Can I clean these wheels up?

[godfearingman2011]

Hi I bought and 94 Mustang and I'm trying to determine whether the lips on the wheels are aluminum or clear coated I know the spokes are painted but don't know about the lips. I'm thinking there aluminum but don't know for sure thanks in advance.

[Joe Dragon]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

If you know the manufacturer, contact them for a definitive answer. I've never seen those before.

[godfearingman2011]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

I don't I bought the mustang to fix up and that's what was on it closes wheels I can to them are FR500 wheels I see them on mustang parts sites like Latemodel Resto and American Muscle. I've taken them off and got some greenish brown that was on the black painted spokes they polish ok with either metal polish or auto polish. Still trying to determine what the lips are so I can try to clean them up some.

[Murr1525]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Just take a paint cleaner on a cloth.

If the cloth turns jet black, it is bare metal.

[evo77]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Only 2 or 3 piece wheels would potentially have a non-clear coated lip. That wheel right there is a one piece and the lip is clear coated. Or at least it was. It has failed miserably.

It will have to be sanded and repolished. Then unfortunately the maintenance to keep them shiny and water spot free is constant polishing.

*edit: upon closer inspection of the lips it may also be etching perhaps from an acidic wheel cleaner. Try polishing a small spot with a compound to see if it clears up.

[The Guz]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

I agree with a paint cleaner. Or even a metal polish on a small spot. If the applicator turns black it's uncoated metal.

[godfearingman2011]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Well I have some Dub metal polish and Meguiar's paint pre-glaze polish from my daily driver and used a blue terrycloth towel and neither turned black. If I have to sand and repolish them then polish them almost everyday I'll leave them like they are for now until I can afford to buy better wheels for it.

[The Guz]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Ok so they are coated. The next step is moving to a compound. If that doesn't make a dent then sanding would be the way to go.

[godfearingman2011]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

I don't want to spend a lot of money on them since they have some bad road rash and few dents and dings but want them to look as good as they can though. I don't want to have to take them off and polish them every few days to keep them from going back the same way. If the previous owner/owners would've taken better of the car it and the wheels wouldn't be in the shape there in but then again I probably wouldn't have it right now and gotten it at the price I paid lol.

[The Guz]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

You can compound/polish the lip without removing them lol. Then seal them if you wish to keep them looking good.

[jjrakwichian]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Hi I bought and 94 Mustang and I'm trying to determine whether the lips on the wheels are aluminum or clear coated I know the spokes are painted but don't know about the lips. I'm thinking there aluminum but don't know for sure thanks in advance.

Try to use an aluminum polisher to do the real small test spot on the lip right after cleaned and clayed the wheel lip and if that comes out very shiny then, it is an aluminum lip.

[godfearingman2011]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

What would I use to seal them? Regular car wax or wheel wax?

[The Guz]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

Preferably any sealant.

[jjrakwichian]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

What would I use to seal them? Regular car wax or wheel wax?

Meguiars Sealant is good. What I usually do is, after I apply the sealant then wait about 5 mins to sit in well on the surface and wipe off the residue, then follow up with NXT 2.0 wax. Again, after apply wax, wait about t 5 mins to let the product sit in well and wipe off.

This should protect the wheel quite awhile

[godfearingman2011]

Re: Can I clean these wheels up?

So just regular automotive paint sealant and wax?