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I purchased a 2004 Dodge Neon SXT. The car came with the stock aluminum alloy wheels (a magnet was not attracted to wheels).
The wheel clear coat was flaking/peeling, so I applied multiple coats of aircraft stripper and (after much scraping & wire brushing) was able to remove the clear coat.
After I did this stripping, I realized that leaving bare metal unprotected might not be a "good" idea
, so I ran down to the local auto store & purchased/applied in order: BrandX "Safe for All Wheels" Wheel & tire cleaner, Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish (applied/buffed by hand), BrandX Liquid Wax, and lastly, Brand X Brake Dust repelant spray. After these products, the wheels look OK, but now I want them to look good and have a durable/"long" lasting protection.
I do not want to reapply some type of "permanent" spray clear coating over the wheels (afraid that will start peeling also!)
I am new to this, so I don't know about "layering" of wheel products or suitability for my application.
My question is, for bare (no clear coat) aluminum alloy wheels, using a manual application what do you recommend for each of the "5 Steps"
1) Washing the wheels? (something stronger than Gold class car wash for initial cleaning?)
2) Clean & Prep wheels -
a)Removing all the previous stuff (wax, brake dust repelant) I put on the wheels?
b)Wheel Clay?
3) Polishing the wheels? (Hot Rims metal polish, Metal Finishing Polish, All Metal polish, other?)
4) Protecting the wheels? (Ultimate Fast Finish, Ultimate Liquid/Paste Wax, other?)
5) Maintaining:
a) Maintenance Washing every other week (I will use my Gold Class car Wash)
b) Maintenance Cleaning every other week if needed (Hot Rims Aluminum wheel cleaner, Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner, other?)
c) Maintenance Appearance if needed (Ultimate Fast Finish, Ultimate Quick detailer, Hot Rims Brake Dust, other?)
Thanks
The wheel clear coat was flaking/peeling, so I applied multiple coats of aircraft stripper and (after much scraping & wire brushing) was able to remove the clear coat.
After I did this stripping, I realized that leaving bare metal unprotected might not be a "good" idea
, so I ran down to the local auto store & purchased/applied in order: BrandX "Safe for All Wheels" Wheel & tire cleaner, Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish (applied/buffed by hand), BrandX Liquid Wax, and lastly, Brand X Brake Dust repelant spray. After these products, the wheels look OK, but now I want them to look good and have a durable/"long" lasting protection.I do not want to reapply some type of "permanent" spray clear coating over the wheels (afraid that will start peeling also!)
I am new to this, so I don't know about "layering" of wheel products or suitability for my application.
My question is, for bare (no clear coat) aluminum alloy wheels, using a manual application what do you recommend for each of the "5 Steps"
1) Washing the wheels? (something stronger than Gold class car wash for initial cleaning?)
2) Clean & Prep wheels -
a)Removing all the previous stuff (wax, brake dust repelant) I put on the wheels?
b)Wheel Clay?
3) Polishing the wheels? (Hot Rims metal polish, Metal Finishing Polish, All Metal polish, other?)
4) Protecting the wheels? (Ultimate Fast Finish, Ultimate Liquid/Paste Wax, other?)
5) Maintaining:
a) Maintenance Washing every other week (I will use my Gold Class car Wash)
b) Maintenance Cleaning every other week if needed (Hot Rims Aluminum wheel cleaner, Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner, other?)
c) Maintenance Appearance if needed (Ultimate Fast Finish, Ultimate Quick detailer, Hot Rims Brake Dust, other?)
Thanks