How to Clean Polished Aluminum wheels

TR Vert · 12-29-2005, 10:35 AM

I picked up a set of used , dirty OEM C5 Polished aluminum wheels.
They are covered with what I thought might be tar or brake dust particles. Now I am wondering if it is corrosion.
I have washed with a tar remover, and about 10 times with Eagle 1 wheel cleaner. Some of the residue is off, but now I am beginning to see brush scratches in the clear coat.

Any recommendation of what I need to do to get rid of these desposits ? That are rock hard.

forrest · 12-29-2005, 11:04 AM

Are they bumps above the surface, or pitting below?

It looks like pitting to me. Your best bet would be just to polish them on a regular basis so it doesn't get worse.

Killrwheels@Autogeek · 12-29-2005, 04:02 PM

sure looks like pitting to me also. I would suggest polishing also to keep from getting worse, but not much able to make them better.

http://www.autogeek.net/mokit.html

C5naples · 12-29-2005, 11:42 PM

My wheels were used and sat in a shed for a while. The insides were badly pitted, I removed the clear and polished the aluminum.

TR Vert · 12-30-2005, 11:23 AM

C5Naples,
What did you use to remove the clear?
did you remove the clear from the faces or just the barrels?
What did you use to polish them? How long did it take you ?

TR Vert · 12-30-2005, 11:25 AM

Thanks guys.
I will have to find a magnifying glass and figure out if what remains is bumps or pitts. What has been removed so far has been bumps above the surace of the cleara.

C5naples · 12-31-2005, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88redvert

C5Naples,
What did you use to remove the clear?
did you remove the clear from the faces or just the barrels?
What did you use to polish them? How long did it take you ?

I used brush on gel type paint stripper, on both the face and barrels. It took about 4 or 5 hours a wheel. I polished them with mothers and a buffing wheel attached to a drill.

TR Vert · 01-01-2006, 12:33 PM

Upon closer inspection with a magnifying glass, It looks like the majority of what is left are pitts...
That is the pits!
Looks like we have some work to do...

Thanks again for your advice and suggestions

Jake T · 01-08-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5naples

I used brush on gel type paint stripper, on both the face and barrels. It took about 4 or 5 hours a wheel. I polished them with mothers and a buffing wheel attached to a drill.

Dumb question..did you remove the tires before stripping them or mask them off? Did you leave the stripper on for (4) hours? I'm getting close to starting my wheel project. I need lots of information!! Thanks

Hotrodzz3 · 01-09-2006, 03:16 AM

Wow those look awesome. If they look that good in a picture I can imagine how fantastic they look in person. I'm getting ready to do a set for my car and am also looking for any info available. After stripping the clear off, did you have to sand the wheels to get the pitting out? If so what grit did you start with? Or did you just start using the Mothers after stripping? and finally did you put any clear coat back on after you finished polishing. Sure hope mine come out as nice as yours did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5naples

My wheels were used and sat in a shed for a while. The insides were badly pitted, I removed the clear and polished the aluminum.