Alum polished wheels scratches

KBsToy

KBsToy

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Was working on wifes CTS and I am finding alot of scratches on her alum polished wheels. Any advice on what to use to get these out.

Again THANKS !!!!
 
You have to be careful on rims that are coated. I would first try a cleaner wax by hand. Keep the pressure light as the clear on rims aren't as tough as the clear on the vehicle.

The second option would be to strip the clear off and start all over again, but that's a ton of work.
 
For what its worth I think most of the polished wheels from GM (my Cruze included) although are polished from the factory are not fully polished to a mirror. There are still some scratches left behind in the process and then clear coated over.

You may be seeing some of those PLUS scratches instilled during the washing process. The problem is, if you begin trying to polish out the scratches on the clear, you won't be able to tell if what your still seeing is on top or underneath since its transparent.
 
Yup, chances are the raw metal is scratched and the only way to make it perfect would be to strip the clear coat and polish out the metal... not worth it!
 
Do a test spot by hand with a polish then if that's not cutting it try a compound.
 
Thanks for all the advice :) I wish GM did a better job on their coated wheels, my friend has a Camaro and she is having the same problem.

I told her I would ask the experts here on AG for help...
 
KBsRT said:
Thanks for all the advice :) I wish GM did a better job on their coated wheels, my friend has a Camaro and she is having the same problem.

I told her I would ask the experts here on AG for help...
Click to expand...

I have a friend that had a 2010 camaro. Those 5 spoke wheels on that thing never shined like aluminum even when new. I don't think they were very shiny from the factory. It's not the clear coat, it's the metal.
 
All stock aluminum rims are clear coated.
No new car comes with un-coated aluminum.
Can you imagine if they didn't coat them?
Bare Aluminum Oxides immediately and after a few months of abuse from "regular" washing and they wouldn't shine at all.
 
Detailing by M said:
All stock aluminum rims are clear coated.
No new car comes with un-coated aluminum.
Can you imagine if they didn't coat them?
Bare Aluminum Oxides immediately and after a few months of abuse from "regular" washing and they wouldn't shine at all.
Click to expand...

This is true. But unfortunately, the metal underneath the clear coat on those camaros and a lot of other cars really isn't a billet mirror finish anyway.
 
Yes the actual aluminum isn't highly polished.
So you'll have to strip those wheels of the CC and polish away!
 
Detailing by M said:
sorry that post was to read "isn't highly polished"

Well with aluminum you just have to spend a lot time polishing it.
The more time you spend the shinyer it will be. You can shine aluminum to look like chrome.
Here's a post I did on my rims.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/66093-aluminum-rims-restored-protected.html
Click to expand...

How do you like that dynacone? I've been considering picking one up for my Torq thrust 2s. Polishing by hand is way too time consuming and the mothers mini powerball was not working well at all for me.
 
Love the Dyna Cone.
I grew up polishing a '79 Vette Aluminum Rims with air tools.
I've will never polish anything by hand.
You will never get close to the results you can with power tools.
I tried mommy's balls when they first came out. They can't touch
a Dyna Cone.
The DC is a nice hardy foam. Mine is a couple of years old now and still works great.
It's solid to. The inside is big the only "squishy" part is the tip the middle is
hardy and you can put a lot of presser on the metal with a DC.
 
Detailing by M said:
Love the Dyna Cone.
I grew up polishing a '79 Vette Aluminum Rims with air tools.
I've will never polish anything by hand.
You will never get close to the results you can with power tools.
I tried mommy's balls when they first came out. They can't touch
a Dyna Cone.
The DC is a nice hardy foam. Mine is a couple of years old now and still works great.
It's solid to. The inside is big the only "squishy" part is the tip the middle is
hardy and you can put a lot of presser on the metal with a DC.
Click to expand...

You might talk me into it. I was going to grab some cotton wheels and rouge compounds but my wheels aren't in bad shape. I think the dynacone would be the way to go. Can it get in tight spaces well?
 
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