How Does Everyone Care For Their Polished Alum. Wheels

233monte · April 14, 2009

Just took delivery of my 09 2500, and wondering what everyone used to polish the wheels. Also GM had wheel weights on the outside, and it left marks in the clear coat(which i was not happy about) has anyone else had this and what did you do about it? i was thinking i could put some clear coat on the marks so they are protected.

2BBottoBarts · April 14, 2009

Not sure on a NEW truck.My 04 Jeep wheels are starting to look crappy.Here's a cool thread I found today on how to remove the coating on an aluminum wheel and how to polish them.

http://www.flashoffroad.com/features/paint...ion_wheels.html

terryk · April 15, 2009

Not sure on a NEW truck.My 04 Jeep wheels are starting to look crappy.Here's a cool thread I found today on how to remove the coating on an aluminum wheel and how to polish them.

http://www.flashoffroad.com/features/paint...ion_wheels.html

Wax. They are clear-coated. Don't use aluminim wheel cleaner if you want the clear coat to remain.

sonjaab · April 15, 2009

X2

Do not use anything but regular old car wax on the GM PYO

or other stock GM rims. NO polish or chrome cleaner stuff!

Wash only with soap and water!

If you have a break in the clear coat just swipe (or buy) some

of your girls clear nail polish and put it on any coating breaks.

BTW: I had my weights put on the inside of my rims also!

233monte · April 15, 2009

Clear nail polish? brilliant!! i also have cans of clear coat for plastic models, i was going to try that too.

I am a Technician by trade, so the first day i had the truck i removed the outside weights (carefully) and rebalanced on the inside. Its really upsetting that you pay 260$ extra for those wheels then they hammer big ugly weights on the outside!!

AllBlkdOut07 · April 15, 2009

I don't care for polished wheels, I prefer all black ones.

sonjaab · April 16, 2009

Yea..........Clear nail polish...........Easier and faster than masking off/

prepping and spraying a little blemish dimple!

Also NO brillo pads or scrubby pads either just use a soft cloth/sponge!

I LIKE black with chrome!

DBVille · April 17, 2009

If you want the wheels correctly balanced, the weights belong on both the inside and outside. Maybe you can tell the difference, maybe you can't.

You should be using a sealant of sometype - a real wax may melt or soften at the higher temperatures from the brakes, allowing contaminants to embed into the wax. I use a product called Klasse All-in-One, but there are others out there. A quality sealant is all that is required. Brake dust basically washes off my wheels, even after a day on the track. Or you can wipe it off with a paper towel dry, if you like.

Kodiak450 · April 17, 2009

Not sure on a NEW truck.My 04 Jeep wheels are starting to look crappy.Here's a cool thread I found today on how to remove the coating on an aluminum wheel and how to polish them.

http://www.flashoffroad.com/features/paint...ion_wheels.html

Wax. They are clear-coated. Don't use aluminim wheel cleaner if you want the clear coat to remain.

Thats what I asked about at the shop I use, if they could put the wieghts on the inside of the wheel. The tire guy said they couldn't, because the machine that balances the tires, indicates where a weight is needed. Everytime I get new tires, the old weights come off and new ones on. Now I have a chip on one of my wheels from where a weight used to be, and one of my wheels has more weights on it then I've ever seen before on a wheel. Another guy even had the nerve to say to me "They're only weights, why are you so concerned about scuffing your wheels up". I've seen what could happen to aluminium wheels over time from neglect, and will not allow my wheels to wind up that way if I can prevent it.

Seeing how finding aluminum wheels in an 8 lug pattern is hard to find (at least it was for me when I was looking for my other truck) I want to make sure these wheels last. So my question is, if you were able to get the weights on in the inside of the wheel, then I guess all that needs to be done is putting the wheel on backwards on the balancer, then just use the inside on the wheel to put on weights? But I do beleive when the wheel is on the balancer, it uses both sides of the wheels to balance, I never bothered to chekc if there is any weights currently on the inside of the wheel, I will check though.

DBVille · April 18, 2009

Weights are placed both inside and outside of the wheel, in order to balance it. Depending on how out of balance the wheel & tire is, you may be able to get away with placing weights inside only. May.

It is not a question of how the wheel is placed on the balancer. A good tech can put all the weights on the inside, but it may not be exactly, correctly balanced.

If you are worried about scuffing the wheels, tell them to use stick on weights. Most cars use them now days - the weight is just stuck to the rim - sometimes they come off, but the normally don't. They also have plastic covered weights, that clip on, and, if installed and removed with a little bit of care should not be a problem.

ursandal · April 19, 2009

I was very disappointed in the stock rims, mine had clear coat failure within 3 months in several places. Probably could have had it fixed under warranty but I wanted black wheels anyway. As far as weights, I have the stick on weights and haven't had any issues with them.