I used "Wonder Wheels" to remove some stubborn brake dust from the alloys on my 03 WRX and it has bleached my calipers grey where the liquid has come into contact with them. They now look naff anyone else experienced problems with this stuff?

I have used it for years with no problems. I always take the wheels off the car to do a proper job, but you can use it with them in place, but you just have to be more careful not to splash it around, and then rinse it off VERY well, I use a watering can and lots of water.

It's a mild (well maybe not so mild) acid, so have a guess what that could do to your alloys, calipers or paintwork if it splashes about.

They turned my calipers grey too, but I've since had them painted with some hammerite and stopped using that (IMHO) cr@p.

You're best taking the wheels off and cleaning them with some car shampoo, then putting some polish on them to stop the brake dust sticking so well. I think the only solution is to keep on top of the brake dust and just clean them more regularly.

Stefan

The only solution for your current caliper problem is to stop using WW (and it won't get worse) or get them re-painted. They'll look much better and will last longer (hopefully).

Stefan

used this once,

wondered where the shine went off my wheels !

never again, as said before, clean them up good, use some tcut or something like that to get the stubborn dust off, then wax them or apply some alloy wheel protection stuff to make it easier next time.

Thanks for the replies.
I have just emailed Tetrosyl who are the parent company of wonder wheels advising them of the problem and that i am not at all happy about this and look forward to receiving their comments etc etc..
Expect they will try and fob me off but worth a go imo

I am sure Blowdog had just the same problem a couple of years back when he had an EVO, may be worth dropping him an email.

I use iAutos Dr Wackie wheel cleaner, it is brilliant, and has the advantage of being acid free. It turns the lead balance weights to a shiny polished look finish - none of the white powder look to them.

Very easy to use, its a green gel, can be left on up to 4 hours.

Steve Wardle

Just to keep anyone intersted updated i have had a reply from tetrosyl today as follows: will let you know what happens next.. i think they will deny there is any problem and i will have to go the route of trading standards. we shall see.

Dear Mr Bundy>
> Re. Wonder Wheels Wheel Cleaning Kit>
> Thank you for your e-mail dated 10th June 2003, we are sorry to hear that> you have experienced a problem with this product.
>> If the brake calipers on the vehicle are customised, anodised calipers> (which is not unusual on a performance car such as Subaru) then Wonders> Wheels may have effected the finish as Wonder Wheels should not be used on anodised surfaces (in accordance with the instructions).
>> However, if the calipers are of standard steel construction then Wonder> Wheels should not have effected the finish.
>> If the calipers are made of standard steel and have still been effected by> the product, we would be grateful if you could arrange to return the> product to us [or to the shop were you purchased it from]. We will then ask> our laboratory staff to test and analyse the returned product, to ensure> that it is true to specification.
>
> We hope this information proves helpful.
>
> Yours sincerely
> For Tetrosyl Limited
> Miss Sandy King
> Consumer Complaints Co-Ordinator

I have replied as follows:

Miss King,

Thank you for your email, I confirm that the calipers are not customised or
modified in anyway in fact the car is only 4 weeks old and has covered 600
miles. I have checked with a magnet and the calipers are steel not aluminum.

I have taken a few pics (attached) so you to see the problem for yourself -
pic 1010 is one of the rear calipers I did not use wonder wheels on the rear
wheels and therefore the calipers have not been effected and are as they
should be ( nice clean black finish).
Pics 1008,1006 and 1012 show the front calipers having been bleached by the
wonder wheels product where the fluid came into contact with the calipers.

I will return the wonder wheels product to Halfords in the next day or so
after I have taken a specimen sample myself to keep for future reference. I
then look forward to hearing from you once your laboratory staff have
completed testing so that we can resolve this problem ASAP.


Regards

Nick Bundy

Why you using wonder wheels when the brakes have only done 600 miles :eek:
Surely the brake dust wasn't that bad :confused:

Danny suprisingly it was pretty bad and wasnt going to come off easily - so rather than use some elbow grease i went for the easy option of ww - not realising the problems it was going to cause

I use WW on mine and the same thing has happened. Not to bothered as it was the same on my old MY00, but if they offer to come round and re-paint them let me know and I'll complain too!

Dan

Bunge

I had the exact same problem with WW on my front 01WRX calipers, turned them greenish white. The finish on the front calipers are different to the rears, the fronts being painted and the rears powder coated, so no probs with the rear ones.

Anyway I just bought some black high temperature paint from halfords, the same sort of stuff you paint fire places with. I then used a small brush to apply it to the caliper and then wiped away the excess from the Subaru logo. looks exactly the same as the standard finish so they probably use similar stuff in the factory.

C

got same issue on my 03wrx,i used autoglym alloy wheel cleaner which is an acid based product,it had no affect on the rear callipers which retained their shiny black/white finish,but on the fronts it completely destroyed the finish.
I'm thinking there must be a different finish of sorts between the front & rear callipers.

I now use a polish now to clean up the wheels then apply autoglym high gloss wax as a protective coating (blend of waxes/oils) which you leave on for an hour then buff off.I found then soapy water is enough to get the dust off.

The front callipers i'll have to repaint when i can get round to it.

steve

****e!!! I used it for the first time at the weekend and just thought my calipers were meant to be grey!!! It didn't take the white off the subru lettering though :)

It is a bit on the strong side ,I only use it if I really have to .When you clean the Scooby next give the wheels a good clean and wax them after ,(helps stop the brake dust sticking) basically treat them like your paintwork .As for your brake callipers,sorry can't help but I'm sure somebody on here must have had the same problem .
Dave.

[Edited by IN THE STICKS - 6/10/2003 11:25:17 AM]