How do you RESTORE these rims? Very strange "cracks"

[prostar]

Hi all,

I am hoping to seek your advise in restoring my wheels. These are 5 spoke stock rims on an Integra. (Often referred to as Fat 5s). Anyway, I want to restore these and take out all the scratches and blemishes.

I've read that I can use sandpaper to level out the scratches and then use Mother's Aluminum polish to buff it out. Is this truly the best way to go? Or is there another way? Any input is greatly appreciated!

These 3 pics are of the "cracks"
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_5_.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_6_.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_4_.JPG

This is a pic of "blemishes". Almost looks like oxidation?
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_2_.JPG

[forrest@mothers]

It appears to be clearcoat failure. Busch Industries makes a product called "Clear Coat Remover" for rims. Brush it on; wait and hose it off.

See this link:

Clear Coat Remover - $22.19 : Busch Enterprises, Headquarters for Premium Shine-Zone Products (http://www.buschshineproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=37)

Nasty stuff but works well. Wear rubber gloves, eye protection and old clothes.......

[tuscarora dave]

The best way to go is to replace them but if you must keep them the next best thing would be to have a paint shop bead blast them and either powder coat them or spray them with a metallic paint. A local body shop around here turns out some amazing looking wheels using this method. Or you could spend 150 hours sanding from 80 grit all the way down to 3000 grit in small increments and then polish them in a few more increments starting with a compound and ending with a metal polish. Not being a smarty pants here, it really can be done but is it really worth it? If you did do that they would look like chrome.

[POPPAJ]

Forget trying to restore those wheels yourself. Get them powdercoated.

[prostar]

It appears to be clearcoat failure. Busch Industries makes a product called "Clear Coat Remover" for rims. Brush it on; wait and hose it off.

See this link:

Clear Coat Remover - $22.19 : Busch Enterprises, Headquarters for Premium Shine-Zone Products (http://www.buschshineproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=37)

Nasty stuff but works well. Wear rubber gloves, eye protection and old clothes.......


Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, I live in CA and they do not ship there.

Maybe sand paper is the most affordable answer..

[prostar]

I have a PORTAL CABLE DA and I noticed that there are 3in Unigrit Sandpaper from Meguair's. I was thinking of using this to sand down my rims so I don't spend 1000hours trying to do it by hand.

Can anyone advise if this is a bad idea?

[RTexasF]

There is no "home remedy" restoration that is practical. They need a complete professional restoration to look like they did when new. Google alloy wheel restoration and take your pick.........

[tuscarora dave]

If there is any pitting from the oxidation that is under the clear coating on the rims you will have to not only remove the clear coating but also some of the metal as to level out the pitting to make them look decent. If this is the case you will use at least a box of each grit disc and you will need an interface pad for the discs to sit right on the face of your wheels. That is $85.95 before you even begin. figure in what your time is worth and add that to the total and you'll have a number to judge the worthiness of doing this. I would give a good guess at 5 hours per wheel to go through the different levels of grit on the sanding part then 3 polishing stages to get them looking good enough to coat with a clear coat which will cost at a minimum $10 per can for a durable clear.

I suggest you figure in all the time and money and then google and craigslist then call some salvage yards and get a price on 4 replacement wheels and compare the prices and go from there.

Everything seems so simple to do until you actually start doing it. Restoring these wheels is not going to be an easy task.

[Kurt_s]

Hi all,

I am hoping to seek your advise in restoring my wheels. These are 5 spoke stock rims on an Integra. (Often referred to as Fat 5s). Anyway, I want to restore these and take out all the scratches and blemishes.

I've read that I can use sandpaper to level out the scratches and then use Mother's Aluminum polish to buff it out. Is this truly the best way to go? Or is there another way? Any input is greatly appreciated!

These 3 pics are of the "cracks"
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_5_.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_6_.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_4_.JPG

This is a pic of "blemishes". Almost looks like oxidation?
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/thumbs/0419_Small_2_.JPG

Get them professionally restored or powder coated.

[Showroom Shine]

There is no "home remedy" restoration that is practical. They need a complete professional restoration to look like they did when new. Google alloy wheel restoration and take your pick.........
Great Tip! Some things need to be done professionally! If you're not him or her. Pay to have it done right! Wheels are 85% of how a vehicle looks to me! jmo

[AndrewBall]

buy a new set. you can probably find some for the same price of getting them powder coated. (typically around $70/wheel)

or just get some aircraft remover, strip the paint off, hose it down, let dry. sand it smooth. get some Primer and Hy-Build. spray them on the wheels, and then sand that. then add color of choice, then clear coat. I think AG sells a Wurth Silver and Clear Coat kit.

The wheels will be silver then, but they will wont look like that anymore and they will last a while. I used the wurth kit on some old wheels on my racecar and i do not take care of them at all. after every race i might spray some megs wheel brightener on them and hose it off. and the paint job is holding up to even the most aggressive brake pads.

[detaildave]

Buy some new rims or get those powdercoated by a Professional shop. Sure you can strip it with Aircraft Stripper, which will probably take several applications to do so. Then sand from 320 grit all the way up to 3000 and all grits in between. You hands & fingers are going to ache for weeks. Then polish it with brown, green & white metal polish & of course you'll need to purchase the polish bars, spiral pads, stripper, sandpaper, polishing wheel,etc. etc. Getting pricey $$$$ already & you will have alot of man hours on this job. But if your game or want a new learning experience, it's a challenge & I wish you the best. I do a few engine pieces, superchargers a year & it's a PITA. Good Luck on your decision!!!:xyxthumbs: