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My '99 FRC came with spoke chrome wheels that were on the car for over 10 years. I am able to detail them to 90% as there is no pitting on the face nor is there any curb rash. My concern is the pitting in the lug nut recesses. I have already purchased new lug nuts and plan to install them as a final step. To make things easier I am doing everything with the wheels off the car. My questions - what can I do to remove as much of the pitting as possible? What should I use? Is there a "tool" that will make the job easier? What should I coat the wheels with as a final step? While the wheels are off the car I also plan to thoroughly clean the tires and inner fender wells. Any thoughts on what to use? To make life easier I have purchased a power washer! Thank you in advance for any suggestions.
These wheels were less then 3 yrs old when i took these pictures. Take a look at the inside of the barrels.
And just in case you ask, yes they always get washed and waxed on the inside...still pitted.
Depends on the surface imperfections, but you can take most surface rust and contamination off of chrome. I did this on my old camaro chrome factory wheels and the results were phenomenal. The recipe is scrub with aluminum foil, using diet cola as soap. Seriously. The aluminum foil is softer metal than the chrome, so doesn't scratch, while the chemistry of the cola helps to break up the contaminants, and it's diet cola because otherwise the sugar makes a sticky mess.
Somewhere I have pics of before and after, but who knows where.
Pitted chrome wheels
