Chrometech Question

[XMBlackGT1]

One of my friends has a 2000 GAGT 2 door red with the solid value option package. It is off lease as of friday, so she took it into the dealership to evaluate to see if she was going to lose any money on it due to damage. She wanted to know ahead of time, in case there was something she could do to fix the problem. Well, they told her the chrome tech rims had to be cleaned. I have known her since she got the car, and she has NEVER EVER cleaned any of the brake dust off of any of the rims, or has she ever rotated any tires. The car has 20,000 miles of brake dust "fused" to the front wheels, they are black with brake dust. I have tried wheel cleaner, hot water, windex window cleaner, a pressure washer, and NONE of it seems to budge. Does anyone have any tricks to get rid of this stuff? I never let the dust accumulate more than a week on the rims of my car, so it would always wipe right off, but her car is an entirely different story. Any help would be great, since they want to "charge her" 850 bucks to compensate for the condition of the rims. Oh, by the way, she is going to be leasing a 2003 VIBE- NOT the GT, but in the lovely color of BLACK (i wonder what it will look like in a year). THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

[ArcticGT]

If its caked on there that bad I dont know what will get them clean. 20000 miles of brake dust is a lot and if they were never cleaned I am sure the likely hood of getting them clean is very little! Sorry I could not be of much help, but when someone doesnt take care of something its going to get them in the end.

[Roush GT]

i hadn't cleaned my chrometechs all winter... i used some turtle wax chrome polish to clean em up pretty good.

[PONCHO]

Are these the wheels that are a chrome plastic over an alum wheel? I would soak the wheel in water for a day then soak them in a cleaning solution made for removing brake dust. The soaking may break the **** loose enough to be removed easily.

[XMBlackGT1]

Originally posted by ArcticGT
If its caked on there that bad I dont know what will get them clean. 20000 miles of brake dust is a lot and if they were never cleaned I am sure the likely hood of getting them clean is very little! Sorry I could not be of much help, but when someone doesnt take care of something its going to get them in the end.


Thats what I told her too- I am glad that it isnt my problem. We took the front 2 rims off, put them in hot water over night, with some wheel cleaner, and still no luck- I think it is stuck there for good. Thanks for the info

[louveres]

Try MCguiares wax, it should work. There will be a lot of rubbing though.

[ArcticGT]

Even if you do get it off by a lot of rubbing and various compounds, there are going to be a lot of scratches in them. Not sure if the dealer will still nail her for the costs then either!

[RedGrandTour]

If the Chrome Techs have a clear coat. Try some cleaner wax or something like that.

[grass]

Originally posted by RedGrandTour
If the Chrome Techs have a clear coat. Try some cleaner wax or something like that.

try Never Dull, its made by eagle, got all kinds of road tar and **** off my car, it may work for her too, good luck

[Chaotic Reality]

I shine mine up with soapy hot water and a tooth brush. :D

-Jon

[Gimli]

Originally posted by SilverGT1
i hadn't cleaned my chrometechs all winter... i used some turtle wax chrome polish to clean em up pretty good.

That's also what I use with a little bit of elbow grease and it does wonders.