Cleaning inner wheel barrels

TLMitchell

TLMitchell

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Posted here, there & everywhere....

What we have here are OEM coated, cast aluminum wheels from a 2004 GMC Sierra. They've seen 60k+ and 5 Ohio winters without ever getting a really thorough cleaning inside and out.

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The outer wheels are in pretty decent shape with just a few defects in the coating where wheel weights have been attached. They clean up well and take a shine, they're rarely left very cruddy for long periods. The inner barrels are a different story though.

IMG_0449Medium.jpg



IMG_0459Medium.jpg


Believe me, the pics are AFTER cleaning attempts! They were pitch black before!

My primary goal is to clean these up as well as possible and apply sealant and do 'em once a year every Spring. The visible portions through the holes in the front detract a bit from the overall appearance.

In attempting to clean the inner barrel I first tried a generous dose of P21S Gel and let it dwell for an hour. I then scrubbed the surface crud with a wheel brush getting close to the results shown. Thinking I needed something considerably stouter I applied Purple Power APC full strength and let it dwell taking care that I didn't get any of this nasty stuff on the front of the wheels. Not much improvement.

I then attempted a few other things in spots..... of everything I tried a Brillo pad produced the most favorable result with a TON of scrubbing. I also gave a PowerBall a whirl with Wenol red, Meg's Mag & Aluminum Polish and other lesser products with the best results appearing near the openings where exterior cleaning may have kept them from getting as bad as the rest of the barrel. At this rate using the products and methods I've attempted thus far I might get some decent results if I kept at it for a week or so........ per wheel, probably! There's gotta be a better way....

I'd appreciate any thoughts, comments or suggestions that might lead to some improvement. I don't expect perfection after 5 years of neglect but I'd like to improve the appearance, at least what's visible from the outside of the wheel.

Thanks in advance...... TL
 
You try some of your Meg's Mag polish with some #0000 steel wool, or something a little more aggressive if the #0000 isn't enough.
 
I would not use steel wool since they are clear coated and/or painted. You need to find a very strong solvent to loosen the debris up. It might just be baked in there also.
 
I've done the same to my wheels in the past on a used Grand Voyager I have. They weren't cared for and were a mess(back side). Mine aren't painted or cleared, raw aluminum (again the back side), steel wool, paint thinner to remove old tar. I came close to getting the sand blaster out. I did get them cleaned up ok. What did I use? Any and everything I had. Didn't hurt anything. In my case, anything would look better than they did.
 
ASPHALT ROCKET said:
I would not use steel wool since they are clear coated and/or painted. You need to find a very strong solvent to loosen the debris up. It might just be baked in there also.
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Judging by the spot tests only the front is coated. Which is probably why the remaining crud is hunkered down so well.

Thanks... TL
 
those look like pitting and due to the materials in brake pads sitting on wheels and baking into finish while hot. I doubt you can remove, but using a sealant like Poorboys or Klasse AIO may help from getting worse.
 
Craig said:
I've done the same to my wheels in the past on a used Grand Voyager I have. They weren't cared for and were a mess(back side). Mine aren't painted or cleared, raw aluminum (again the back side), steel wool, paint thinner to remove old tar. I came close to getting the sand blaster out. I did get them cleaned up ok. What did I use? Any and everything I had. Didn't hurt anything. In my case, anything would look better than they did.
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It appears mine are only coated on the front as well. I was hoping you'd have better news for me. :eek: Just wondering if one of those acid-based cleaners everyone avoids might be the ticket?

Thanks... TL
 
TLMitchell said:
It appears mine are only coated on the front as well. I was hoping you'd have better news for me. :eek: Just wondering if one of those acid-based cleaners everyone avoids might be the ticket?

Thanks... TL
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It will not hurt to try it.
 
ASPHALT ROCKET said:
I would not use steel wool since they are clear coated and/or painted. You need to find a very strong solvent to loosen the debris up. It might just be baked in there also.
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:iagree: Steel Wool is a big, big no,no.........that will strip all protection of the MFG. Try diluted ammonia or Meg's APC.......steel wool is not cool !!
 
Mothers PowerMetal Aluminum applied by hand with a Microfiber towel. That's the strongest combination I've tried so far; I actually also last used it to clean the insides of my Subaru's wheels.
 
We're talking about the back side of the rim, raw aluminum, no paint, no clear. Why is everyone against using steel wool? What can you remove other than dirt, tar? How about a green scuff pad or pot scrubber.
During my fight with scrubbing the BACK side of my RAW, UNPAINTED, NOT CLEAR COATED rim I even gave good old Comet a try. The dirt just laughed at it. I was going to try acid also, I was chicken it would run out between the spokes on the front (outside) of the wheel and mess up the painted and coated area.
 
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try clay and a vapor steaner i had same poroblem and did this with great results
 
P21S makes a polishing soap for aluminum that takes tarnish and dirt off. Needs polishing afterwards however.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
P21S makes a polishing soap for aluminum that takes tarnish and dirt off. Needs polishing afterwards however.
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I was just reading the review thread on that from a few years ago. It'll be a few days or so before I can try anything else.... the wheel is on the truck where it's gotta stay for a bit. Got lots of thoughts and ideas. Some suggested M105 and wool. Hmmm, wonder if I oughta use the KBM? :p

Thanks to all..... TL
 
Is it ok to use PB sealant or some klasse AIO as the main coat of protection, and then a product like wheel wax as a bi-weekly cleaner?

Or will the wheel wax strip off the PB/Klasse AIO sealants???

I have a flat black colored rim. not sure if its clear coated.

thx.
 
for my car i do this every time i rotate my tires. take the wheels off, lay them upside down, spray some wolfgang tirewhell cleaner in em , let sit, aggitate with hard brissle brush, and then use the pressure washer. they look perfect expect for scrathes and pits form rocks and brake debris, but always come clean. but i am cleaning them about every three months or less, so might be why they are cleaner and easy.
 
i just did this process as well, wet the tires, sprayed aro, let sit for about 3 minutes then used a brush. worked perfectly.
 
I believe that is some oxidation and pitting on the wheel the way to test it is with a dropper full of LIME AWAY - Squirt iton the spots and if it foams the pitty is through the clear coat and you can use steel wool a polishing buffer and then reseal them with clear coat. The clear coat on wheels is high temp so you will need to find some clear for that particular application. Super Heated Metal Brake Dust will go Right through regular clear. Use the WURTH BRAND CLEANER after the steel wool and WURTH LAQUER to seal it up. Once the 3 rd coat LAQUER is cured you can use a wheel wax on that portion of the wheel and then the brake dust should wash off with regular use of a Wheel Cleaner. Good Luck - I have seen much worse.
 
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