What is brake dust on alloy wheels?
Brake dust contains iron. It lands on the wheel, sticks and rusts there. That is what turns a silver wheel orange-brown and then dull grey. The finish underneath is still whole. Something has been added to the wheel, not taken off.
What kind of repair does it need?
Chemical decontamination. An iron remover dissolves the particles, the wheel is washed, and a sealant slows it coming back. Nothing is stripped or repainted.
A chemical dissolves what has stuck to the surface. On gloss paint, a clay bar may lift what is left. Never clay or polish matte paint or a matte wrap. Detailer work, not panel work.
What to do next
Any detailer can do this, and it is cheap. Do it before paying for anything else on the wheels. A cleaned wheel often does not need refurbishing at all.
Sources
- Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint maker
this dust corrodes and become embedded in the finish
- OCD Car Careproduct seller
Dust, pollen, industrial fallout, brake dust are a few types of topical contaminants.
- PPG / Mercedes-Benzpaint maker
No possibilities exist to polish out dirt or imperfections in the finished clear, as this…
- BMWBlogmedia
Do not use mechanical means of cleaning the surface.
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