Cleaning GM (Cadillac) Chrome Wheels

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MikeC78

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Anyone have a trick or polishing technique on cleaning the inner barrels of GM wheels? I'm not sure on the newer wheels, but the prior generation has a matte course finish and it's a pain to keep clean. I've noticed while cleaning that the aluminum coating would actually lift off and seem like the chrome finish is underneath. Is it possible to polish this "coating" off to be all chrome? I've taken pics, but the file will not attach here without errors.

Gonna keep trying to add pics. Thanks for any help,
 
It is very possible that this aluminum coating you're seeing is actually a paint.
 
These wheels are on a 2009 Cadillac escalade. It does seem like an aluminum colored type of paint, but the finish is rough or course.
 
Is anyone else having issues attaching photos on here today?
 
Well one way to surely find out is to use a paint stripper in a small area, and see what the results are?

That's if your intentions are to rid the inner barrels of such. If you have tape weights, you'd have to be careful around them.

In any case, it is doubtful you will find high quality polishing and plating on the inner barrels.
 
You can see the chrome starting on the inside edge. Might grab a 3" micro and some compound and see if it will polish off.
 
Btw, I was cleaning the inside with a degreaser and the finish was coming off with a stiff brush. But it wasn't something that was easy to remove. Didn't know if someone had a product or technique in removing it or just cleaning the stains in general.
 
I recently did a 2011 Escalade with the same wheels and the barrels were in terrible condition. From your picture it appears that whatever top layer or coating was on the barrels is totally gone.

You can see in this picture where the peeling has begun.

WheelDamage2.jpg


And this picture shows where a lot of the top layer is totally gone.

WheelDamage3.jpg
 
Some other thoughts of mine, would be that if you tried prepping and re-painting the barrels with any sort of paint, even 2K rattle can, it would not hold up very long unless you were placing the vehicle in some museum.
 
Mine aren't that bad. There are some oxidation spots, but they are mostly stained on the barrels. Should be able to clean the peeling with a wire wheel. I'm just trying to clean the stains first and possibly polish them if I can.
 
Anyway, These GM wheels are complete crap and this truck is a garage queen too. 2009 with 45k miles.
 
Yeah, spending 2k on new wheels is a great way to save money. ��
 
Well, I believe we all are in the keeping our vehicles in tip top shape category and stray from replacement if at all possible. I'd rather be able to remove or polish the problem myself then replace. Wouldn't you agree? If by any chance you'd like to donate a few K in my direction, I'll email you my PayPal account. :)
 
MikeC78 said:
Well, I believe we all are in the keeping our vehicles in tip top shape category and stray from replacement if at all possible. I'd rather be able to remove or polish the problem myself then replace. Wouldn't you agree? If by any chance you'd like to donate a few K in my direction, I'll email you my PayPal account. :)
Click to expand...

I've owned a lot of cars in my long life. Every new car that I've owned had after market wheels. IMO wheels sets off a car. I always allow the cost for new wheels and tires when budgeting for that new car purchase.
 
That's some weird stuff. In the one picture it almost looks like some sort of applique. I guess even if it peels off after some years, it's better than the high-polish clear wheels where the barrels aren't even painted.

Presuming those are actually chrome plated, is it possible that what's on the barrels is the underplate?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
That's some weird stuff. In the one picture it almost looks like some sort of applique. I guess even if it peels off after some years, it's better than the high-polish clear wheels where the barrels aren't even painted.

Presuming those are actually chrome plated, is it possible that what's on the barrels is the underplate?
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. There is a spot where my brush and the harsh chemicals I was using to clean them with, took the coating off and it was shiny chrome underneath. Almost like they sprayed a layer of something on the barrels for protective reasons? Its a dull matte rough textured aluminum color.

Maybe I could lightly wire wheel this inner coating off and then polish it. Would take some work, but the inner finish is starting to bother me.
 
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