A thioglycolate-based reactive wheel cleaner that combines iron removal with traditional wheel cleaning at 20-30% sodium mercaptoacetate concentration. Carbon Collective APEX Wheel Cleaner features an iron-reactive color-change indicator that turns purple on contact with ferrous brake dust, providing visual confirmation of where contamination is heaviest.
Key Chemistry
pH Level
Active Mechanism
thioglycolate chelation
Surfactants
0
I like everything from Carbon Collective and APEX is up there as one of my top choices. I tend to overlay APEX with P&S Brake Buster to extend the dwell time and the results are gleaming Oxford White wheels.
Expert Analysis
Uses sodium mercaptoacetate at 20-30% concentration to chelate iron particles while maintaining a mild pH of 5 for surface safety. The high active content enables no-touch cleaning by chemically breaking down ferrous contamination and brake dust. The color-changing reaction provides visual confirmation of iron removal progress.
Key Differentiators
- •High 20-30% thioglycolate concentration provides stronger iron removal than typical wheel cleaners
- •Combines wheel cleaning and fallout removal in a single ready-to-use product
Potential Concerns
- ⚠Strong sulfur odor typical of thioglycolate formulations
- ⚠Manufacturer recommends against use on polished or bare metal wheels
Ingredients
Source: sds only
