Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers

indianrunner · 25th September 2011, 12:44

Hi,

I am just back from a 2 week trip to Lahaul and Spiti and am planning to give my Pajero some TLC.

I was informed that I should not get area under the wheel arches cleaned with water as the slush would move into the shock absorbers and over a period of time spoil the shocks?

Is this a correct picture? If yes what would be a correct way of cleaning the wheel arches/ wheel bay given that a lot of dirt is stuck there?

TIA

rajivanoj · 25th September 2011, 22:21

According to me, it is wrong information, All water service centres and A.S.S are washing wheel arches with pressurised water, That wont affect shock absorbers, it is sealed and tamed to to meet dirt and grime always, since it gets tortured while vehicle on move.

It is better to wash with water and remove mud and slug from inside of wheel arches, if not it will lead to rusting, since it has tendency to store water and damp.

SAS · 25th September 2011, 22:47

You can easily wash it with a pressurised water, however the gentler the pressure, the more friendly the wash shall be on the seals. You should definitely get them washed off since mud and salts shall corrode metal and make it weak.

k_nitin_r · 25th September 2011, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by indianrunner

I was informed that I should not get area under the wheel arches cleaned with water as the slush would move into the shock absorbers and over a period of time spoil the shocks?

The wheel arches have water splashed against them when driving in the rain so this argument does not seem very convincing. The pressurized underbody cleaning that many car wash centers offer is to prevent the mud deposit from causing corrosion; leaving the corrosive mud on threatens the life of the metal surface more than washing with water does.

mayankjha1806 · 26th September 2011, 05:38

Nope, i don't think this is right and it does not happen that way. If you give the car for washing and they do under-body wash they ensure that the dust from the wheel arches does fall on the ground and not get stuck someplace else. What i have seen the place i get my car washed is he takes a round of the car and checks the under-body parts to ensure they are cleaned. You could also do the same.

dhanushs · 26th September 2011, 12:57

Did you mention the vehicle as Pajero?.. Hell, the vehicle is built for that exact purpose.

Imagine what would be the state when you go through slushy waters, which are unavoidable on Indian roads?

Relax mate!!.. There is NOTHING WRONG in pressure washing the underside of the wheel arches.

John · 26th September 2011, 13:16

There should not be any problem with the shocks if you are washing off the muck. During the monsoons I do this regularly (I use a Bosch Aquatek 100 pressure washer) on both my cars and have never encountered a problem.

25th September 2011, 12:44	#1
indianrunner BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 226 Thanked: 33 Times	Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers Hi, I am just back from a 2 week trip to Lahaul and Spiti and am planning to give my Pajero some TLC. I was informed that I should not get area under the wheel arches cleaned with water as the slush would move into the shock absorbers and over a period of time spoil the shocks? Is this a correct picture? If yes what would be a correct way of cleaning the wheel arches/ wheel bay given that a lot of dirt is stuck there? TIA
	() Thanks

25th September 2011, 22:21	#2
rajivanoj BANNED Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 398 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	Re: Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers According to me, it is wrong information, All water service centres and A.S.S are washing wheel arches with pressurised water, That wont affect shock absorbers, it is sealed and tamed to to meet dirt and grime always, since it gets tortured while vehicle on move. It is better to wash with water and remove mud and slug from inside of wheel arches, if not it will lead to rusting, since it has tendency to store water and damp.
	() Thanks

25th September 2011, 22:47	#3
SAS BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 296 Thanked: 83 Times View My Garage	Re: Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers You can easily wash it with a pressurised water, however the gentler the pressure, the more friendly the wash shall be on the seals. You should definitely get them washed off since mud and salts shall corrode metal and make it weak.
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 05:38	#5
mayankjha1806 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,159 Thanked: 989 Times View My Garage	Re: Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers Nope, i don't think this is right and it does not happen that way. If you give the car for washing and they do under-body wash they ensure that the dust from the wheel arches does fall on the ground and not get stuck someplace else. What i have seen the place i get my car washed is he takes a round of the car and checks the under-body parts to ensure they are cleaned. You could also do the same.
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 12:57	#6
dhanushs Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,433 Thanked: 11,463 Times	Re: Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers Did you mention the vehicle as Pajero?.. Hell, the vehicle is built for that exact purpose. Imagine what would be the state when you go through slushy waters, which are unavoidable on Indian roads? Relax mate!!.. There is NOTHING WRONG in pressure washing the underside of the wheel arches.
	() Thanks

26th September 2011, 13:16	#7
John BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Secunderabad Posts: 388 Thanked: 527 Times	Re: Washing the wheel arches and shock absorbers There should not be any problem with the shocks if you are washing off the muck. During the monsoons I do this regularly (I use a Bosch Aquatek 100 pressure washer) on both my cars and have never encountered a problem.
	() Thanks