Cleaning up wheels

devalkk

Original poster
Member
Sep 25, 2014
42
My wheels has what seems to be left over "residue" from old wheel weights. It's hard like an epoxy or something.
Does anyone have any tips for cleaning this up without damaging the wheel? I can get pictures later.
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
It may be the wheels clear coat so be careful.
 

Playsinsnow

Member
Nov 17, 2012
9,727
My wife used a magic eraser (white side) and elbow grease for some time to get her's clean. Admittedly, she is a better cleaner than I.
 

Sir ffeJ

Member
Dec 1, 2011
543
Magic eraser is just that, magic. It magically hides all the micro scratches it creates when using it.

Most likely it is the clear coat as HARDTRAILZ has said. More than likely you'll have to do a complete refinish.
 

devalkk

Original poster
Member
Sep 25, 2014
42
Here are the pictures of my wheels. Like I said, it looks like junk left over from wheel weights. It's not flaky and it's isolated to a spot like this on both front wheels. The wheels in general need a good cleaning, but besides this there is nothing that looks like damage.

IMAG0862.jpg

IMAG0861.jpg
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
Yep. Clear coat damaged
 

RayGumm

Member
Apr 16, 2014
630
Mine looked like this but way worse. You can have them media blasted, polished up and re-clear coated.. but it's sorta pricy. I think between $350 and $500 if I'm not mistaken, unless you happen to know a guy.

I just sanded them down and removed as much clear coat as possible then plasti-dipped them. You could paint them too. I like the matte black look on mine as the color of the truck is silver. YMMV. Good luck! :smile:
 

dmanns67

Member
Apr 3, 2013
32,979
Ohio
$500 for a restoration would be a good deal. My restoration ran me $220 per wheel since I kept them polished with clear coat. Same place charged $180 per wheel for paint of any color.
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
$500 buys sweet aftermarket wheels
 
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jrSS

Member
Dec 4, 2011
3,950
There is a reason clear coat is applied to wheels..... salt will destroy bare aluminum.
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
Can reclear them...
 
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