'08 IS-F Front Wheel Pitting
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,049
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From: VA
2.jkeifer3 - pitting (rough surfaces and discoloration in the corners of the spokes) on both front wheels on the horizontal surfaces. Wash car and wheels religiously twice a week.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
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From: MD
Add me to the list - I also have pitting on my wheels... I could almost copy/paste OPs description - I'm also around 5k miles on my '08, although I first noticed pitting around 4k. Same spot - the horizontal surfaces near the spokes, but not on the spokes.
list of wheel problems on Lexus Is-F
1.lx470man-pitting on all wheels in corners. wash wheels weekly religiously.
2.jkeifer3 - pitting (rough surfaces and discoloration in the corners of the spokes) on both front wheels on the horizontal surfaces. Wash car and wheels religiously twice a week.
3.AU_EE I also have pitting on my wheels... I could almost copy/paste OPs description - I'm also around 5k miles on my '08, although I first noticed pitting around 4k. Same spot - the horizontal surfaces near the spokes, but not on the spokes.
1.lx470man-pitting on all wheels in corners. wash wheels weekly religiously.
2.jkeifer3 - pitting (rough surfaces and discoloration in the corners of the spokes) on both front wheels on the horizontal surfaces. Wash car and wheels religiously twice a week.
3.AU_EE I also have pitting on my wheels... I could almost copy/paste OPs description - I'm also around 5k miles on my '08, although I first noticed pitting around 4k. Same spot - the horizontal surfaces near the spokes, but not on the spokes.
count me in as well guys...My 2 wheels have very bad rust pitting on the edges where the spokes meet...Dealer said you have to wash these wheels often!! I hand wash and wax my car once a week...This is definitely a concern that i think lexus should address it and come out with a solution.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
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From: MD
For those curious what this is / looks like, or wondering if they have the same thing we're referring to, I took this picture:
Note that this is immediately after thoroughly cleaning the wheels - that isn't brake dust - it's rough to the touch specs of what I would call rust. The flat looking color / texture on the inner wheel is brake dust (and no I don't bother trying to clean that part of the wheel, which makes me wonder, if this is what happens when I keep them clean, whats going on under that thick layer?
)
Note that this is immediately after thoroughly cleaning the wheels - that isn't brake dust - it's rough to the touch specs of what I would call rust. The flat looking color / texture on the inner wheel is brake dust (and no I don't bother trying to clean that part of the wheel, which makes me wonder, if this is what happens when I keep them clean, whats going on under that thick layer?
)
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From: Under an IS F since 2008
That’s baked in accumulated Brake Dust / metal specs released from the High Friction pads..
A lot has to do with the gunmetal painted wheel finish..
After a while it begins to etch into the wheel finish itself.
For example, my Five Axis Design wheels do a great job of not allowing the brake dust to bake into my painted matte wheels..
That’s even after a month of not washing.
My current wheels have over 17k miles on them..
Of which 8k of them are with the IS-F..
No signs of baked in brake dust or etching, or "pitting".
Joe Z
A lot has to do with the gunmetal painted wheel finish..
After a while it begins to etch into the wheel finish itself.
For example, my Five Axis Design wheels do a great job of not allowing the brake dust to bake into my painted matte wheels..
That’s even after a month of not washing.
My current wheels have over 17k miles on them..
Of which 8k of them are with the IS-F..
No signs of baked in brake dust or etching, or "pitting".
Joe Z
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: MD
That’s baked in accumulated Brake Dust / metal specs released from the High Friction pads..
A lot has to do with the gunmetal painted wheel finish..
After a while it begins to etch into the wheel finish itself.
For example, my Five Axis Design wheels do a great job of not allowing the brake dust to bake into my painted matte wheels..
That’s even after a month of not washing.
My current wheels have over 17k miles on them..
Of which 8k of them are with the IS-F..
No signs of baked in brake dust or etching, or "pitting".
Joe Z
A lot has to do with the gunmetal painted wheel finish..
After a while it begins to etch into the wheel finish itself.
For example, my Five Axis Design wheels do a great job of not allowing the brake dust to bake into my painted matte wheels..
That’s even after a month of not washing.
My current wheels have over 17k miles on them..
Of which 8k of them are with the IS-F..
No signs of baked in brake dust or etching, or "pitting".
Joe Z
In any case, as you mentioned, your wheels are holding up against that, and I think most other wheels do, which is kind of the point of the complaint - we shouldn't have to "pamper" the wheels constantly, nor was I told I needed to, by the dealer or the owner's manual. I should be able to go a month without washing them, and then when I do, they should look like new.
I've never had the problem on previous cars/wheels, why should I on a Lexus?
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: MD
I don't have a rule per say, but I would say most of the time the engine / brakes are cold. Usually a weekend morning, back it out of the garage, wash, put it back.
Wheels typically air dry before I go anywhere; I just dry the body / windows.
Never waxed them until I read about it on here... Now I do to minimize additional damage, but was clearly too late, assuming that's effective at preventing it.
As mentioned before, that sufficed for all previous cars/wheels, and should suffice for these IMO.