Can I clean these wheels up?

godfearingman

godfearingman

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Hi I bought an 94 Mustang GT about 2 months or so ago and it has gloss black and polished what looks like aluminum lips. They look like the have oxidation or something on them wondering if I can remove it and how? The gloss black isn't a problem I can polish them pretty easily with metal polish I'm worried about the lips. Thanks in advance





 
Those look like Saleen wheels. But seeing the pics....I think you have a challenge. That being said, if it was me I would try polishing them. IMO it can't hurt! I would use a Lake Country Whit Pad (or equivalent) and some very fine polish (SF4500 or equivalent) and do a test spot.

I use SF4500 to polish Chrome grills and have doen very well with them. I would assume it is the same concept except you are working with aluminum. I would give it a go. You are only doing a test spot. If it comes out great then have at it.

Here is a photo of me working on a RAM 2500 Chrome grill. I used a white pad and Menzerna SF4500.
 
I'd try a metal polish on a terry cloth, if that doesn't work get some sand paper and go to town.
 
ok I already have the Meguiar's dynacone polisher it doesn't really work all that well on the spokes or the inside of the wheels either so I don't see it work to well on the lips either lol
 
godfearingman said:
ok I already have the Meguiar's dynacone polisher it doesn't really work all that well on the spokes or the inside of the wheels either so I don't see it work to well on the lips either lol
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Nothing can beat the Mother's PB and PB Mini imho. Been using them to polish out my Harley which has a ton of chrome for years.
 
I would skip the metal polish. The black is paint or powder coating and the lips are clear coated. It looks like clear coat failure may be setting in. I would try using a paint polish.
 
bullitt 736 said:
I would skip the metal polish. The black is paint or powder coating and the lips are clear coated. It looks like clear coat failure may be setting in. I would try using a paint polish.
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Thanks I didn't think of that I already have some I bought for my daily driver the mustang is a car I'm fixing up.
 
All of the previously offered advice may help to some degree, but from what I can see the only way you'll ever make those wheels look as good a new is to strip the clear coat and then polish the aluminum as required. Then you could reapply a clear-coat if desired. For the black portion of the wheel I agree with bullitt 736, paint polish.
 
I don't know if there worth all that effort or not they have road rash and some dents from the previous owner/owners. I bought it fix up myself I think I'd come out cheaper to buy the wheels and tires new for a little less than $1300 the tires alone are around $800 plus installation mounting and balancing thanks for all the advice I'll try the polishes for now until I can afford to do more.
 
The black paint on the spokes; well they are painted so use paint compound polish etc. The lips; if it is clear coated it may be just oxidized clear coat which you have to compound, polish or chemical cleanse. If it is not clear coated and the the aluminum, then polish away using mother powers ball and metal polish
 
I familiar with those wheels. Unless someone stripped them, which I don't believe occurred, they're clear coated
 
Well I have some Dub metal polish and Meguiar's paint pre-glaze polish from my daily driver and used a blue terrycloth towel and neither turned black. If I have to sand and repolish them then polish them almost everyday I'll leave them like they are for now until I can afford to buy better wheels for it.
 
The finish is not bare aluminum since it didn't turn black, so a metal polish would not be appropriate. It is probably a hyper finish, which is a hard, thin coating, and can't be polished.

You could consider have them professionally refinished (~ $100 per rim) or just live with it.

Good luck.
 
I'll just live with like I said there not in the best shape to begin with I can the wheels new for a little over $100 be better off buying new than paying someone around $100 just to clean them.
 
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