Aluminum Wheels and Road Salt = Big Mess!
02-17-2004, 07:16 PM
#1
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Aluminum Wheels and Road Salt = Big Mess! My Aluminum (no clearcoat) 18 x 9.5 ZO6 replica wheels took a major beating from winter road salt 
. After scrubbing hard and cleaning with soap and water, they have discoloration in the metal which kind of looks like water spotting but isn't. There seems to be some pitting in a few areas too 
I had to use an SOS pad to get the inside of the rim cleaned up, the outside is polished and I am not sure what to use.
How do I get these rims cleaned up and polished back to the original chrome like appearance?
. After scrubbing hard and cleaning with soap and water, they have discoloration in the metal which kind of looks like water spotting but isn't. There seems to be some pitting in a few areas too I had to use an SOS pad to get the inside of the rim cleaned up, the outside is polished and I am not sure what to use.
How do I get these rims cleaned up and polished back to the original chrome like appearance?
02-17-2004, 08:40 PM
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Here is a question for you: why are you not running 16 inch f-body rims in the winter. If money is no object to you, as it must; since you are running 18inch ZO6 rims in the salt, just buy another set of rims!
02-17-2004, 09:47 PM
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I had the same thing happen to the tt2's I had last winter. You can get them to look good again but it'll take alot of polishing. I cleaned and polished mine for a whole day and then turned around and sold them. I have a winter beater this year so I don't have the problem with my chrome y2k's.
Steve
Steve
02-17-2004, 10:40 PM
#4
Yea, sorry man, but you're pretty much screwed. I drove my hopsters 1 day last winter, and had the same waterspotted look you describe.
I ended up sanding mine with 800/1500/2000 wet sand and then 2-3 hours of polishing per wheel, and they still aren't 100%. Plan to work them over again before spring, since she's been sleeping since mid-october and on the 16" stockers, i should be pulling them in from the garage and getting busy too....
I ended up sanding mine with 800/1500/2000 wet sand and then 2-3 hours of polishing per wheel, and they still aren't 100%. Plan to work them over again before spring, since she's been sleeping since mid-october and on the 16" stockers, i should be pulling them in from the garage and getting busy too....
02-18-2004, 12:58 AM
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Yea, my prostars are trashed from that.......
I'm going to take a normal buffer and some mothers aluminum polish and buff until that pad is destroyed.....
I also have the permanent water stains........UGLY!
I'm going to take a normal buffer and some mothers aluminum polish and buff until that pad is destroyed.....
I also have the permanent water stains........UGLY!
02-18-2004, 03:41 PM
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I tried Prestone wheel cleaner and high pressure wash on the polished portion of the rim but that didn't help.
Mothers aluminum polish sounds good, where did you get it?
If that doesn't work I will try the wet sand technique.
Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming.
Mothers aluminum polish sounds good, where did you get it?
If that doesn't work I will try the wet sand technique.
Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming.
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02-19-2004, 06:58 PM
#9
neverdull is just lint with some polish on it, if i picture what he's describing, you'll need to sand to hide the pits.
polish will get rid of the spots, but you'll still have specs of crap from the tiny divits.
polish will get rid of the spots, but you'll still have specs of crap from the tiny divits.
02-20-2004, 07:15 AM
#10
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Ahhh, the beauty of polished aluminum...... 
.......and why I hope to never own another set.
Polished aluminum is like chrome with a liability. To me, it's just worth it that much more to pay for chrome.
.......and why I hope to never own another set.Polished aluminum is like chrome with a liability. To me, it's just worth it that much more to pay for chrome.
02-20-2004, 10:56 AM
#11
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Yeah with no clearcoat salt will murder those rims.
Nevrdull is in big stores.
You will need to run stock rims in the winter unless you get those rims clearcoated bob. that's why i took off my truck rims they are the same way.
Nevrdull is in big stores.
You will need to run stock rims in the winter unless you get those rims clearcoated bob. that's why i took off my truck rims they are the same way.
02-20-2004, 11:27 PM
#12
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Sold my stock rims, pulled the camaro into the garage for the rest of the winter. With a days work, the rims should be OK. That Mothers aluminum polish is the best I have found for this problem.
02-25-2004, 03:40 PM
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I just took my car for a drive, there is a light amount of salt dust on the road still, happened to run right through a puddle, soaked the rims, they are now worse....
The mothers polish does make them look better, but doesn't get rid of the spots at all...
I'm thinking of using steel wool with it....
The mothers polish does make them look better, but doesn't get rid of the spots at all...
I'm thinking of using steel wool with it....
02-26-2004, 11:33 AM
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When you get them back to shiney you may be able to avoid the same situation by sealing them with Zoop Seal. Supposedly, the stuff is great. I plan on using it on my wheels once I get them.
