Wheel Cleaning Tool

[SShaw]

So I'm probably not the first to do this but figured someone might find it useful. I bought a lug nut cleaner from Autozone and oriented the brushes to clean the wheels. This job just got a lot less painful.

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[Henrik]

That's a great tip. Especially at less than 5 bucks.
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[DavidProehl]

This thread from a few years ago (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?5825-How-To-Detail-tip-of-the-month-Clean-your-wheels-in-1-3-the-time)got me on the lug nut brush bandwagon, but I'm still not happy with my results. The silver wheels are just so hard to get clean. I still have to take a rag to the wheels to do final detailing, and it is never perfect. This is easily my least favorite cleaning job.

Anyone have any magic cleaners they use on the rims? I'm currently using Simple Green. Maybe I need to try something else.

I definitely prefer the silver rim look, but there have been countless times I wish I had grey rims from a cleaning perspective.

[Michael]

These brushes work great but there is a caveat. You can't let the wheels get so dirty that it takes a sandblaster and wheel acid to clean. Its great for removing dirt but not aged brake dust that has sit and welded itaelf to the wheel.
I often get comments about the level of clean my car stays in. My philosophy is if you want an immaculately clean car the secret is to never let it get dirty. What I mean by that is never let it get to the point that you have to "detail" it. Stay on top of it and you will spend minimal time compared to a weekend to clean it and as a bonus you will always have a fully detailed DeLorean at your disposal.

[David T]

These brushes work great but there is a caveat. You can't let the wheels get so dirty that it takes a sandblaster and wheel acid to clean. Its great for removing dirt but not aged brake dust that has sit and welded itaelf to the wheel.
I often get comments about the level of clean my car stays in. My philosophy is if you want an immaculately clean car the secret is to never let it get dirty. What I mean by that is never let it get to the point that you have to "detail" it. Stay on top of it and you will spend minimal time compared to a weekend to clean it and as a bonus you will always have a fully detailed DeLorean at your disposal.

You have to be careful with tools like that. Often have a metal "spine" that holds the bristles. You can't let that metal spine touch the painted surfaces or it will scratch the paint. I took an old tooth brush and ground it to a point and heated it up and bent it so I can get into the small spaces. Like Michael says, if you let things get TOO dirty it becomes impossible to get it really clean again.

[MikeWard]

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I've had these on my car for the last 12 months, they are awesome. The only dirt I get on the outside of the wheels now is road grime which washes off very easily. 5 minutes with soapy water and a 2" paint brush to do all 4 wheels and they are spotless.

http://www.deloreanclub.uk/brake-dust-wheel-shields.html

Note, these are not generic dust shields but are custom made for the DeLorean wheels, ensuring a perfect fit against the inside of the wheels.

[Michael]

Nice. Just wondering if you have experienced and I'll effects at highway speeds? We used to sell them when I was at Mercedes but stopped due to some of the MB wheels being designed to help suck air out from under the car. With the shields in place the car was unstable at higher speeds. Also they prevented the brakes from getting enough cooling.

I doubt the DeLorean would suffer from either of these since we don't drive them hard or fast and the wheels don't look to be turbines.

[DavidProehl]

Those would be awesome. Is that price for all 4 or per shield?

[DrJeff]

Those would be awesome. Is that price for all 4 or per shield?

From the website link "Supplied as a complete set of 4".

[DavidProehl]

From the website link "Supplied as a complete set of 4".

Ok, apparently I am blind. Thanks!

[DMCVegas]

Why are there so many weights on that wheel?

[ssdelorean]

Nice. Just wondering if you have experienced and I'll effects at highway speeds? We used to sell them when I was at Mercedes but stopped due to some of the MB wheels being designed to help suck air out from under the car. With the shields in place the car was unstable at higher speeds. Also they prevented the brakes from getting enough cooling.

I doubt the DeLorean would suffer from either of these since we don't drive them hard or fast and the wheels don't look to be turbines.

I have had Don Steiger's (DMC Garden Grove - before his affiliation with DMCH) version for years. I have felt no difference or ill effects and highway speeds or illegal triple digit speeds. They do an awesome job of keeping the wheels clean. When I wash my car I rarely have to scrub or even put extra effort to clean the rims because of the dust shields. Don's version has hand full of tiny little vents and are directional.

