Like the header panel, my wheels have finish problems. Anybody seen this before (its the area right around the nipple)



And a closer view:


Geez, i just noticed how rusty my brake drums are.

 

And the first attachment:

 

And the closeup:

 

I'm not sure exactly what you're pointing out, but if you're talking about the cracking, peeling, and spider effect of the clearcoat, yes, i know exactly what you're talking about.

In fact, i have never seen a 1st gen wheel w/o it.

2 of mine are perfect, near chrome finish. Why? Because i spent about 5 hours sanding and grinding, by hand, each of them down.

It wasnt worth my time, so i stiopped at two.

 

a good wheel polisher can make your wheels look better than new, but it's often so expensive you may as well just buy a cool set of new rims instead.

 

Out of curiosity, why are you posting the attachments after you have already posted the images?

Right on.

 

yeah, just use the img & /img to include the pics all in one attachment

 

You can edit a post after the fact. I'd rather people do it the way he did, saves me from clicking on the attachments, only for them to be imbedded in the next post.

 

Huh? I mean the images are in the first post, so I see no need to attach them in two more posts? When I post images that aren't hosted elsewhere I just attach the image, get the address, then edit the post to image it in the post. I see no need to attach it also...whatever.

Right on.

 

I did the sanding/wet sanding/buffing wheel/buffing compound/finally aluminium polish. Too much work!! But no more clearcoat on the wheels, they are relatively easy to get the looking like mirrors now. But they don't stay shiny if it rains out.

I think it would be easier to use aircraft-paint stripper on wheels that don't have the tires on and then do the sanding/wetsanding/polishing then. Then use maric acid on the wheels to remove all the grime anywere there is some. Such as on the inner part were lots of brake dust gets.

The end result is a near new looking wheel. But the time involved is extensive. A good winter project. But don't use air craft stripper or maric acid in a unvented area!!

 

he attached em later on in case the host wouldnt let him hot link to the pics

 

The host is yahoo, and they're pretty good about that stuff, but I have had experience with some people not being able to see the pics, so i thought I'd better put them as attachments a well, just in case.

 

Hey 357,

You might want to try a product called "Goo Gone".. it's available at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. (they have a website with information and retail locations). You spray your wheels with it and let them soak for a few minutes, and then hose it off. My GSL-SE wheels looked like your wheels look, and after a couple of treatments they look almost brand new. It's good stuff. Check out their website.

 

Thanks, genrex, I'll do that.

 

yeah, that damn clearcoat on my wheels looked the same. Using paint stripper, and various grits of sandpaper, and a wire brush, I got one wheel to look very nice, almost chrome like. Now I only need 3 more days to do the other 3! A lot of work is involved.

 

my ex brother-in-law used 'naval jelly' to strip the clearcoat off his wheels. he said it worked pretty good. he also did the sanding trick, but that was mainly to remove the machining ridges off the wheels and make the mirror finished. what a PITA! maybe get some airtools and power sand those puppies