BIG CLEAN - and brake calipers help please...

[cobraman2007]

I brought a new car last Saturday (Civic TypeR - sorry guys) and hope someone will be able to help me on this forum as this is by far the best car forum I have been on (cheesy)

I will be painting my brake calipers red tomorrow with Hammerite Smooth and was hoping someone would be able to find me a clicky of a link I saw on this forum for caring for brake calipers (I tried the search but cannot find the link anywhere - it was a comprehensive guide done by someone).

I also have loads of stonechips on the bonnet and brought Halfrauds touch-up kit in Honda Nighthawk Black. I used some the other day on a couple of stonechips and it has left a noticeable imprint on the bonnet (i.e. it raises above the bonnet very slightly as when I glide my hand over it I can feel the slight indent). Is this normal and how do I get rid of it? Would claybar work?

I will also do a full wash tomorrow. I have brought Meguiars products and I also have Autoglym High Resin Polish which I intend to use as well as TurtleWax T-Cut which I intend to use to t-cut some light scratches (works so much better than XScratch in my opinion).

So I just want to make sure I do this the right way round...

1. Rinse car with hosepipe on spray setting
2. Wash car using Meguiars Gold Wash using the two bucket method
3. Rinse car with hosepipe on free water setting (no sprayhead)
4. Dry with chammois leather
5. Use TurtleWax T-Cut
6. Use Meguiars Claybar in conjunction with Meguiars NXT QuikDetailer
7. Use AutoGlym High Resin Polish
8. Use Meguiars Goldclass Wax
9. Finish with a quick coat of Meguairs NXT QuikDetailer

I think this is in the right order and I am hoping for a nice glossy black finish. Should this procedure do the trick or am I doing everything wrong?

Also, what is the best stuff to dress tyres to get that just wet black look? I have ordered some Meguiars tyre dressing which I hope comes today by courier (fingers crossed).

TIA - Cobraman

 

[Tyler Owen]

1. Rinse car with hosepipe on spray setting
2. Wash car using Meguiars Gold Wash using the two bucket method
3. Rinse car with hosepipe on free water setting (no sprayhead)
4. Use Meguiars Claybar in conjunction with Meguiars NXT QuikDetailer
5. Rinse and use Meguiars NXT QuikDetailer as a drying aid to help shift the Claybar residue.
6. Use AutoGlym High Resin Polish
7. Use Meguiars Goldclass Wax
8. Finish with a quick coat of Meguairs NXT QuikDetailer

That's the way i'd do things !!

No need to dry after the rinse as the water will add lubrication for the clay but you will need to give it a rinse afterwards as it will leave a mucky residue behind.

Also have a cup of warm water to hand when claying to keep the clay warm and reduce the chance of marring !!

 

[Mike Green]

Just one question - where do you get the clay bar from??? Can't seem to lay my hands on one.

 

[Fishy]

Halfords should stock the Megs bar.

Fish

 

[cobraman2007]

Thanks guys,

I have just painted one caliper and am surprised how long it has taken cleaning the blasted thing - but then again preparation is key.

I have just painted the other and it needs one final coat and that will be that for the night. Also cleaned my alloys and dressed them in Meguairs Tyre Dressing (they look extremely clean and the side walls are extremely glossy). Well pleased with the Meguiars stuff.

I'll get up at about 6.00am tomorrow morning and do the other two calipers and leave to dry. Then about 12noon I shall clean the car as per my procedure above. I think I will leave the Turtlewax T-Cut because the claybar should help with smoothing the paintwork I hope.

Thanks for the tip of not drying the car after the wash - I guess all lubrication is good lubrication as far as claying is concerned. I'll post some pics of before and after tomorrow evening if it stops raining and then you can all let me know what you think.

The claybar kit can be found at Halfrauds although I ordered it online from somewhere else. Same price though plus it took three days to come. Just pick one up at Halfrauds and get some Meguiars Quikdetailer as well as you will need some for extra lubrication as the one that comes with the claybar will only do three quarters of the car (or so I have been told).

