doubledime

I have a 2012 GS with chrome wheels. I thought I heard once that the gray inside wheel barrels are actually covering up chrome, and GM covers the chrome for maintenance reasons, and you can have the coating removed to expose the chrome. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks

BWF07

I have never heard of a chrome plating company plating the barrels an then covering them up. I think what you heard is most likely incorrect.

Red Tabby

Here is a thread that shows how to remove the paint and what you see under it.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...me-gumbys.html

They do look nice all clean and shiny!

Top_Fuel

Yep...very easy to remove the paint from the wheel barrels. That's a great thread. Be sure to review that entire thread before you remove the paint...specifically POST #109 which warns you that the chrome isn't always high quality underneath the paint.

BWF07

I think what you will find if you strip the finish off the barrels, is an aluminum finish, not chrome. Yes once it is striped and cleaned and polished it will look great, but only for a short time. The aluminum will need to be polished frequently as the Chrome on the actual out area with maintain the shine with nothing more then soap and water and wax.

Top_Fuel

If you have stock C6 chrome wheels, they are chromed underneath the paint. Just drive for a couple of years with unpainted (and neglected) barrels and the chrome will start peeling off to prove it.

Here are some pictures from the thread mentioned above. This is the chrome being exposed just after using paint stripper and nothing else...




Here's the wheel after a quick clean-up (no polishing or elbow grease needed)...




As stated in the thread, this may not be a good mod for someone unless they are willing to maintain the barrels with a good cleaning and polish once or twice a year.

corvettejack

I did mine a month ago came out great they are even easier to keep clean than the rough gray paint just use chrome polish and 2 coats of a good wax after you strip and clean brake dust wipes right off with a dry towel looks like new again I plan on removing wheels over the winter re-polish and re-wax again they are chrome and look 100% better than the gray paint and are easier to maintain Jack

Joe B.

If I strip mine, I might spray the barrels with something clear.

haljensen

All Chrome wheels are plated completely, inside and out, front and back. The difference in appearence is because the exterior is smoothed and polished before plating and the inside is not.

The wheels are immersed in the cleaning and plating solutions with nothing masked off.

AimHigh

I wash mine with a toilet brush every time I wash the car at home.
Easy to do and looks better clean ...

CO Lightfoot

A real wheel brush is better. Nice bristles and flexible stem for cleaning around spokes.



Plus, having a dedicated brush eliminates the risk of toilet gunk on your wheels -- or wheel gunk in your toilet.

Available from many sources, like this: http://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html

hawkgfr

I think I got that brush with an order from the Geek. The one I have that looks like that is utterly useless for cleaning as would a toilet brush lol...The bristles are too course and don't hold soap well at all to me.

AimHigh

you are correct Sir! It's all I had at the time so I made it work.

NevadaVette

No more stories. It's real chrome, dude. The only issue when you strip the paint off the barrels is whether there are any defects in the underlying chrome plating that you can't see through the paint.