detailing aluminum wheel cleanup questions

[Shadetreemechanic]

This has been a great thread. And I have learned alot, but I never did get my truck washed. Turned out a couple of days later, people decided we needed a piece of construction equipment in the parade instead of a regular float. So they decorated my backhoe. I drove and had a couple of folks in the back who threw candy.
It was a fun fourth. I am sure I will wash my truck eventually.

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[SLC97SR5]

Another trick to clean up the holes of the Alcoa's is to use a poor man's hone; roll up a red scotch brite pad and chuck it up in a drill. Getting the crap out of the holes makes a big difference once the wheel is clean.

 

[HS108]

Ok so I'm trying to tackle cleaning my wheels...

They are American Racing polished alum wheels with SS center caps

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So as you can see in the last pic, I've got tons of those black spots, I'm doing the mothers alum polish treatment now, but it doesn't seem to get rid of them that well.
.

I tried to clean the back of the wheel, but it's all ridges from being machined so I gave up on that


So I ask for tips on the best way to clean these up



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[franklin2]

It's hard to make yourself do it, especially when you know all the work that is going to be required to get them back, but you are going to have to get more aggressive with those wheels. Did you use the scotchbrite pad method? If you didn't try that. If you did, and it didn't get rid of the black spots, you are going to have to cut them further with some sandpaper.

Keep going more and more aggressive till the black spots go away. Then work your way back up, going through finer grits, scotchbrite pads, and different finer polishes.

 

[HS108]

Thanks for the quick reply I didn't try to scotchbrite method yet, I was hoping that a miracle would happen

I was going by what you said that it would leave them scratched, and give it that brushed nickel look, or was I reading it wrong that if I do not polish after that using the scotchbrite it will leave them that way

This is a pic of the day I had the wheels put on, I don't need it to look that good, but I would like close

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[trackspeeder]

Heavily oxidized aluminum I usually wet sand starting with 600 grit, ending with 1200 grit. Final attack with a buffer and Mothers polish.

 

[franklin2]

Thanks for the quick reply I didn't try to scotchbrite method yet, I was hoping that a miracle would happen

I was going by what you said that it would leave them scratched, and give it that brushed nickel look, or was I reading it wrong that if I do not polish after that using the scotchbrite it will leave them that way

This is a pic of the day I had the wheels put on, I don't need it to look that good, but I would like close

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You can look at the previous post with a picture of his wheel. Scotchbrite only will leave it very silver with scratches. Look at the lower center of that picture where he used polish, and it made the wheel darker, but still with some fine scratches. If you want to get rid of all scratches, you will have to get a buffing wheel and some buffing compound and really spend some time on them.

That's what I mean, if you cut the wheel down to get rid of the spots, you will have a somewhat long road to get them back if you want the chrome look.

 

[HS108]

Ok thanks for clearing it up for me, I will prob try the scotchbrite method tomorrow, at this point they can't look any worse I guess lol


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[Sycostang67]

This was the finished product, from a few feet away they almost look chrome. It may not be the factory finish, but it's a lot better than what I started with.

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[HS108]

Awesome, thanks for the update and pics.

You dont think you could get a close up pic of one do you?

Thanks in advance