Cleaning Basket Weave Wheels

[19sho90]

So after looking at my wheels and trying all this "spray on and wash off" stuff i decided it is all bogus for getting hard brake dust off, so i decided to make a HOW TO on cleaning these Basket weave wheels.
Before:

After:

Items Needed: Wheel and Tire Cleaner, Three Terry Towels, 10 or so Q-Tips, 1.5Hours of time, Tooth Brush, and last but not least 1 Gallon of water


Step oneisconnect "-" Battery Cable(Only Kidding)
Step Two: Lift Vehicle Properly & remove wheel
Step Three: Take Wheel and Tire cleaner & spray the BACK side of wheel very liberally. Take a Terry towel and clean the Rim Lip and work your way down. By the mounting hub(Use Q-tips by wheels weight) it will usually get very dirty so that's where the toothbrush comes in.

Step Four: Find a clean side of TT and wipe all around the inside.

Step Five: Flip Tire over grab a new TT and get ready for the time consuming part.:woo-hoo: Spray the Wheel and tire cleaner liberally on this side now. Starting with the triangles nearest to the rim lip start with one and work your way around. moving to the next set in of triangles. finishing with the little triangles. The little triangles are the best part, only kidding, the Q-tips work best here and some of the tire cleaner tends to pool up in the bottom of them making it easy to clean with a Q-tip

Step Six: Flip the wheel back over, this is the best way of doing it as if you clean the dirtiest part, the back, first then some dirt will flow through to the other side then you flip it and it is less dirty....Just trust me this is the best way, Haha. Grab your third Terry Towel and spray the cleaner on the Towel once or twice. clean the inside the go to the outside. and you are done.



Wait...Step Seven: Dont forget to wipe down your Strut, clipers, rotor sheild, and wheel well.

 

[Racer X]

Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner

http://shop.sonaxonline.com/product.php?productid=16135&cat=251&page=1

Save yourself some effort next time.

 

[19sho90]

Ill still have to scrub. I had some very stuck on dirt and grime.

 

[shobote]

Weaves are second only to spoked wheels for biggest PITA to clean. I did what you did, but found they will not stay that way for long. The forged 17's I now run are a piece of cake to clean, takes 5 minutes for all 4.

 

[-DVP-]

I thought the only way to clean them was to scrap them

 

[JRA2000TL]

I use Eagle One A to Z. It works decent for the minimal effort it takes; however, my basketweaves' clearcoat has long peeled off, and they're rather dull and ugly. One of these days, I'm going to spend the $400 or so to get the exact alloy reproductions from iautobody (Ron Porter referred me there). I like the stock weaves; the tire selections just suck.

 

[sperold]

Good write up on the cleaning process, and good replies on other alternatives.

I have a sad tale to tell on that topic. I took a full set of basket weaves to have them refinished, and I usually got a good price on the process. There was a casual mention that the rims were grimey and would have to be sandblasted to clean them up. Picked them up and got the bill......$190.00 extra charge for the blasting.

Not really sure, but I don't think this shop wants any more businesss from me.

 

[JRA2000TL]

I think it'd be cheaper just to buy a set from that place I mentioned. By the time you take them to the shop, have them sandblasted, repaired, refinished (and clearcoated), you're going to be out the same; if not more $. I checked into wheel refinishing and it didn't seem worth it. Those old basketweaves aren't in high demand by any means, so I'm sure you'd have better luck striking a deal with a company that has had them on the shelf forever and can't get rid of them.

 

[sperold]

Absolutely right. If I had known the price before I took delivery, I would have abandoned them at the shop.
I never really wanted to have a set of sparkling 89 basket weaves, but they were sitting around, and I thought it would be a good idea to get them done before the deal (that was too good to be true...$125.00 to refinish 4) expired.
Live and learn.

 

[19sho90]

Thanks for the Kinds words. Just purchased some 17" Konigs and some 215-55-17 Bridgestone Serenitys today Total bill before my Discount for the Tires was 906.00 after my Discount 376

Good write up on the cleaning process, and good replies on other alternatives.

I have a sad tale to tell on that topic. I took a full set of basket weaves to have them refinished, and I usually got a good price on the process. There was a casual mention that the rims were grimey and would have to be sandblasted to clean them up. Picked them up and got the bill......$190.00 extra charge for the blasting.

Not really sure, but I don't think this shop wants any more businesss from me.

 

[19sho90]

Very TRue on the Weaves. But mine did clean up very well and do have all the Clear Coat Left. (For sale BTW for 400$ with BRAND NEW TIRES!!!!) but anyways thanks for all the Words of advice guys