Wheel cleaning - tough...

D

drvnbysound

New member
Joined
Jul 13, 2013
Messages
172
Reaction score
0
I've been buying products from AutoGeek for probably close to a year now. I've had a great experience with everything I've got to date. That said, I joined the forum here yesterday...

I'm looking for a recommendation and need a bit of help... I bought some used wheels for my car a few months ago. I needed some body work done and decided to wait until the body work was complete before putting the new wheels on (wanted to completely avoid overspray). Anyhow, before getting new tires mounted and balanced I figured I would clean the wheels as best as possible. The face of the wheels look good and I really don't have any issues there... my issue comes when trying to clean the inner portion of the wheel.

I'm a member of many forums and I know pictures are greatly helpful. So, here is a before picture:

Wheel_Before_Resized.jpg


I started cleaning them with an APC (Simple Green), and followed that up with some Detailer's Pro Wheel Cleaner as well. This is how they look now:

Wheel_1_Resized.jpg


I'd really like to get the remaining removed as well, but not sure what else to use. After a bit of searching I was thinking of Iron X, but I've never used it and wasn't sure if that was the best route to go or if there was something else I should use instead.

Thanks in advance!
 
Iron X wont clean that up. Thats years of tar, staining, and pitting of brake dust. I just pulled my wheels off and tried several products. I found using multiple products work best. I used Trix first. Then, the two that work best are Meg's Chrome Wheel Cleaner and Poor Boy's Spray and Rinse Wheel Cleaner. Of course they are acids, which means you will have to be careful and not let them dry on the rim. I would try to clay them as well.

Actually, would a steamer work here?
 
Here is my before:

jyjygy4a.jpg


This was as good as I decided it was worth getting them.

ere5y6ys.jpg


Nothing I had would take off the black stuff, I tried Trix, wheel acid, Goo Gone, APCs, etc... I believe its dirt, tar, and brake dust all baked on over 12 years. Its not visible from the front, but it seems impossible to remove. It was needed into the paint.
 
It's pretty on there good luck in trying to clean them, I would just get new rims if in the budget or (keep trying).
 
If it makes any difference, I don't care about the part that's on the back of the spokes... you can't see that from the other side. I'm only trying to get the inner portion of the wheel... that can be seen from the other side when they are mounted on the car.

EDIT: This is the part that I'm most concerned about:

Wheel_1_Resized_2.jpg
 
I personally think ironx would work but its pretty bad. As a last resort you could try something abbrasive like steel wool maybe paired with something like megs wheel brightener. Or comet and a scrubbie pad. These combos may slightly dull the surface but it may clean it up
 
the deta said:
It's pretty on there good luck in trying to clean them, I would just get new rims if in the budget or (keep trying).
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, these are the "new" rims :-\

I am going for a OEM look; it's an 2004 Acura RSX, and these are from a 2006. The styling of the wheels is completely different. I was able to get the wheels for $600 (including shipping). If I were to try and buy them new, they are $514 each (plus shipping). Not in the budget :(
 
primo spaghetti said:
wool pad and rotary and polish the heck outta them!
Click to expand...

statusdetailing said:
I personally think ironx would work but its pretty bad. As a last resort you could try something abbrasive like steel wool maybe paired with something like megs wheel brightener. Or comet and a scrubbie pad. These combos may slightly dull the surface but it may clean it up
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. My only concern with using an abrasive like steel wool is that the wheels are painted. I'm assuming that using something like wool would damage that?? No?
 
Why don't you refinish the wheels also while the car is at the body shop? Nothings going to really fix the corrosion unless you fully strip it and polish the wheels
 
I'm going to try and work some clay and see if that helps any...
 
anonymoususer said:
Why don't you refinish the wheels also while the car is at the body shop? Nothings going to really fix the corrosion unless you fully strip it and polish the wheels
Click to expand...

$$$

The last time I checked on refinishing (actually a friend did) it was going to be something like $125 or $150 a wheel
 
Using #0000 fine steel wool and a good metal compound will not trash the barrels of you rims.
Once you get all the pitting gone or redcued move to compound and polishes.
 
Meg's Wheel Brightner will get those barrels clean. And no, a steamer will not work.
 
Thanks again for the input guys. I think I am going to be placing an order for some of the Meg's Wheel Brightener very shortly. I'll post back with my results.

Another reason that I really don't want to have the wheels refinished is because the face of the wheels look good:
Wheel_Face_Resized.jpg
 
The last 2posts are both correct. Wheel brightener or ironx x and some dawn soap to get them as clean as possible. Then i would hit them woth oooo steel wool and metal polish or m105. You could also just try pairing the steel wool with wheel brightener. I could be wrong but most barrels are not painted like the outside surface of the wheel. In most cases an abbrassive is pretty "safe."
 
When using the wheel brightener. Where a long sleeve shirt, pants, and nitrile gloves. Glasses are a good idea. This product will not burn you on contact but can cause health problems if repeatedly allowed to come in contact with skin. Ita absolutely nothing to be afraid of, just use caution. Also watch for any drips or runs than run onto rhe face of the wheel. Damage can occur when you dont pay attention and drips are allowed to dwell for more than a couple minutes. Also, nothing to be afraid of, just use caution. Try wheel brightener at 4:1 first and then go stronger from there if you arwnt getting good results
 
statusdetailing said:
When using the wheel brightener. Where a long sleeve shirt, pants, and nitrile gloves. Glasses are a good idea. This product will not burn you on contact but can cause health problems if repeatedly allowed to come in contact with skin. Ita absolutely nothing to be afraid of, just use caution. Also watch for any drips or runs than run onto rhe face of the wheel. Damage can occur when you dont pay attention and drips are allowed to dwell for more than a couple minutes. Also, nothing to be afraid of, just use caution. Try wheel brightener at 4:1 first and then go stronger from there if you arwnt getting good results
Click to expand...

Good advice. Be careful around acids. Keep the front face wet and don't let it dry before doing a final rinse.
 
I sure would not use HF-acid just to have, by chance, a "benefit" of: purdy-lookin'-inner-wheel-barrels.

The chances of a person receiving unhealthy-benefits...are just not worth it...IMHO.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top