Cleaning wheels

[Louiehenry]

So I know that as a kid, many people are taught that brake dust and the other things out wheels pick up over time are really corrosive. I sure was! While cleaning off my wheels the other day, I started wondering why noone ever cleaned the back of the wheels! Do any of y'all? Might it be something to look into?

[zoegrlh]

Everytime I show my car in AACA shows (2 or 3 times a year), I will dis-mount my wheels one by one and clean them on back side.  I am running the alloy Bundt rims.  Also while they are off I can get to the wheel wells for a good cleaning.

BTW,  when washing my other two cars ('03 MB 230 SLK, and '08 C300 Sport) I also clean the back of wheels on those cars.  Much easer to do so, I don't have to take off wheels because the wheel spokes are wide enough to put a sponge in to get to backside of wheels.
Bob

[Jonny B]

I concur with our esteemed colleague Bob. I clean the back sides of the wheels every couple of months, I have a lift so I don't usually take the wheels off, although I do that once a year or for a show, but that is mainly to allow easy access to the wheel wells. I will take off the trim rings on the early 250 SL when I do the back sides.

I also use a boars hair brush to clean out the wheel crevices without needing to use sprays or stuff. That gets done a couple of times a month, or whenever I notice the build up.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

On my Daily Driver I always clean the entire wheel using special brushes. On my Pagoda I also will be taking the wheels off one by one, it will give me a chance to do additional cleaning and inspection behind the wheel(s).

I purchased from BMW the special brush set (see pic below), mind you a toilet brush works as well if the spokes are wide enough

Then there are also sets, however, one can find the BMW set on eBay sometimes.

[Louiehenry]

That's cool! Thanks again for yet another helpful piece of advice!