George