major wheel cleaning

elboberino · March 16, 2003

So this coming Friday I will be making my 1,000 mile drive home and will be giving my truck a very much needed cleaning. I am concerned about the wheels though. They are coated with a residue of whatever the plow companies use around here to make the snow melt. It's not salt but I think it does contain magnesium. Anyone have any home remedies or tips on how I should clean my wheels? Any tools or brushes you think I should use? I'll post some pics later to show you how bad they are. Thanks in advance

Big Joe · March 19, 2003

I have Weld Stone Crusher wheels on my truck...I have the same problem that you do...I called Weld and asked them what to use...They told me to use Mothers...I have been using it for the last two nite just to do the center caps....Not comming off very easy and done honestly know if I will get them looking new again... I am very dissapointed that this happened in only 4 months time...I dont know what to do either....I even tried putting a buffer wheel on the end of a drill to do the center caps and that doesnt make much of a difference either....Joe

carguru · March 20, 2003

I always try to use the mildest stuff available to clean. If that doesn't cut it, I go to something just a little tougher, but stay away from those cheap acidic wheel cleaner. I always start off using car wash liquid and an Eagle 1 wheel cleaning brush if the wheels are still on the truck. This usually gets most of the grime. You just have to drive a few feet forward to get the last patch covered by the brake calipers.

At least once a year, (usually after the last stint of snow here) I take the wheels off and do a thorough cleaning. I use the car wash soap, old sponge, and lots of water to try to remove the grime. If that doesn't work, I move up to P21 wheel cleaner and a wheel cleaning brush. If that still doesn't work well, I step up to Simple Green and wheel cleaning brush. With the latter 2 cleaners, definitely put a coat of wax on the wheel to protect. I always wax the wheel with my favorite car wax when I do this to ensure that the clear coat is protected and new dirt will come off easier. While you have the wheel off, make sure you clean the back side of the tire and put protectant on. I just did this last weekend.

Happy cleaning. :thumb:

Big Joe · March 20, 2003

I have tried the spray on cleaners and simple green...that does not even try to touch it... I have been rubbing with mothers chrome and polish for the last two nites...It is not doing much either...Do they make a very mild rubbing compound or will that screw up the wheels??Joe

silverado man · March 20, 2003

Roofer posted this. He used flitz and it really worked. http://www.gm-trucks.com/cgi-bin....l=flitz

Big Joe · March 20, 2003

Ok, I just ordered some...I am hopping that it works....Thanks for the help, Joe

carguru · March 21, 2003

If you have the clear coated wheels, what I said should work fine. With uncoated aluminum wheels, you would have to polish them with something to remove the oxidation. Flitz works very well or stuff called Maas. Mild rubbing compound would work too, but probably not as well as the Flitz or Maas. There is also an Eagle 1 Mag Wheel cleaner that works too. I have used this on badly oxidized aluminum pieces on boats before. I would not use either on the clearcoated wheels unless they are too far gone.

Big Joe · March 21, 2003

This is probably going to sound really stupid, but how do I know if they are clear coated or not....I know that there is no spray or any brush that is going to take this stuff off... I have been rubbing for awhile with a rag and mothers aluminum cleaner and polish and it is helping a little bit....Joe

MarkD · March 21, 2003

This is probably going to sound really stupid, but how do I know if they are clear coated or not....I know that there is no spray or any brush that is going to take this stuff off... I have been rubbing for awhile with a rag and mothers aluminum cleaner and polish and it is helping a little bit....Joe

Ask manufacturer, check product description, maybe someone with same wheels knows.

elboberino · March 24, 2003

Well I did some cleaning on them tonight, I'll take some pictures tomorrow and show you what won't come off, even when I use a nylon brush. I think I'll have the get the wheels re-dipped; anyone know how much that costs?

Big Joe · March 24, 2003

Hold off for a couple of days...I called the local car detailing shop and they told me to bring my wheels in...I did and they said they can clean them no problem...They said it will cost around $200 to do them because they said it is going to take about two hours per wheel...I should have them back by Wed and will post how they did...They tried one of the wheels to see if they could do them before they said they can...So I will let you know... I know that they said they will be using a buffer and some sort of other machine....I would assume some sort of smaller buffer....I will let you know and will ask them what they used for paste or cleaner...Joe

SprtoftheWld · March 28, 2003

http://www.autogeek.net/nevwadpol.html

This is what I used to clean my American Racing Atlas wheels that were exposed to the Wisconsin salty roads. My wheels were not clearcoated and the salt did pit them. I spent about 1/2 hour per each wheel and they almost look new. If you have the time and $5.00 this might be your answer. If you don't have time, take them in.