Wheel wells on new Jeep

[sbulla]

Our new Jeep has a coating in the wheel wells that feels like a really rough carpet or maybe fiberglass? Not sure what it is but I think it is there as a sound insulator. How would you clean those and what product to use that won't damage whatever is under there? Thanks

[Fphillips]

APC tire, tire and fender brush and pressure washer if you have one. If not a strong steam from a garden hose nozzle. And lots of scrubbing.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Fphillips

[hemi1300]

wife's 2012 cherokee has the same carpet/fabric type wheel wells.  Think jeep did this definitely for sound reduction and road noise.  Haven't found a great way to clean them yet, i just hose them down for a few minutes until the water runs clear.  Have seen someone mention before to brush them off when dry, but didn't seem to work that great.  Haven't tried the power washer on them yet, i'm sure that would clean them good as long as u don't get too close with too much pressure.  Hopefully someone has a quick/easy solution

[Fphillips]

Yeah they are a pain to clean. But I've found using the pressure washer to work the best.

[LFairbanks]

One of my vehicles has it.  I just spray it out until the water runs clear with a hose end sprayer.  I find them pretty easy to clean and no issues.

[BRZN]

Wife's 2005 Volvo XC70 has it in the rear fender wells and my 2013 Chevy Malibu has them on all four corners. It's for sound deadening. I use a short and stiff bristled, nylon brush and brush them when dry before hitting them with the hose, then rinse them with water until the water runs clear. Follow that up by spraying them with APC and scrub with a Fender Brush then rinse again until the water runs clear.

[sbulla]

Thanks we'll try the all purpose cleaner and garden hose.

[LFairbanks]

Not say it is right or wrong, but here is my 2 cents.  Me personally, I wouldn't scrub on the wheel liner with a brush.  My reasoning is, after years of scrubbing on "carpet" with a brush, what is it going to do to the fibers?  

[Natch02]

I haven't seen this. Anyway to take a picture and post it?

[BRZN]

Chris, The material isn't actually carpet and it's made to take some abuse. Think about it, the manufacturer has placed it in the direct path of most all the road debris the tires will kick up to deaden sound. Carpet is just an easy term used to describe the stuff.

 

My wife's Volvo is nine years old with 87,000 miles on it. I've been cleaning the inner fenders and the "carpet" type material as I'd described above almost every time I wash it. The stuff shows little to no wear.

Edited July 20, 2014 by BRZN

[LFairbanks]

I perfectly aware that it isn't carpet.  I used that term very loosely.  But it is some sort of fiber material.  Yes, it is designed to take some abuse.  Let me put it another way.  Your carpet in your house is designed to be walked on.  Now if you took a brush and used that to clean it, I would think that it would deteriorate the fibers rather quickly.  Although this example is on a different scale.  

 

I know it is a wheel well that is designed to take some abuse from road debris.  But to scrub on it with a brush IMO will lead to eventual failure.  Yes, I'am certain that it will take a lot but I would think eventually the fibers would break down from being scrubbed. It isn't plastic, it is a fiber material.

 

If you took a T-shirt and scrubbed on it with a brush to clean your going to wear it out rather quickly.  Where as if you just hosed it off it would last much longer.  Again a different example on a different scale.  But the same concept.

 

I may not be explaining it very well, but I'am sure someone understands my perspective.

Edited July 20, 2014 by LFairbanks

[sbulla]

Maybe a very soft brush would be OK?

[BRZN]

We bought the car used in Feb of 2007 with 22,000 miles on it. Conservatively, I figure I've washed the car once a month since owning it. That's 89 months and 65,000 miles, 89 times I've scrubbed the sound deadening material on the rear inner fender plastic liners using the method I described above. The picture I'd posted above shows the material, with no visible wear.

 

I'd tried all kinds of different ways to clean it Shelly, a soft or long bristled brush just wouldn't remove grass like debris.

[sbulla]

Thanks Dave, the material on the jeep looks just like that only darker. We'll try what you suggested.

[stirthepot]

i use APC and the pressure washer,  (my SUVs has all 4 wheel wells completely covered in this material)  I still spray with Undercarriage Spary to keep stuff from sticking.

Edited July 21, 2014 by stirthepot

[K5/TBSS]

Adam's new video on how to clean wheels & tires addresses this.

[eric@thompsonracing.us]

The "carpet" in Dave's wheel wells is cleaner than most carpets in houses!   You're unreal bud!

[Matt@Adams]

I have the 2012 Grand Cherokee. +1 on the pressure washer!

[sbulla]

Thanks for all the tips! What is the best way to apply the under carriage spray without staining the driveway or garage?

[DieselDude]

Hey Sbulla,   I have used cardboard or newspapers and laid it down when I sprayed down a particular area and left it for a few minutes.   I made a wash area (concrete pad) and just let it spot that area since it is out of the way.