4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: rims, aluminum rims, aluminum rim

Question
I sent my suv to the dealer for a brake job.When I was washing my car about a week later,I noticed that the aluminum rims were permanently stained with black spots that wouldn't come off.The car is one year old,and I noticed that the calipers looked as clean as when I bought it.I told them that they must have sprayed so much brake cleaner on the rotors,and then put the tires back on,pulled the car out,excess splattered on the rims,and then the sun baked it on.They say the rims must have looked like that before and that the products that they use are not that powerful.I say bull?@!*.Don't all those products eat up the clear coat on an aluminum rim if left on long enough with solution of dissolved liquified brake dust?  

Answer
Alex,

As far as brake cleaner  goes, it evaporates extremely fast and should not cause the problem you are describing as it would be gone by the time the rims are put back on the vehicle.  It would be extremely rare that any brake cleaner would have gotten on the rims.

I just changed the front brakes on my Grand Cherokee, and the rims had major black spots from the brake dust.  I cleaned them off with a tire/rim cleaner and a soft brush.  Most rims don't use a clear coat, as it would peel from the heat generated by the brakes.

If you can't clean the rims, find a detail shop in your area, and see what they would suggest.

Carl