How to clean these wheels?

[Tom Weed]

I have a friend who put these wheels on his truck last fall, the guy who sold them to him told him they clean up pretty easily with a powerball and to polish them once a year. Well, whatever is on these aluminum wheels doesn't want to come off easily. He's tried Clay and a powerball with Mothers aluminum polish, also NXT all metal polish and some off the junk has come, but not all as you can see. The wheels are rough to the touch.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

[Shane Lariba]

I would use the NXT Metal Polish with a foam applicator pad. I know that you have already tried this, but it's going to take some work. You could even try using a G100A. When you are finished you should have a much better finish. Make sure when you are removing the product that you use a microfiber towel. Along with that, make sure the wheel is cool to the touch.

[Tom Weed]

Thanks Shane,
he had the truck over at my place for a few minutes and we did try NXT all metal polish by hand, along with MPPC and some clay on one wheel, they look better, but still not removing whatever it is on these wheels making them rough feeling. I was thinking of trying a magic eraser pad with some NXT polish in a small area to see if that would work. Just curious if this is common with aluminum wheels? I haven't run into ones this stubborn before.

Thanks again,
Tom

[sneek]

I would have tried NXT all metal polish on a terry, but i am not sure how much that will help

[hawaiibrad]

just my $.02.

That look a lot like pitting.... Thats chrome right. The whiteish bumps you see and feal are the corroded aluminum. The only thing you can do now is have someone rechrome them, buy newones, paint, or live with it.

Chrome is beautiful, but it can be down right a pain in the arse.....

[tommyb6277]

I'd also say that it looks like the aluminum is pitted and needs restoration help,

it happened to my wheels while driving in those harsh Minnesota winters,

tommyb

[Teak]

Re: How to clean these wheels?

Originally posted by Tom Weed
I have a friend who put these wheels on his truck last fall, the guy who sold them to him told him they clean up pretty easily with a powerball and to polish them once a year.

Everyone meaning of clean up well is different.

Questions:
How does the surface of the wheel feel to the touch?
Hpw does the rest of the vehicle feel to the touch?
How have the wheels been cleaned in the past?
How did you clean the wheels before trying different products?
How powerful was the drill that was used with powerball?
Was the vehicle in a repair or body shop recently?
How are the winter in Indiana?
If you have snow or icy conditions what do the DPW/DOT use on the roads?

Things try if the wheels are polish aluminum:
Try an aluminum wash or aluminum wheel cleaner
If no results alone try using a brush, clay or steel with aluminum wash
If the wash the does help follow with clay or metal/aluminum polish using various application methods
Try Nev R Dull
Try 000 or 0000 steel wool with aluminum/metal polish
Try cotton polishing wheels for a drill. These are available at Lowes or Home Depot.
Try using the G100/PC with a polishing pad or cutting pad.
Try Rubbing Compound in various cuts
Try wet sanding the wheels with 1500 or 2000 grit
Go to the local Truck stop or Truck parts store and check selection of metal polishing supplies.
If nothing works send them out to be repolished or rechromed.


Teak

[Tom Weed]

Thanks guys,
Teak, I guess I should have clarified, these are polished aluminum wheels. The owner let them go over the winter without doing any maintenance work to them, as the person who sold them to him told him they really only need polished once a year, whither it needs it or not! Typical Indiana winter, lots of road salt and whatever chemicals they are using these days.

I had thought about a fine steel wool pad, but didn't want to damage the wheels, so I have been cautious in telling him what to use. I think he's going to bring it back over later this week, I might see what the magic eraser with some NXT polish will do in a small area, then move it up to a scotchbrite pad. If that doesn't work, I guess steel wool would be my last option.
I do have some cloth polishing wheels that go on the drill and my drill is a 19.2 volt cordless craftsman drill and have some wenol metal polish to try also.

Thanks everyone for the advice and the help.

Tom

[Deaner5]

Re: Re: How to clean these wheels?

Originally posted by Teak
Go to the local Truck stop or Truck parts store and check selection of metal polishing supplies.
Teak

I have used a polish called Semichrome that works well. It is kind of harsh though so be careful. Also Harley-Davidson mades a polish similar to this and I know we carry both products at our local dealership and they run about $5 for a small tube.

[hawaiibrad]

If it is only polish aluminum... check out dico(like the buffer that you have for the drill or grinder) products.... it will prly take a cutting compoud and a polishing grade compound stick.... you can usual find this stuf at a local hardware store. Check the chart on the back of the wheels and compounds it will tell you what combo to use wheel and compound for what your trying to achive If the cutting grade is not fastenought you may want to try going at it with a cup brush on your drill(larger the better it less agreesive) and sand paper(400 - 600 wet/dry) it will proly be ezer to do if you take the wheel off the truck.

Unlike paint its going to have to take off more material to get below the pitting...

On thing that you may consider afterward is clearcoating you rims exp. i f you live in an area that they use salt and you dont want to clean them all that often.

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by hawaiibrad
If it is only polish aluminum... check out dico(like the buffer that you have for the drill or grinder) products.... it will prly take a cutting compoud and a polishing grade compound stick.... you can usual find this stuf at a local hardware store. Check the chart on the back of the wheels and compounds it will tell you what combo to use wheel and compound for what your trying to achive If the cutting grade is not fastenought you may want to try going at it with a cup brush on your drill(larger the better it less agreesive) and sand paper(400 - 600 wet/dry) it will proly be ezer to do if you take the wheel off the truck.

Unlike paint its going to have to take off more material to get below the pitting...

On thing that you may consider afterward is clearcoating you rims exp. i f you live in an area that they use salt and you dont want to clean them all that often.

I was thinking along these same lines. Are the wheels currently clearcoated? Oh, on a closer look just now I see they are American Racing Wheels. They normally are not clearcoated. It is just going to take a lot of polishing (cutting) like hawaiibrad said. If it were me I would clearcoat them after they are restored. I love detailing my car, but I don't want to be polishing my wheels every two weeks LOL!


RamAirV1

[Monk]

Originally posted by Tom Weed
Thanks Shane,
he had the truck over at my place for a few minutes and we did try NXT all metal polish by hand, along with MPPC and some clay on one wheel, they look better, but still not removing whatever it is on these wheels making them rough feeling. I was thinking of trying a magic eraser pad with some NXT polish in a small area to see if that would work. Just curious if this is common with aluminum wheels? I haven't run into ones this stubborn before.

Thanks again,
Tom

Those are beautiful wheels. I would take them to a wheel shop and let them do it right.