Probably a boring thread but I couldn’t find the “What did you do to your XK today?” Thread.

Took the afternoon off to clean and coat my wheels.
Nothing professional or fancy. Just a cleaning and cheap ceramic coat. (MR chemical HydroSpin)
The brake dust on these ceramic pads, especially in the front, is atrocious. New-ish so not replacing them anytime soon.
The rims on the inside need a pro polishing which is why I’m not doing a deep clean and expensive ceramic coat. Very bumped and pitted.
While the wheels are off, gonna use degreaser on the Alcon brakes. They are filthy.

Some before/after pics.

Front passenger before:



Rear passenger before:



Both after cleaning:


Front Alcon before (rear looks same lol):


Alcons after:


I’ll add post ceramic if they look different when I’m done. Having a smoke and back break…can’t stand up straight at the moment.

Next home project will be those horrific hubs.
Researching chemical/wire brush to remove the rust and some high temp rust prevention engine paint.

 

How could you go out in public, looking like that!

 

Lmao! I know!

So it has now snowballed into vacuuming and cleaning the well liners.
Man those things get foul. Leaves, dust, sticks. Yuck!

 

Have zero brake dust after 1 year..is it the chrome wheels don't attract or better brake pads?

 

@HealeyJag , or is it you just don't drive her enough ;-)

@Circumnavigator , nice job! If you'd like more practice...

Cheers!

 

Canada is a bit far and right now a tad cold. :-)

Gave my back a day of rest and doing the driver’s side now.
Things I observed:
If you don’t break the lugs before you jack/stand the car, you won’t be able to stand up straight for a few days. (Duh moment)
That fabric our wheel liners are made of are really durable. Mine look like new at 17y old and 83k miles,
They should make a car out of this stuff. Or a space shuttle. Yeesh.
Quick shop vac and they are cleaner than the rest of the car.
Get a proper wheel brush. The crap one I got with some detailing kit on Amazon won’t touch the many crevices.
Degreaser is a miracle worker.

 

Set two done.
So satisfying seeing the end result.
All four rims, all four Alcon calipers and the wheel well liners.
A good weekend.

Now to see how well this light ceramic coating staves off the brake dust.

 

On a previous car..XF maybe, tried a coating.

Failed miserably..wheels got gummy appearance

 

You vacuumed the wheel well liners?!?

 

Time will tell. If it doesn’t work out, I’m ok removing the ceramic coating and starting over with a better product.
That is kind of why I went mid level to start.

 

Is that weird?
When I was in there with the work lights, I could see sticks and pieces of leaves all over.
Also caught a few half tightened screws.
I know it will get dirty again, especially here in the Fall, but at least I have a good clean starting point.

 

thinking if already jacked up a vac would be a reasonable approach (unless caked in mud)
wj