Advice on Claying and Waxing General care Oct 2009 Volvo S40

[Jonnieb2009]

Ok, I think I can see what the process is but can I remove the scratches without using the 1500 wet and dry just by using the polish or would I need to use the wet and dry. If I use the wet and dry (i have a paint touch up kit with a small wet and dry pad in - from Halfords) - should I use this just to 'buff' the scratch up to dull paintwork?

I just dont know how much if I need to at all to use the w&d.

thanks for your help

[Bigmunkynutz]

Originally Posted by MOLLYPOPPY

What would the best make to go for and also the best play to buy it? Yeah car is flat red looks great have black wolfrace alloy pro lite with red outer detail. Even thinking of painting the calipers red not sure. Anyone have any opinions on that option?

Car is washed with a wash n wax shampoo as standard.

See my Post Painting callipers recently i have put before and after pics on, they look so much better painted than rusty/silver. I also painted the drum part of the disc. Just wire brush it all down before painting. I used some proper caliper paint the came with a cleaning solution, that was good too. hammerite should be ok, my mate painted his with it and they have lasted for years.

1 piece of advice, prepare for 2 days of work.

I started on saturday around lunch jacked whole car up on axle stands

removed wheels

unscrewed calipers and released pads.

wire brushed calipers and disc drums.

sprayed cleaning solution on and wiped of dirt.

loosely bolted calipers back in place without discs

mixed hardener with paint, painted drums and calipers - leave for an hour or two and re-coat/touch uo if necessary.

leave over night.

in the morning i took off the callipers again and wire brushed the pads slightly and inserted the pads. put the callipers back on and torqued up. wipe down calliper with wet cloth. put wheels back on and torque up, wheels on car dropped and a 2 mile mild drive, i say this as i got a little paint on the discs, it stunk when i got back. but was fine a few hours later.

A couple of days later i got the new style centre caps.

See pics below.

[Jonnieb2009]

Looks good but the stickers make a difference, dont you think?

where did you get them

[Bigmunkynutz]

Originally Posted by Jonnieb2009

Looks good but the stickers make a difference, dont you think?

where did you get them

The brembo ones?

eBay 1.99 for 8 so I have 4 left. I'll let u know the sellers name if you are wanting some.

[Bigmunkynutz]

Where in the order of things should claying be done?

I just bought some meguairs nxt shampoo and clay bar kit along with there water magnet towel (both the shampoo and towel are awesome!)

I am wanting to clay the car but have a few questions.

If I clay do I need to polish/wax?

If I were to use t cut would I do this before or after clay?

I fancy the autoglym HD pre cleaner and wax too!

My question really is... What order should I do things in?

My thoughts were wash, dry, t cut where necessary, clay, hd pre wax cleaner, hd wax.

Would this be right? Also would any harm come from claying then maybe just applying a little super resin polish. I was considering attacking a couple of panels over the next couple of weekends and then having 1 hardcore weekend where I do the whole lot...

[mikealder]

All I do is wash using AutoGlym shampoo/ conditioner, rinse off and dry with a micro fibre cloth.
Clay using Meguiars Quick Detailing spray and another Micro Fibre cloth.
Polish with AutoGlym Super Resin Polish.

I guess everyone has their own preference of choice for products but I find the above produces good results - Mike

[Jonnieb2009]

Autopglym resin polish is good and removes the little tar spots too but it doesnt seem to last that long.

Although a bit more work needed I have switched to Collinite 915 Marque d'elegance - produces good results that last

[markt1]

A clay bar is for really oxidised paint or overspray form a paint job or if it has driffted from a job.I would not clay my car unless it was one of the above unless your clay bar is a different product i used in bodyshop?
All these cleaners are unesscessary and strip the goodness out of your paint if your going to clay use a good polish after and dont make a habbit of claying as all your going to do is draging it all back to square one.
When i was a sunday wash and wax man i use to use autogym resin with the gold one over the top and this was all i used to do on my RS escort and she shone like a diamond sadly these days are gone so is the car and seen as im a mobile car painter and constantly polishing other peoples pride and joy as a job i dont want to come home and start again.
Tell you what ive just been trialing a new wax from Presta called fast wax a nice little product!
Im a firm beleaver that regular washing and a good quaility wax is all youll ever need unless of course you leave your car under a tree and let bird poo sit on your paintwork forever then youll need to work at it.