How to detail your wheel well....

[DetailersDomain]

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:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/dirtyrs6.jpg

Dirty wheels:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/dirtyrs6snow.jpg

Before wheel well pics:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/bestbeforefull.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/beforewell10.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/beforewell9.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/beforewell8.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/beforewell4.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/beforewell7.jpg

During the P21S Autowash and brushing:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/duringwell1.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/duringwell2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/duringwell3.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/duringwell4.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/duringwell7.jpg

Polishing metal bits:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/sprayeddown2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/spraydowncomp1.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/spraydowncomp.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/spraydown5.jpg

Dressing/afters:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterfinished2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterfinish4.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterfinish1well.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterfinish.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterdressedwell.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterdressed9.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterdressed8.jpg

Final picture:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/afterfullshotwells.jpg

Dirty car with some hot clean wheels:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/nicewheeldirtycar.jpg

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

Click here for the detailing your wheels:
http://audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124231

[conciergemotors]

The restless perfectionist is at it again! U missed a spot [eek] ...just kidding. Looks great dude! [up]

[KyleA4Play]

looks good, and you rock CH for winter wheels, im jealous

[DetailersDomain]

hahaha ch's for winter are great they are 19's....can't go from 20's for summer back to 18.. you know what I mean right?[:D]

[Grouse]

No send me your 19"s and i will know what you mean!


Looks fantastic. I am wanting to try that under carrige spray....

[DetailersDomain]

did you get the undercarriage already

[Grouse]

No, i have not ordered it. I have been busy with a few pet projects... (secrets to come)

[DetailersDomain]

i c cool.

[VroomVroom]

Phil, that looks great. I have to admit to still being gun-shy on the undercarriage spray. A buddy got a sample (he did a review on the other Audi site) and his thoughts were that, basically, it wasn't a necessity on the shelf. I've always had good luck with APC and a bit of residual dressing on the fender liners. Nonetheless, sorry for the tangent...beautiful job!

[DetailersDomain]

I saw that but I don't know, I like the matte finish so I wiped down undercarriage and got the results I wanted.

I think the product might be better for the SUV's because once my wheels are on you can not see the wheel well.....but its a nice finish for sure, in my opinion.

[1997gtx]

Looks great! I'll definately look into that for my Spring cleaning to come.
--Adam