dustin_ra

So I am trying whatever I can get my hands on. I want my wheels to shine. I am getting most of the cars alum, to shine. Were our wheels chromed at one point? Oh well I found the best is to use a white terry cloth and Mothers. Anyone got some advice on what they have used in the past? I noticed the wheels have some sort of almost transparent crud stuck in spots that i can scrape off with my finger nails but I just dont have enough nails to get it all. This is why I asked if they might have been chromed back in the day. I have even used neverdull and whatever I can find. Oh yeah the wheels are the alum 280z spoked wheels, just thought I should add that.

SHADY280

thats the clear coat coming off. scrape it off all the way helps, but i painted my wheels cause it was easier on stock ones

dustin_ra

OKay so its the clear coat. What takes the Clear coat off a bit easier than scrapeing? Also there is some more on the wheels I think its just a mixture of break dust, dirt and grime but there is some black stuff left on after I scrub and scrub, use the mothers ball and wash and wipe off when Im done. In the end Im left with a shiney clean car with some halfass shine looking job on the wheels.

entropy31

sandblasting . the powdercoat!

dustin_ra

So 53 other z ppl have read this and Im guessing you all have the most perfect shine on your wheels sense none of you have any real advice on how to clean some old wheels.

SpeciallySpiked

That's what I used (I know, kinda cheesy) It works well I guess, it's the only kind I've tried.

However, recently I've been using it to polish out my paint after wet sanding - it works great for that! hahahaha

As for the clear by hand, maybe you could use some really high grit sand paper and wet sand it away?
I have no clue, I didn't deal with that.

dustin_ra

I also thought about using the sand paper. I have tried Meguiars, but I find that Mothers works a bit better. Thanks for the info.

BanditJ

Just because someone reads a thread does not mean he has the answer the thread seeks.

Use some fine steel wool to remove the clear coat. Use Mothers to shine the wheels up. Don't expect a miracle. But it worked well enough for me.

mikebuhrZ

dont use anything abrasive unless your going to paint or powercoat. if u want clear off and a new surface to polish and re-clear, go to a local welding supply shop and get aluminum cleaner. usually comes in a quart bottle. just read and use

Bleach

To really polish it up you use several stages of fine sandpaper and lots of time.

I don't know exact grits, but probably start out with 1000 or so. Maybe use some on a rotating disc to take off the clearcoat. (paint remover might work)
then 1500, 2000 grit over the entire wheel. Doing this times four will take you several days working a couple hours each day.
Once that is all done the aluminum will be really smooth but foggy. Throw some of that Mother's polish on it and they'll come out looking like chrome.

A quick search on Google: "how to polish aluminum wheels" turns up a few results. Look through them.

http://www.englishcustompolishing.co...aluminum1.html
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ish/index.html
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...l_Buffing.aspx
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/ways...ims-61425.html

dustin_ra

So this is what I am now going to try. I went to the local welding store and this PROTEX is what they had suggested. Lets see if it works.

dustin_ra

Only hoping. Will use mothers after, for the finishing polish.

280zx2by2

tell me how that stuff works cause my enkeis need to be polished soon...

dustin_ra

I paid just over $20 with taxes for the bottle. I rubbed a little on the wheel and I noticed a diffenence already. Cleans good, but the instructions say to leave on metal for 2 minutes. I will try that too then take pix b4 I polish and after. Will do a wheel tomorrow.

280zx2by2

i would be carefull because i have heard of polish making grooves in the metal surface or stripping off the surface metal... and that is some industrial looking stuff you got there!!! good luck

skittle

i used zipstrip and it took off the clear coat and 4 other layers of cheap paint on my rims with no problem. Its sorta like aircraft strip.

280zx2by2

so the clear coat isnt nessisary and dosent need to be reaplied? and this is silver paint?

dustin_ra

No pait on the wheels. Just crud and minor clear coat spots still on them. I want shiny.

duckyz

I use Eagle One aluminum polish. Takes a lot of elbow grease, but it works. Next up is the Mother's wheel polish and the ball attachment.

My six-spoke wheels do have gold paint inside the spokes. The paint doesn't seem to be affected.

dustin_ra

OKay so here is a wheel before I sprayed the cleaner on it.

During the spray- Spray on. Set for 2 min, then wipe off with wet sponge.

And now here is a wheel after I sprayed it. There is not as much shine but looks a lot better.

Just another shot.

dustin_ra

Oh and the clean wheel still needs to be shined with mothers. Looks better then the dirty one with or without the mothers buff job.

WildmaN

Looks great man...good job on the cleaning. Mad props bro'