Cleaning Wheels....

[urbex]

Ok... So first off, what exactly are these Lumina LS wheels made of? Alloy? Aluminum? I really have no idea...

 

 

I bought some a few months ago that have some minor pitting and scuffs. I want to clean them up, but honestly I have no idea what the best way to do that is. I figured my first step is figuring out what exactly they're made of so I don't accidentally use the wrong type cleaner.

 

Any tips or tricks I should try? I'm not expecting them to look new, just a little better than they are.

 

Oh, and no, it's not the wheel in the picture. I just don't have a pic of mine but they look just like that style...

[BRZN]

99% chance that since they're factory wheels they're clear coated. You'll clean them just like your paint, doesn't matter what they're made of. Best way to tell is take a bit of metal polish to them if the cloth you're using turns black they're not clear coated. Raw aluminum is very hard to keep a nice finish on and is why from the factory they come clear coated.

 

Use a good wheel cleaner I like Adam's products, you'd want to use their Green Wheel Cleaner I cut it 50% with water.

Clay Bar them

Polish them

Seal or wax them

BAM!

Beautiful Wheels:

Edited March 2, 2012 by BRZN

[RobertISaar]

GM calls them alloys, but they're aluminum. i guess an aluminum alloy would be a proper description.

 

and yes, they are coated, otherwise, they would corrode quite badly considering the conditions they go through.

[urbex]

There's a little bit of corrosion on them, and like I said some scuffs and pitting. Good to know that it's the same as working on the body of the car pretty much. I'm just hoping I don't have to sand them... I'm assuming I could wet sand them maybe?

[BRZN]

The clear on wheels is usually very thin. I've already removed clear from a wheel with a very mild polish using a 4" white foam pad on a drill, and thought I was being careful. Wet sanding the corrosion off will remove all the clear from the surrounding area. However, where the corrosion is the clear will already be gone! Try polish before you break out the Uni-Grit paper. You always want to start with the least aggressive method of correction and work towards the more aggressive means to find what will work best.

[WhatTheFehl]

I've had pretty good luck with EagleOne A-Z Wheel Cleaner, water, and a microfiber cloth, just for cleaning.

[Mel87]

On the subject of wheel care, I have an issue with my wheels.

 

Ever since I replaced the front brake pads some time ago, the finish on both front wheels has started to deteriorate. I regularly use spray wax on the wheels as I do my car. The rears are perfect, but the fronts look like hell now. Any thoughts that maybe the dust from those pads did it?

[RobertISaar]

ceramic pads generally don't have this kind of effect, but semi-metallic/organic pads do.

[urbex]

When I replaced my pads last summer I thought I'd give ceramics a try. They make a big difference!

[iroc2]

i embargo/boycott all wheel cleaners,

 

personal opinion,

 

many-most contain acid, and i hate bringing any acid near wheels, ive worked/am working at dealerships that use it and have seen too many sets of wheels get ruined with wheel acids. yes i have used wheel acid and wheel cleaners before myslef, but no longer do, due to the effects that it can have on the finish, not only that, but it will eat the wax off your wheels if you wax them.

 

the best way to take care of your wheels is to just regualarly wash them and give regular tlc, nothing crazy, just a simple wash or wipedown