Cleaning behind wheel wells. Anything to watch before cleaning upper control arms...

[Rain]

Cleaning behind wheel wells. Anything to watch before cleaning upper control arms and surrounding areas?

Simple Green too strong or weak? STP foaming tire cleaner something to avoid?

Just trying to get her ready for her first area vette show and want some of the parts to shine.

Thanks all,
Rain

pics here once they are approved:
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=7277

 

[Ken]

Just be careful of the rubber pieces if you're gonna use a pressure washer.

 

[Rain]

too scared of the opti spark to pressure wash.. sure i will be in there with a rag and elbow grease! HAHA

 

[Tuna]

I've been using Simple Green on my suspension parts for a long time - it does not seem to be causing any problems and it does a decent job of cleaning them.

Get a plastic handled bottle brush, about 2 inch diameter, from a kitching store. I find it gets into the holes and smaller areas pretty good.

I also keep my compressor pumped up and nearby to blow things dry after rinsing. Set to about 40 psi.

 

[lbitp37]

I am going to a show on Sunday, and just spent 2+ hours cleaning the suspension with a towel and gasoline, then polished the parts with 000 steel wool.
It looks great easy to do and no harm to anything, don't use gas on rubber parts

 

[Rain]

Gasoline - whew at 2 bucks a gallon, that could get expensive! haha Just kidding.

Seriously though, i take it you wear rubber gloves to keep your hands from smelling like gas?

Rain

 

[dburgjohn]

Been there, done that

Simple green followed by Mothers Mag Wheel Polish. They will look like Chrome!

 

[Tuna]

Gasoline is such a hazardous cleaning solution, I would never recommend using it and never admit to using it for this purpose. One little mistake and your car is a burned out hulk. I hope you keep a fire extinguisher handy and 911 typed into your cell phone just in case.

 

[c4cruiser]

Be careful with Simple Green in full strength on aluminum. It will supposedly attack the aluminum and cause corrosion and even weaken the metal if used full strength and allowed to dry before removing. Dilute it to around 25% and it should be OK. I used non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner to spray all the grease off the spindle and the a-arms around the ball joints. Cover the edges of the leaf spring as the cleaner may attack the coating on the spring. It will help clean up the brake calipers too; use a stiff brush to work out the brake dust.

I just got done pulling the inner fender panels and cleaning everything behind them. Once they are out, you have a lot of room to clean. Use 000 steel wool on the a-arms to get rid of any grease or even paint overspray from the factory black used on the frame components.

I sanded the fender panels to remove the old factory paint and repainted them with Krylon flat black sandable primer and then a few coats of Krylon seimi-flat paint. Looks like new!! Did the upper wheel well pieces too.

 

[Rain]

Wow! Bet thats shiny and new lookin!

Be careful with Simple Green in full strength on aluminum. It will supposedly attack the aluminum and cause corrosion and even weaken the metal if used full strength and allowed to dry before removing. Dilute it to around 25% and it should be OK. I used non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner to spray all the grease off the spindle and the a-arms around the ball joints. Cover the edges of the leaf spring as the cleaner may attack the coating on the spring. It will help clean up the brake calipers too; use a stiff brush to work out the brake dust.

I just got done pulling the inner fender panels and cleaning everything behind them. Once they are out, you have a lot of room to clean. Use 000 steel wool on the a-arms to get rid of any grease or even paint overspray from the factory black used on the frame components.

I sanded the fender panels to remove the old factory paint and repainted them with Krylon flat black sandable primer and then a few coats of Krylon seimi-flat paint. Looks like new!! Did the upper wheel well pieces too.

 

[JOliver]

also watch the springs...I detailed the underside recently and soaked the rearend/exhaust with aluminum wheel cleaner...looked great until two weeks later the cleaner ate the coating off the rear fiberglass spring and it cracked leaving my vettes rear on the ground.Spring broke at 80 mph while hitting a bump wasn't to fun and I had to let off the throttle while the BMW that was innocently "cruising" beside me put me in the rearview....that ISN'T gonna happen again.
I know that the front ones are fiberglass as well so stay away.

Jason

 

[Rain]

OUch!

Thanks Jason. Just the advice I was looking for..
What NOT to do.. whew!

Glad you are ok

also watch the springs...I detailed the underside recently and soaked the rearend/exhaust with aluminum wheel cleaner...looked great until two weeks later the cleaner ate the coating off the rear fiberglass spring and it cracked leaving my vettes rear on the ground.Spring broke at 80 mph while hitting a bump wasn't to fun and I had to let off the throttle while the BMW that was innocently "cruising" beside me put me in the rearview....that ISN'T gonna happen again.
I know that the front ones are fiberglass as well so stay away.

Jason

 

[lbitp37]

I DID NOT use a towel with Soaking Gas!
I also did not work indoors or on a Hot engine, I am full aware of the potential hazards.
i.e Don't work on the car with rings or a watch on, etc. !!

 

[WhalePirot]

Lots of great advice, but I'd sure watch that honey in your avatar most of the time!!


My car is a driver so I have not been so deeply into the inside shiny...YET! When I wash the car, I wash under it and spray the suspension with a nozzle to eliminate dirt and excess grease. Pressure washers are great, but are very dangerous. I have etched wood while washing the house, pre-paint. oops

Gasoline is a great solvent, but way too dangerous for ANY cleaning. It works gfreat on the barbie, if you can climb up to reclaim your coals from the trees!!! Ever light off a small amount? Stand waaaaaaaay back, if UR nuts enuf to try.

 

[Rain]

Ever light off a small amount? Stand waaaaaaaay back, if UR nuts enuf to try.

Don't plan on it.. I like my nuts way too much! *(you could say, "Im attached to them!")

 

[routesixtysix]

Polishing Upper Control Arms

I have been using Mother's Metal Polish on my the upper control arms of my '88 since it was new. It's amazing how they look. Most people who see them, think I replaced them with custom jobs. It's not a daily driver, so I don't have to do it that often, but it doesn't seem to have done any harm in all the years I've been doing it.