Hi Everyone,
I was wondering what some of you have done to restore a new look to your alloy wheels. After cleaning with a bristle brush, the wheels are still dull and some stubborn black spots remain behind. Should i use a wire brush or is there some cleaning, polishing stuff out there to get them shiny again?
I would recommend staying away from the wire brush and / or any heavy abrasives. I think ( correct me if I'm wrong ) that most or perhaps all of the aluminum wheels are painted and clearcoated. Any harsh scrubbing or sanding will remove the coatings and then you'll have a real mess. Light scrubbing with bristle brush or kitchen magic scrubbies should remove road grime and brake dust ( if disc brakes ). There are solvents for removing tar from auto finishes and they should be OK also. Double check what I've said and do step lightly. I re-finished a set of wheels recently and they came out very nicely with spray paint and good clearcoating.
__________________
Roger in NJ
" Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the rest"
Winston Churchill 1948
Check with auto shops that specialize in customizing cars. They have connections with metal plating shops that can refinish and polish alloy wheels. Aluminum wheels need to be hard anodized and/or clear coated to preserve the finish. Otherwise, they oxidize (white powdery aluminum-oxide). The new finish should be treated like the paint on your tow vehicle. Wax or protective coating is OK. However, do not do anything that will remove the anodizing or clear coat, both of which are soft; or you will expose the bare metal to oxidation, again.
I removed the clearcoat and polished the wheels with Gords polish. It is supposed to leave a protective film and only needs a little polish once a year. We will see.
This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.