Abstract: A side brush assembly for a vehicle cleaning apparatus includes upper and lower side support members having upper and lower support arms attached thereto. An outer breakaway end portion is pivotally attached to the lower support arm and a control bracket having a slot therein is attached to the outer end of the breakaway end portion. A rotatable brush mounted on a brush shaft has an upper end of the brush shaft supported by mounting means attached to the upper support arm and a lower end of the brush shaft received in the slot of the control bracket so that the lower end may move inwardly and outwardly in a controlled fashion in the slot.

Abstract: A method of washing a vehicle is described which can accommodate vehicles having a wide variety of different lengths and does not require a motorized system to move the vehicle through the vehicle washing apparatus. The method includes the steps of moving a movable washing member around four sides of the vehicle by moving the washing member 360 degrees on a continuous track and the track moves longitudinally on a plurality of fixed rails, washing the vehicle with the movable washing member, and sensing a vehicle position and length and controlling motion of the track on the fixed rails based on the sensed vehicle position and length.