I posted this in the Appearance / Cosmetic forum but got no responses so...

I just picked up a set of 3 used Mazda Millenia wheels from the junk yard for $300 and I'm going to use them for winter rims. They are hideously filthy and a bit beat up. I've cleaned an initial layer of brake dust off with Castrol wheel cleaner but they're still fairly dirty. Can anyone recommend a better more powerful cleaner?

Also there's some rust/corrosion where the hub met the wheel. What's a good effective way to remove this? Maybe just sand it down?

 

You can only clean it off so much... some of the brake dust is literally baked into the wheel. The only way to get it off is by chiseling. As long as the outside is clean, just leave the inside dirt. Also, to get the rust off, just use some WD-40 and 1000+ grit sandpaper. Afterwords, you need to spray it with either colored paint or clear coat. G'luck.