Wheel barrels that aren’t worth cleaning?

[Desertnate]

Wow, the wheel barrels are unfinished? That's nuts. I don't think I've ever owned a car where the barrels of the wheels didn't have some form of finish, even if it was a dull, rough paint sprayed on them to prevent corrosion.

Speaking of corrosion, I would at least attempt to keep the barrels clean, even if it meant I only pulled them a couple of times a year and did a good cleaning. Some forms of brake dust become corrosive when wet and will start to eat at the wheels and the finish. While any pitting in the unseen areas of the barrels on your wheels isn't a big deal, I'd be worried about possible corrosion spreading to the more visible areas of the wheels.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Wow, the wheel barrels are unfinished? That's nuts. I don't think I've ever owned a car where the barrels of the wheels didn't have some form of finish, even if it was a dull, rough paint sprayed on them to prevent corrosion.

I remember having 4 cars in my driveway...and the two luxury brands had unfinished barrels...and the two "everyday" brands had painted barrels...go figure.

Some forms of brake dust become corrosive when wet and will start to eat at the wheels and the finish. While any pitting in the unseen areas of the barrels on your wheels, I'd be worried about possible corrosion spreading to the more visible areas of the wheels.

Check and check. Which is why it's crazy for a Cadillac to have unfinished barrels.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Same way on GM's top of the line SUV (Escalade) which can topple six figures. Bare unfinished aluminum barrels, GM should be ashamed of themselves.

I find this hard to believe.. Especially when a new GMC Denali has normL wheels with smooth painted barrels the way they outta be.

I’d be shocked if a new Escalade didn’t have the same. I’m going to check with the Cadillac dealer today and find out for sure.

Check and check. Which is why it's crazy for a Cadillac to have unfinished barrels.

I’ve detailed a 2017 Cadillac CT6. The wheels didn’t have unfinished barrels.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I find this hard to believe.. Especially when a new GMC Denali has normL wheels with smooth painted barrels the way they outta be.

I’d be shocked if a new Escalade didn’t have the same. I’m going to check with the Cadillac dealer today and find out for sure.

I’ve detailed a 2017 Cadillac CT6. The wheels didn’t have unfinished barrels.

Ok, maybe GM has changed their ways--I hope so.

 

[MikeC78]

I own a 2014 Escalade, sticker was 84k. Unfinished bare aluminum barrels. I'll go out and take a pic later. Maybe they recently changed their supplier... However, I wouldn't buy another after this one.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I own a 2014 Escalade, sticker was 84k. Unfinished bare aluminum barrels. I'll go out and take a pic later. Maybe they recently changed their supplier... However, I wouldn't buy another after this one.

What do you dislike about it?

 

[MikeC78]

View attachment 65523

Not mine, but found this online. I guess you can say they use a cheap spray can type paint over the cast aluminum, cause it will peel off in a year or two after ownership. Its not a paint/clear finish like most wheel barrels. You can actually scrub the paint right off with a regular tire brush, cause thats what happened to me.

 

[MikeC78]

What do you dislike about it?

Cheap/shoddy materials. Little things that break that are expensive to replace, etc. E.G. Exterior window moldings fade and are cheap plastic, interior uses cheap materials, and of course the wheels. Lol

 

[Desertnate]

View attachment 65523

Not mine, but found this online. I guess you can say they use a cheap spray can type paint over the cast aluminum, cause it will peel off in a year or two after ownership. Its not a paint/clear finish like most wheel barrels. You can actually scrub the paint right off with a regular tire brush, cause thats what happened to me.

OEM GM wheels? Wow. Cost cutting at it's finest and pretty disapointing.

 

[MikeC78]

Yes, OEM. Anyone who details these trucks (at least the last gen) knows the horror of cleaning GM wheels.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Yes, OEM. Anyone who details these trucks (at least the last gen) knows the horror of cleaning GM wheels.

The whole thing is a horror. It’s too damn big.

 

[Eldorado2k]

@MikeC78. If you could do it over, is there a vehicle you wish you would’ve bought instead?

