This weekend I decided to pull all 4 wheels off and do a thorough cleaning of the black crud that collects on the insides over the years.
It was fairly uneventful except that a gorilla installed the lug bolts on the RR corner and the LR wheel was STUCK. A rubber mallet was no match even with PB Blaster. EDIT-[Removed this section to avoid any issues with inexperienced backyard mechanics getting carried away.] Suffice it to say that I got the wheel off with little effort.

I had the "rotated" stone deflector problem on the LR lower shock mount also. You can't just spin it back around. The bolt needs to be sufficiently loosened in order to reposition the triangular shaped washer that holds the rubber in position. Not bad to fix. I think the rim that is on the LF must have been on the LR at some point because it looks like that rubber thing rubbed a bit on it.

While reinstalling all the wheels I coated the hubs with a little anti-sieze compound. Torqued all the bolts and we're good to go.

Now I know I can get the wheels off in an emergency or for fun...Yeah fun...

 

Did you have to use anything special to clean the inside of the wheels?

 

I put 3 coats of Zaino on each rim every 5k miles (each tire rotation, or roughly every 6 months). It helps keep the rims super sparkly and the brake dust comes off sooooooooooo much easier with no stubborn buildup over time (I sound like a commercial for Mr. Clean!).

 

WOW. Please do not try this. I understand the wheels get stuck on, but driving around with lose lugs is not safe. I would have made sure the MINI was safe on Jack stands, sat in the ground in front of the stuck wheel and using the bottom of my feet at 9 and 3 on the wheel in a lite kicking to work it off.

You may also want to try a set of Carbotech 1521 Bobcat pads to reduce the brake dust, plus it's not that nasty turn to rust dust the OEM's layer inside the wheels.

 

If you break the lug bolts loose and move the car a few feet forward and back, they will unstick; that's all it takes.

 

I use the Prima Wheel Armor on the outside of the wheels, usually once a month (I wash every weekend). I'd do the same thing on the inside.

I'm curious about what cleaners the OP used to wash the inside, and how much trouble it was.

 

Claymore- I use Purple Power which is a cheaper version of Castrol Superclean. It was very easy.

AXC - Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I guess that should have included a disclaimer DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS MANEUVER. If one is careless it could get messy. I will edit my original post. I know what I'm doing and this procedure is common to loosen stuck wheels. It takes a lot to actually "loose" the wheel. 30 feet will not hurt anything but some numbnut could think that if a little is good then a lot is GREAT. You can NOT drive around like that... There is no way I was going to try to pull the wheel off essentially "rocking" the car while on jack stands. If one has ever knocked a car off jack stands they'd would know how easy it can be. Sometimes drastic measures are required but care and safety are very important, too.

 

I can't believe there was another person scraping their knuckles doing this over the weekend. I did exactly the same detailing. I justified it by rotating my tires, and took the "opportunity" to detail the rims and wheel wells. Washed, clay'd and waxed the rims.

The only down side: The rest of the car looks filthy in comparison now

 

You clay'd your rims?!? Wow. I thought my turtle-waxing them was a little **** :LOL:

Anybody have advice on removing built-up brake dust on the inside of the spokes? Simple Green and a brush did a bit, but some of this stuff won't budge... (no worries on the brush, it was on the inside - the side facing the brake caliper, and last I checked my brake calipers didn't complain).

 

Even after the claybar, I still have specks of dust that will not come off. I tried Scratch-X but it did very little.

 

Simple Green Max worked very well for me (I even used it as the lubricant to the clay bar for the rims)

 

I use RejeX on the exhaust tips and inside the rims.

It holds up really well to heat unlike normal waxes.

I bought my Mini used and have the same dust specks that are imbedded in the paint. Even scrubbing with a scotch bright pad would remove them.

 

For a supper clean car and wheels, use Rejex. It was so clean and slippery, that while leaning against the car talking to a friend, I started to slide off the car...maybe the drink had something to do with that. (New Year Eve)

 

Use Rejex on Wheels - do it twice and dust will fly off.

 

After trying a bunch of "stuff" on the wheels (Formula 409, Simple Green in various concentrations, Engine Brite, mineral spirits, turpentine), I found that McGuiar's Cleaner Wax did the most admirable job removing the built up brake dust, dried crud, and general nastiness that was inside the wheels - and inside the wheels of other vehicles that aren't as, ahem, anally maintained as the Mini. Still took a bit of elbow grease, mind you, but it worked.

 

Sounds like a good weekend. I do this every few months as well (and speaking of which I am about due again.) I have used a variety of products, but I may have to give that Rejex a try!