| WELCOME TO TIPS & TRICKS this months trick is called BRAKE DUST April 2008 Just so you know; clean wheels are key in maintaining the appearance of your vehicle. I know I know, your busy & don’t have time to clean your vehicle so you run it throught he car wash. Neither do I and I am an anal retentive enthusiast that enjoys a clean car more than most. Heck I even enjoy cleaning my car, but I just don’t have time. Here is a tip, it is easier and more efficient to keep your vehicle clean than it is to let it go and try to bring it back for that special event you want it to look nice for. More important than that is it looking nice at trade in time. You want a good trade in value don’t ya? You might remember my piece titled “Wheels & Windows from a few months ago. This is an extension of that in a different direction. We at the dealership have recently had a band of warranty requests for replacement of rusted wheels. Every person who has come in to officially file a claim has not had rusted wheels, what they did have was brake dust crusted wheels. At first, brake dust is just that, dust. As it builds up, it turns to a cake. As it turns to cake the heat from rotor friction actually bakes it to the wheel like icing on cake. Sprinkle a dirty hot wheel with some cool rain and the dust bonds itself to your wheel tighter than two coats of paint. They can be cleaned but the labor is intense. Depending on the wheel manufacturer, this caked brake dust could even eat through your wheels coating. Once that happens, kiss ‘em goodbye. If it does not eat the coating, it will bond like super glue to the wheel and become part of it forever leaving them looking rusty and worn. That is the problem. Here is the resolution. Get yourself a bottle of wheel cleaner. Today there are a number of spray on rinse off solutions that require no scrubbing if you stay up with it. Each time you wash or run your car through the car wash, spray ‘em down. That’ s all, it is that simple. It will save you in the long run. The only thing I caution you on is to make sure you get the right solution for your wheels. You don’t want to get chrome wheel cleaner for aluminum wheels. If you’re not sure, get an all wheel cleaner, it is safe and you know what they say, better safe than sorry. Happy motoring; see you next month. Leon The Link |
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