 

[mk9750]

On the wheels on my car, I try to clean the barrels as well as I can, but knew it wasn't perfect, and I was fine with it. I certainly wasn't going to do a wheels off just to clean the barrels, especially when the only dirty part couldn't be seen by anyone but the guy rotating my tires.

But I just bought a set of snow tires on rims, and before I put them on the car, I cleaned the barrels as well as possible and coated them. Here's a picture of the before and after:
View attachment 65524

When I make the switch this week, I'm going to try to clean up the OEM wheels as well as I can, too. I couldn't see the point in taking them off for the sake of taking them off, but now that they'll be off (and I'll have a few months to work on them), I'm going to make the effort.

I imagine where you're out, there's no reason for snow tires, so no reason to go through what I am. Were I you, I'd leave 'em.

 

[MikeC78]

@MikeC78. If you could do it over, is there a vehicle you wish you would’ve bought instead?

For the size/room during the time frame I bought mine, No. Today, there are many more offerings and Ford has done a good job with the newer expedition/navigator. To answer your question, I'm unsure? I'm just overall not happy with GM and their direction with the company as a whole.

 

[Eldorado2k]

For the size/room during the time frame I bought mine, No. Today, there are many more offerings and Ford has done a good job with the newer expedition/navigator. To answer your question, I'm unsure? I'm just overall not happy with GM and their direction with the company as a whole.

Oh I definitely agree with you on the questionable direction they’re moving towards.. That CEO they put in is getting on my nerves. I wonder if they thought she’d only last a year or 2 before she crumbled under pressure and quit. 6yrs. later she’s still there and is intent on making all of GM’s vehicles 100% electric. I’m no expert, but it seems like the worst idea ever.

Where the hell is anyone charging up a vehicle on the road these days? Nowhere. These tree huggers are out of control. And what kind of used Cadillac am I supposed to be driving 8yrs. from now? There’s no way in hell I’m going to be looking forward to getting 1 of these crappy CUV’s/SUV’s that have no business being a Cadillac in the 1st place. I hate their new lineup.

 

[ejaf]

But I just bought a set of snow tires on rims, and before I put them on the car, I cleaned the barrels as well as possible and coated them.

Curious...when you say "coat", do you mean just normal coat, similar to what you do on the paint? Or is there something more durable, that, even if they do get caked, the "coat" will protect from pits and more extensive damage?

Eric

 

[mk9750]

Eric,

I used McKee's 37 Paint Coating. Hope that by using it and trying to maintain / keep clean during normal washes, I can keep the barrels from looking like they did when I bought them.

 

[JustJesus]

Kind of on the same boat as to whether or not to remove my wheels to clean them out. I bought them used for my off-road Jeep. I fully intend to clean and polish the AL face, but undecided on the barrels. In the end, with my bad back, I'll likely remove them from the jeep to polish them up more comfortably, so might as well clean the barrels.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Kind of on the same boat as to whether or not to remove my wheels to clean them out. I bought them used for my off-road Jeep. I fully intend to clean and polish the AL face, but undecided on the barrels. In the end, with my bad back, I'll likely remove them from the jeep to polish them up more comfortably, so might as well clean the barrels.

I take it the barrels are the unfinished kind?

 

[Eldorado2k]

On the wheels on my car, I try to clean the barrels as well as I can, but knew it wasn't perfect, and I was fine with it. I certainly wasn't going to do a wheels off just to clean the barrels, especially when the only dirty part couldn't be seen by anyone but the guy rotating my tires.

But I just bought a set of snow tires on rims, and before I put them on the car, I cleaned the barrels as well as possible and coated them. Here's a picture of the before and after:
View attachment 65524

When I make the switch this week, I'm going to try to clean up the OEM wheels as well as I can, too. I couldn't see the point in taking them off for the sake of taking them off, but now that they'll be off (and I'll have a few months to work on them), I'm going to make the effort.

I imagine where you're out, there's no reason for snow tires, so no reason to go through what I am. Were I you, I'd leave 'em.

Are those barrels unfinished or are they painted and smooth?