Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

[Matt Majeika]

I just received my Wheel Brightener in the mail today! I'm thrilled and can't wait to try it out!!

I realize that it's not to be used on uncoated aluminum or anodized wheels. I don't know much about wheels so am looking for a run-down on wheel types. Not sure how to tell if a wheel is uncoated or anodized.

I know my own wheel type, but how can I determine if WB is safe on other wheels?

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Do we have any wheel experts here? I'm interested to learn!

[CHzo6]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Rub a little metal polish on a clean rim and see what color it turns. If the applicator turns black, you have uncoated aluminum, if it's just a dirty brown, or even clean, you have paint over the metal.

[Murr1525]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

I think most paint cleaners would do the same, if you wanted to be safer than a metal polish.

[Andrew Wilson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Most wheels that come from the factory or are not after market have a clear coat on top of them. If ythe rim is clean and you try lightly rubbing a metal polish on them nothing will happen (your pad will remain relatively clean). If you happen to work in a metal polish on an aluminum wheel, your pad will likely turn darker. We recommend you do not use Wheel Brightner on these types of wheels because the metal aluminum is very soft and can stain very easily.

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

I understand. So I clean the wheels first (I usually use my regular car wash solution) - and then try a metal polish? Could you recommend a product?

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

I understand. So I clean the wheels first (I usually use my regular car wash solution) - and then try a metal polish? Could you recommend a product?

I like NXT All Metal Polysh. I find it not be as abrasive. If you need something more abrasive you could use Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum Polish. If you need even further abrasion you could use 0000 steel wool. Then I like to go back to the NXT All Metal Polysh to smooth thing out.

I am by nooooo mean an expert on polishing metal, but I have played around the various Meguiar's metal polishes and this is what I have come up with.

I've also used Wheel Brightener. It does a great job of removing rust and contaminates, but it's not an abrasive product. You may need a combination of abrasives and Wheel Brightener to get the results you want.

I'll post a picture below of a piece of test metal I polished and used Wheel Brighter on.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels



As you can see, Wheel Brighter is very powerful (of course you are supposed to mix it with water 10:1 or 4:1), but it wasn't ideal for removing the rust out of the deep pits. Given time it probably would have. However like paint, you have to access the best approach to deal with your issue.

As you can see, I was fully able to restore the metal with polish alone. Once at this point a periodic cleaning with Wheel Brightener would likely be appropriate.

[Andrew Wilson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Well typically, Wheel Brightner is used in replacement to a shampoo or Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner to clean the rims. If your just trying to remove brake dust and its stuck to the rim and it is NOT aluminum then it would be safe to use Wheel Brighter.

If your trying to polish a rim, I would use a metal polish.

[Murr1525]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

You would want to maybe QD a small area of the wheel, and try the metal polish or paint cleaner to see what color turned up.

Then use your Wheel Brightener or Hot Rims, etc accordingly.

[tcy006]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Matt, be sure to flush your sprayer with water after each use, or wheel brightener will eat the guts out of it. I have killed more than one spray head.

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Matt, be sure to flush your sprayer with water after each use, or wheel brightener will eat the guts out of it. I have killed more than one spray head.

Noted.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Thanks for the reminder. I'll go flush mine now.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

Looks like it's already dead after 2 uses, and I flushed it the first time.
Maybe it got an airlock, but it's not pumping anything. I'll test it a bit more before I write it off. This is a bit disappoint seeing it was the chemical resistant sprayer.
Do you think it's possible that it's dead, just because I didn't flush it once. I just used it yesterday and before that I had flushed it.

[tcy006]

Re: Wheel Brightener | Types of wheels

I have killed two chemical resistant sprayers. I thought I had killed a third one but it came back to life. I don't know why, but all I did was pull the pickup tube off of the bottom of the head, drain it and put it back on and it was working after a few pumps of the trigger. It has worked ever since.