I cant get the brake dust off of my front rims. Ive tried lots of cleaners the only thing that works is polishing compound. is that safe to use on factory silver painted salad shooters?

 

I would try using clay on your wheels first, the polishing compound can cause damage over time due to the abrasives, that should be the last resort.

 

I ahd some bad brake dust stains that wouldn't come off my 99's rims... I used Meguier's Hot Rims in the Hot Pink bottle... it took 99.9% of it off... just have to let it soak in for about 90 seconds....

Also, you apply it to a dry rim, then spray it off...

I wouldn't recommend using it every time you wash, but it was effective for me...

After I got them clean, I applied a few coats of Zaino, and the brake dust comes off very easily...

 

I agree with both Car and Darth here. I'd first try a good aggressive wheel cleaner on COOL wheels. I like Meguiar's Gold Class wheel cleaner for tough jobs, as this product is an acid it needs to be rinsed very well and NOT left to dry on the wheel, so cool or cold wheels are a must. Eagle One A2Z is another alternative, but probably not as strong as the Meguiar's. Then for anything that may be leftover after using a cleaner, try clay before using an abrasive polish or compound. If the clay doesn't do the trick, then you will have to use an abrasive, like Meguiar's Body Scrub, 3M SMR, etc....

For regular wheel maintainence after using these products, you should use just plain car wash soap and water or light surface cleaners. Like Darth said, you shouldn't need to use strong cleaners on wheels often or it could cloud and dull them. After hte wheels are all cleaned, wax them. A synthetic product, like Zaino or Klasse, will last and protect MUCH better on wheel surfaces, since a wax can't withstand the heat and won't last at all.