The Detailing Hand Book

The ONLY detailing guide written specifically for owners of the Honda S2000
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Engine Detailing
Wheel Well Detailing
Wheel and Tire Detailing
Washing and Drying
Rinseless Washing
Convertible Top Care
Assessing Paint Condition
Claying
Paint Polishing
Waxing or Sealing Paint
Head Light Care
Exterior Trim Care
Exhaust Tip Care
Wheel Well Detailing

 

The wheel wells are one of the areas most frequently ignored by amateur detailers.  However, wheel wells which have not been detailed can severely detract from the visual impact of an otherwise well detailed car.  Detailed wheel wells will not only enhance the look of your car, but keeping your wheel wells clean can help to prevent underbody rust.


 

What you’ll need . . .

 

  • Water – you’ll need a water source with a hose attached.

  • Pressure washer (optional) – as there is not enough room to squeeze a brush into the wheel well a pressure washer will allow you to clean the wheel wells more thoroughly.  Alternatively, the “jet” setting on a hose nozzle works well too.  If you can manage to remove the wheels or find a brush that will fit into the wheel wells that is the most effective method.

  • Chemical cleaner – a moderately powerful cleaner like Meguiar’s Safe D-Greaser or Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner works well for cleaning wheel wells.

  • Wheel well dressing – Meguiar’s Hyper dressing is a popular choice for wheel well dressing.  Other good choices include Armor All diluted 2:1, CD2 Engine Detailer, and Griot’s Undercarriage Spray.

  • Undercoating spray – the rubberized undercoating found on one side of the rear wheel wells often wears away revealing the metal panel underneath.  Keep a can of rubberized, quick drying undercoating spray on hand to touch up these areas.

  • Rubber gloves – using rubber gloves will help to keep dirt and cleaning chemicals off your skin.

 

 

 

How to get it done . . .

 

 

1.      Before getting started make sure the car is cool.  Detailing the wheel wells of a hot car can result in damage to the car such as warped rotors.

 

2.      Spray the areas surrounding the wheel wells with water.  This will help to prevent damaging the surrounding finish with strong cleaners.

 


 

3.      Spray generous amounts of your chemical cleaner on all surfaces in the wheel wells and let dwell for a few minutes.

 

 

4.      Use your pressure washer to wash away the cleaner and any dirt in the wheel well.  Exercise extreme caution when using a pressure washer on painted surfaces included areas in the wheel wells that have been sprayed with undercoating.

 

 

5.      After completing your washing & drying regimen on the entire car, return to the wheel wells.  Spray paint any areas needing touching up with your rubberized undercoating spray paint.

 

6.      Spray an even coat of your chosen wheel well dressing on the entire wheel well.  Do not spray any areas which have been touched up with undercoating spray.