For the Obsessive?

[Kekotic]

I am wanting to clean my car this Saturday afternoon as the weather should be decent, and I have been thinking about cleaning the inside of the wheel arches as they always look rather washed out and dirty, just wondering what the best way to go about this would be?

I only have 2 jack stands but I'm thinking about buying a trolley jack and maybe even a 2nd set of jack stands, is it safe to put the car up on 4 jack stands to take all 4 wheels off, or is it best to do front and rear separately?

I'm considering also trying to clean the stock mufflers. Because after the chrome tips they look pretty terrible, anything I can do to spruce them up a bit, or will it have no effect on these?

Any other parts of the car that might be missed on a regular wash? What about the back side of the wheels (seeing as I'm going to be taking them off) and also is it possible to scrub the Rotors with just water to improve their look without doing any damage? I'm guessing using anything other than water on them would be bad...but I could be wrong.

Thanks

[vp920b]

Hi Kieran.

I don't know about the brake (disc or caliper?).

But wheels and tyres, you can do it one by one, or all four at the time or 2 at the time. No problem if you only jack up the car.

Don't forget to clean up the fender walls and suspension to look clean.

For original wheels, you can use any wheel cleaner, and for fender walls can use All Purpose Cleaner product.

For chrome tips, you can clean up with the wheel cleaner or maybe if you have a chance to buy all metal cleaner like Meguiars or Mothers.

Apart from that, all should be in good piece.

Cheers

[hamish_023]

Tips use autosol 'metal polish'. Buy it from hardware stores, car stores etc gold metal tube.

Scrubbing the discs with water will do nothing but make them have a orange film of rust. You could wire brush the rust that the brake pads miss but itll come back soon. Cleaning the brake callipers and painting them silver or black?

I use a 3 in 1 degreaser and cleaner from WD40 brand found at same shops and spray the wheel arcs and then wipe it down. They will get dirty again soon but this gets the layers of crap off

[vp920b]

Tips use autosol 'metal polish'. Buy it from hardware stores, car stores etc gold metal tube.

Scrubbing the discs with water will do nothing but make them have a orange film of rust. You could wire brush the rust that the brake pads miss but itll come back soon. Cleaning the brake callipers and painting them silver or black?

I use a 3 in 1 degreaser and cleaner from WD40 brand found at same shops and spray the wheel arcs and then wipe it down. They will get dirty again soon but this gets the layers of crap off

I'm still not sure with WD40 can clean up wheels. Since WD40 is something oil etc.

I still recommend APC from safeway or something else for Wheel walls, and wheel cleaner for your rims.

Cheers

[hamish_023]

"WD40 brand"

It's not WD40. Just the same logo

[vp920b]

Ah.. sorry for that.. did not read carefully.

cheers

[Kekotic]

Thanks guys, i'll head down to supercheap and pick up this wd40 brand degreaser plus trolley jack. Hopefully the weather is good tomorrow

[hamish_023]

Its a orange bottle. Big w also stock it.

[Kekotic]

Okay thanks again.
I'll post pics Saturday night provided the weather has been kind to me.

[castek]

if you want the mufflers to look good, remove the tips, rub the cans down a bit, clean with prepsol and spray them matte black.

[Kekotic]

if you want the mufflers to look good, remove the tips, rub the cans down a bit, clean with prepsol and spray them matte black.

Interesting idea. Would it need to be a high-temp resistant paint?

I know there are some chrome painting options out there but seems like too much work and it would probably crack from the heat anyway.

[Woodduck]

Be warned that the paint scratches off VERY easily!

[vp920b]

if you want the mufflers to look good, remove the tips, rub the cans down a bit, clean with prepsol and spray them matte black.

Interesting idea. Would it need to be a high-temp resistant paint?

I know there are some chrome painting options out there but seems like too much work and it would probably crack from the heat anyway.

Keep it chrome if I were you.

I think the cheapest way to clean it is to use Home Window cleaner to clean up chrome tips.

I'll try to find out the detailing thread first.

Cheers

[jdm rsk]

IMO waste of time unless it a show car. Next time you drive in the rain it's all dirty again

[Kekotic]

Keep it chrome if I were you.

I think the cheapest way to clean it is to use Home Window cleaner to clean up chrome tips.

I'll try to find out the detailing thread first.

Cheers

Naldo the stock GT-B Mufflers are not chrome, they are just metal and are looking very average after never being cleaned.
I'll of course be keeping the chrome tips chrome, just Castek suggested I take the tips off.

As for the rain thing, I only drive my car on weekends, so it doesn't get driven in the rain unless the car is already dirty