Got some pretty bad oxidation on my wheels...

[FriboRage]

Just bought these wheels a few days ago for real cheap, they're Mille Miglia Evo-5, silver, not chrome. Im pretty sure they're clear coated, but Im not 100% sure, maybe someone could tell me? The one has some pretty bad oxidation on it, I can get pictures tomorrow.. it just looks almost looks like rust, but not quite... and it's in a solid layer all around the inside of the wheel. I've been going at it with a soft bristle wheel brush and Meguiar's All Wheel Cleaner for awhile now, applying, scrubbing for 20 seconds and then rinsing thoroughly.

It seems to be slowly coming up, there was originally no sign of silver, just oxidation all around. Now there are pretty sizable areas where silver can be seen.. just wondering if Im going about this right, or if there are better ways to do it? And also if anyone could shed some light on it being clear coated or not before I go farther with the wrong cleaner and hurt something...

Also, how could this have happened to just one wheel when the other 3 are almost perfectly clean? There is literally a solid layer probably the thickness of a thin piece of paper all around the entire inside surface of the wheel.

[Murr1525]

Re: Got some pretty bad oxidation on my wheels...

I'd try some clay (a piece you wont use back on the car paint) and/or a paint cleaner like Ult. Compound.

If the Ult. Compound turns your rag soot black, then they are bare metal and a metal polish would be ok as well. But just a pic online sure looks painted.

You can do the same to all 4 wheels to even them up.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Got some pretty bad oxidation on my wheels...

Pictures will really help here, but I can tell you from personal experience - I used to own a set of these wheels - that they are indeed clear coated and that products like Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner and even Wheel Brightener are totally safe to use on them. I did it all the time.

Now, if the clear is failing, especially around the edges, it is quite possible that either of these wheel cleaners could start to leach under the clear where the damage is and start to cause some issue. But on a healthy wheel with the clear in tact, both of those wheel cleaners are completely safe to use, when used as directed, of course!

It sounds as though you've got some really heavy brake dust on the inside of one (and oddly only one) of the wheels. Extremely heavy brake dust will give almost a rust like appearance, except for the lack of crusty, flaking mess that you normally see with rust. Your description is pretty much on the money, and it sounds like you're going about it the right way too. Wheel Brightener would be more effective, but it comes in gallons so it's maybe not the best economical choice for you to clean this one wheel. Why this is on one wheel only is really hard to say, unless the wheels came off a car with mismatched brake pads, or a car with a serious brake issue. Or the previous owner got tired after cleaning the other three?

[FriboRage]

Re: Got some pretty bad oxidation on my wheels...

Here are some pics...

This is shortly after beginning work on it...




This is after working on it for awhile with sand paper combined with the All wheel cleaner(I got impatient, 400 grit, really light pressure)


This big chunk came off...


So it's coming up fairly quickly, but as it's drying off (I've been doing this all wet)... Im starting to see faded and scratched spots in the clear, which I figured would happen with the sanding.. but I kind of feel like it's going to have to be repainted anyway, I've only been working on the back so far, havnt even started the spots on the face that are in a similar condition. If I continue being gentle, and I dont go through the color coat, could I just clean it real good and spray some new clear down when all is said and done? Or will that turn out like garbage?

I tried some ultimate compound on it, but it had absolutely no effect at all.

Oh, and all that scratching around the balancing weights is not from me, it was like that already.