When I got them years ago some people said they would cause the brakes to get hot and warp the rotors. I told them I don't ride the brakes and use gearing down to slow more than using the brakes :-) They also said that using my gears to slow down will wear the clutch. Original clutch was replaced at 180,000 miles. No issues if you don't ride the clutch. Anyway, 100,000 miles later using the brake dust shields, I have experienced NO warped rotors or any abnormal brake wear.

[Jonathan]

Why are there so many weights on that wheel?

Wow, yea, I saw that too and wondered the same thing.

[Michael]

Those fat tires are hard to balance but if you do find there is that much weight needed you can take an extra step and break the tire loose, spin it 180 and remount and rebalance and you may find the weight needed is minimal.
However very few flat rate guys will go the extra mile like that. What you get is what you get.

Edit: looking at the pic again I have to ask why there is weight at opposing "sides"?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Those fat tires are hard to balance but if you do find there is that much weight needed you can take an extra step and break the tire loose, spin it 180 and remount and rebalance and you may find the weight needed is minimal.
However very few flat rate guys will go the extra mile like that. What you get is what you get.

Edit: looking at the pic again I have to ask why there is weight at opposing "sides"?

Tire guy probably did not remove old weights.

[David T]

My guess is that the owner didn't want any weights showing on the outside so they had to put more weight on the inside. The shop only had the one size so they just kept adding the small ones till they got enough weight on. I agree it looks like too much, something is "off". On most of the newer tires there is a red mark or other identifier that you are supposed to put by the tire valve. If you don't, you wind up needing more weight. The tire is molded and balanced to compensate for the tire valve. Another reason is sometimes a rim is bent and the tech doesn't notice or care but just keeps throwing weights at it till the machine says OK. Or maybe the tire is just bad? The cheap, imported tires are not always as good as they should be.

[MikeWard]

Nice. Just wondering if you have experienced and I'll effects at highway speeds? We used to sell them when I was at Mercedes but stopped due to some of the MB wheels being designed to help suck air out from under the car. With the shields in place the car was unstable at higher speeds. Also they prevented the brakes from getting enough cooling.

I doubt the DeLorean would suffer from either of these since we don't drive them hard or fast and the wheels don't look to be turbines.

To echo the comments of ssdelorean, no ill effects whatsoever at any speed. Cooling is not an issue.

I also painted my set black before fitting them.
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There is a write up on the Eurotec forum with additional pictures etc - http://www.deloreaneurotec.uk/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=4929


Why are there so many weights on that wheel?
No idea, those pictures were taken from the club store link I posted previously - http://www.deloreanclub.uk/brake-dust-wheel-shields.html

[DavidProehl]

To echo the comments of ssdelorean, no ill effects whatsoever at any speed. Cooling is not an issue.

I also painted my set black before fitting them.
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The earlier post got me really excited about these shields. How well has your paint been holding up? I'm wondering if it would be worth having these powdercoated instead. And is that a flat or semi-gloss finish you went with? It looks flat.

[MikeWard]

The earlier post got me really excited about these shields. How well has your paint been holding up? I'm wondering if it would be worth having these powdercoated instead. And is that a flat or semi-gloss finish you went with? It looks flat.
Really well, I had the front wheel off a few weeks ago while I was installing a one piece straight through speedo cable, and didn't see any damage to the paint on the wheel shield.

I painted them with a high temperature/exhaust manifold paint which drys to a very flat matt finish.

For those who are not on the Eurotec forum, here are a couple of shots from another car, showing the shields installed bare.
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[DavidProehl]

Really well, I had the front wheel off a few weeks ago while I was installing a one piece straight through speedo cable, and didn't see any damage to the paint on the wheel shield.

I painted them with a high temperature/exhaust manifold paint which drys to a very flat matt finish.

For those who are not on the Eurotec forum, here are a couple of shots from another car, showing the shields installed bare.


Excellent. I like the black/invisible look over the bare look. I really need to get a set. I should probably register on the Eurotec forum to read your thread, but based on the photos it looks like you also put some edging on the shield to reduce rattle. Good idea.

[MikeWard]

Excellent. I like the black/invisible look over the bare look. I really need to get a set. I should probably register on the Eurotec forum to read your thread, but based on the photos it looks like you also put some edging on the shield to reduce rattle. Good idea.
Oh, the shields come with edging strip which is for the front two dust shields :thumbup: The rear dust shields are installed without an edging strip.