Okay, everyone as spring nears and most of us have been hit with some snow this winter, I figured why not do a detailed how to on cleaning up the wheel wells on our cars.

I figured some of us will be switching up to a summer wheel set up, so what better time to get you all out there to clean up the salt, dirt, grime, and everything else in your wheel well while you have access to it.

Let's get started.

Products used:

Craftsman's 4000lbs jack
(I was intending to use jack stands but the ones I bought were too big)
Torque wrench
Socket wrench
P21S Autowash
P21S Polishing Soap
Adam's Car Wash
Adam's Invisible Undercarriage Spray
Menzerna FMJ
Old Microfiber towels
Bucket
Firehose Nozzle
If you got a high pressure washer that would be a major plus!
Boar's Hair Brush
Wheel Brush (synthetic bristles)
Spoke wheel brush (to get in to the tight spots)
Detail Sponge (for the Adam's Invisible Undercarriage Spray)
Dark color clothing (you will get pretty dirty on this one)
Gloves

Procedure:
1. Make sure the car is cool (wheels, brakes etc)
2. Jack up the car so that you can take the wheel off (I would recommend using jack stands if you got them)
3. Remove wheel
4. Spray down wheel well.
5. Spray the whole area with P21S Autowash
6. Using the brushes from the Bucket full of Adam's Car Wash I started to agitate and brush the dirt and grime off everything in the wheel well. Getting the suspension bits, wheel liners, control arms, boots, brake caliper, etc..
7. Used the high pressure washer to spray everything down. (if the results are not what you want repeat from step 5)
8. Used the P21S Polishing Soap to polish out all the metal in the wheel well. (not the brakes)
9. Used the high pressure washer to spray down all the P21S soap off.
10. Used an old MF to wipe everything dry
11. Sprayed down the wheel liner, rubber, and plastics with Adam's Undercarriage Spray, for the super glossy look you will spray it and leave it. For the matte OEM look Spray it let it set and then wipe down with a detailing sponge (I used the ones that we sell with the Adam's VRT) try not to get any of the dressing on the rotors.
12. Applied some Menzerna FMJ on the brake caliper, buffed off with a MF towel
13. You are now good to go just mount the summer wheels on and repeat till all four wheel wells are done.

I spent about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours on this procedure.

Now to the good part the pics:

Before pic of the whole car with snow setup:


Dirty wheels:


Before wheel well pics:







During the P21S Autowash and brushing:






Polishing metal bits:





Dressing/afters:








Final picture:


Dirty car with some hot clean wheels:


Note: the dressing appears to be running but its not, its left over water as the wheel well/liners were still wet.

 

thats pretty cool, i mean if its a hobby of yours to clean, great, but who sees your wheel wells? those 2 hours would have been better spent in the gym.

 

great write up, thank you. I really like people like you who spend their time to do tiny finshing touches that most of us dont see but still do it so everything is perfect.

 

very cool - you did use jack stands right? (i've had a few "issues" with floor jacks in the past)

 

Just the floor jack for this one.

 

Spraying the wheel wells with tire foam also does a good job making them look new. Probably not as good as a complete detail but is much quicker.

 

^^

Good write up Phil!

The foam lance with pressure washer does an excellent job of thoroughly cleaning the entire underside. Simply remove the wheel(s) and spray, let sit for several minutes, then rinse.

 

i do, wheel wells stick out like a sore thumb to me. i cant stand a car that has a full detail without clean wheel wells

great write up

 

Detailed car must have clean wheel wells, nice write up.

If your in the gym for 2 hours your over working yourself or not very productive.

 

thanks!