1. Can anyone recommend a good wheel cleaner for painted wheels; something that will FLOAT away brake dust w/o having to get a brush or rag in every little crease and cranny but still won't damage the paint.
2. New STI's have so many factory badges and decals on them, that they look like rolling sideshows. How can I go about removing these without damaging the paint or leaving a discolored area where the badge was.? I'd like to get the WRX badge and the SUBARU off of the trunk and the STI decals off of the front dam. I guess the badges are on w/ dbl. stick tape. Do you think that a paint shop would do this?
Thanks

 

Badges,
We used gasoline to help them along on my friend's WRX.

Probably not the best idea for your paint, but it works.

 

I used a bumper/sticker remover spray that you can buy at any local auto parts store. A blow dryer set on hot and max helps too.

 

wow, all these tough methods, i used some dental floss and a hairdryer heated the badging up slightly and pulled the floss through the backside of the badge.. took it up with some good cleaner wax after all that and voila lookin good

 

Bleh, I'm going to use sandpaper. That'll show 'em.

 

well i tried that and it didnt work...so i used a saw. works wonders.

 

I've heard that or thin fishing line too.

 

A light degreaser for the wheels. As for the badges, I usually pick the big stuff off and then use solvent to remove the rest.

 

i know snap on, and im sure a ton of other tool companies make a wheel that fits on a drill, that is pretty much like an eraser on a pencil. it will take all the left over stuff off.. just cut the emblems off with fishing line, and use that for the rest.

 

as for cleaning the wheels, i've never found a good replacement for physically brushing them clean. just go to discount and buy a nice brush with strong bristles. i just use normal car wash (from the bucket after i'm done washing the car). gets my painted rims nice and shiny. just make sure you don't use the bucket water on the car after you've cleaned the wheels, it gets quite dirty.