Wet Sanding aluminum alloy wheels?

[nakranij]

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I pulled the aluminum alloy wheels off my 2011 Camry and it has the stock 16 inch aluminum alloy wheels. My local shop told me to use an acid based wheel cleaner to get 7 years of dust, grime and stuff off the inside of the barrels and then use a PH neutral wheel cleaner to stop the acid from continuing to eat up the wheels. I did that.

However, there are still some tough spots that I cannot get off even with a brush and the acid cleaner (unless I want the acid to sit for more than 5 minutes at a time).

My question is on the inside barrel, can I use 0000 steel wool with something like p21s or an actual metal polish with a little grit in it to get them looking brand new? (I will not be using the steel wool on the outside (painted surface)).

Then I would like to put a sealant on them after shining them back up.

 

[Mantilgh]

I don’t know, I think I’d continue to try cleaning chemically.

Usually factory wheels barrels are painted/coated also, but usually not very well.

If you have one of the color changing wheel cleaners like Griots HD I would try that first. Most of them seem pretty good at getting the stains out. You might have to repeat it a time or two.

Maybe try Tarminator or a similar product.

You could also try a cleaner wax/AIO.

I have not tried it but Amazing Roll Off is said to work well too.

 

[Mantilgh]

I guess they could be like my old Grand Cherokee wheels.

I think they had sort of a machined finish on the barrels with a little clear. Eventually they get so eaten up from from the brake dust sitting on them that it destroys any finish that was there. When they do finally get cleaned up, your left with pitted oxidized aluminum.