Cheers - Cobraman2007

 

[MarkJ]

I wouldn't use a chamois leather to dry the car, better using a waffle weave drying cloth/microfibre cloth etc... according to the pros anyway

 

[ikhlaq206]

yeh ditch the chamois leather and get a waffle weave microfibre cloth

 

[ikhlaq206]

I brought a new car last Saturday (Civic TypeR - sorry guys) and hope someone will be able to help me on this forum as this is by far the best car forum I have been on (cheesy)

I will be painting my brake calipers red tomorrow with Hammerite Smooth and was hoping someone would be able to find me a clicky of a link I saw on this forum for caring for brake calipers (I tried the search but cannot find the link anywhere - it was a comprehensive guide done by someone).

I also have loads of stonechips on the bonnet and brought Halfrauds touch-up kit in Honda Nighthawk Black. I used some the other day on a couple of stonechips and it has left a noticeable imprint on the bonnet (i.e. it raises above the bonnet very slightly as when I glide my hand over it I can feel the slight indent). Is this normal and how do I get rid of it? Would claybar work?

I will also do a full wash tomorrow. I have brought Meguiars products and I also have Autoglym High Resin Polish which I intend to use as well as TurtleWax T-Cut which I intend to use to t-cut some light scratches (works so much better than XScratch in my opinion).

So I just want to make sure I do this the right way round...

1. Rinse car with hosepipe on spray setting
2. Wash car using Meguiars Gold Wash using the two bucket method
3. Rinse car with hosepipe on free water setting (no sprayhead)
4. Dry with chammois leather
5. Use TurtleWax T-Cut
6. Use Meguiars Claybar in conjunction with Meguiars NXT QuikDetailer
7. Use AutoGlym High Resin Polish
8. Use Meguiars Goldclass Wax
9. Finish with a quick coat of Meguairs NXT QuikDetailer

I think this is in the right order and I am hoping for a nice glossy black finish. Should this procedure do the trick or am I doing everything wrong?

Also, what is the best stuff to dress tyres to get that just wet black look? I have ordered some Meguiars tyre dressing which I hope comes today by courier (fingers crossed).

TIA - Cobraman

my procedure is pretty much the same but just use other polishes and waxes

o yeh i dont use the chamois leather but micro fibre cloth and i use a clay bar

 

[cobraman2007]

Okay - did the brake callipers and they look absolutely stunning in red. Took around 12 hours spread over two days as I coated them twice with Hammerite Smooth and preparation and everything. Looks fantastic if you take your time and let the coat of paint dry before covering with a second coat.

As for cleaning, I am a bit disappointed to be truthful.

The clay bar took loads of muck off the car (and I mean loads) even though I couldn't see it with the naked eye. Used loads of quick detailer and it left a fantastic glass finish as well. I just removed the excess clay swirl marks with a polishing towel.

I then skipped the polishing process and never used Autoglym Super Resin Polish as I though the wax would be more than adequate. The wax has left a good finish but I think I should have used the polish before the wax. I was just knackered and skipped the polish. I guess this was the downfall.

I'll get photos up asap.

 

[ikhlaq206]

dont worry mate in your next upcoming washes you'll notice the car has a better

finish just with a standard wash, as i noticed with mine, the clay bar is really good

my neighbours just keep asking what you put on the car

 

[cobraman2007]

Thanks Ikhlaq.

I brought some AutoGlym polish (black label one which was £2 more than the AG Super Resin Polish) and gave the car a good going over yesterday and wow - the car was shining. I then coated it over with Meguiars Goldclass Wax and the shine is absolutely incredible - really glossy and with fantastic depth. I am much more happier now.

However, I went for a drive and it peed it down with rain and hasn't stopped since. The beading looks good though and as soon as we get some nice weather I will detail the car with Meguiars Quikdetailer which should make it shine again.

I took photos and will get these up today after work.

 

[777cupra]

did you ever find the link about prepping and caring for the calipers?