wheel barrels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
From: S. Yarmouth MA.
wheel barrels
Has anyone changed the gray color of their wheel barrels some say you can remove the gray to expose chrome or aluminum I tried this wasn,t happy with the look almost like a brushed aluminum look I have CRM was thinking of trying that along with brake calipers any input? Thanks Jack
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 865
Likes: 58
From: Corpus Christi Texas
Has anyone changed the gray color of their wheel barrels some say you can remove the gray to expose chrome or aluminum I tried this wasn,t happy with the look almost like a brushed aluminum look I have CRM was thinking of trying that along with brake calipers any input? Thanks Jack
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
If the wheel is Chrome the inside barrel is Chrome.
The difference in the apparent finish is that the outside face of the wheel is smoothed and polished before Chroming , the barrel isn't.
The difference in the apparent finish is that the outside face of the wheel is smoothed and polished before Chroming , the barrel isn't.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Why oh why did GM deccide to paint the barrels gray instead of polishing them? Dumb decision by my way of thinking.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 26
From: Austin Texas
My 13 wheels are chrome aluminum according to the order form. I thought under the gray paint was unpolished aluminum. My 03 jad polished aluminum wheels. I actually liked those wheels better than my 13's wheels.
Why oh why did GM deccide to paint the barrels gray instead of polishing them? Dumb decision by my way of thinking.
Why oh why did GM deccide to paint the barrels gray instead of polishing them? Dumb decision by my way of thinking.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 562
From: Margaritaville Daytona
Exactly. I removed the paint on mine and found that they are a little rough but look ok. Some have reported finding blemish's and I know I found at least one on the set of 4 I have. Nothing you would see when it is installed and on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,098
Likes: 8
From: Dayton Ohio
When you strip the barrel paint off of chrome wheels, it is hit or miss on what you are going to find. Sometimes the chrome looks really good...other times there are serious imperfections in the chrome. Bad chrome in the barrel doesn't prevent a wheel from making it out of the factory...as it will be painted over anyway. Check out this thread...
DIY Paint Removal from Chrome Gumby Wheels
I did that mod on my car, but I would not recommend it if you daily drive your car and you don't want to maintain your barrels with a good wax. A couple of years of exposure (and no maintenance) can have the barrel chrome peeling. That's why GM painted them in the first place.
DIY Paint Removal from Chrome Gumby Wheels
I did that mod on my car, but I would not recommend it if you daily drive your car and you don't want to maintain your barrels with a good wax. A couple of years of exposure (and no maintenance) can have the barrel chrome peeling. That's why GM painted them in the first place.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
painted mine black this year ... '07 silver metallic with chrome and drilled rotors ... and now the black looks like better than OEM. Also did the "glass coat" on the chrome and barrels and maintenance has never been easier
I am extremely happy with the change
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,098
Likes: 8
From: Dayton Ohio
After removing the paint on my chrome Gumbies, I discovered a spot inside one of the rear wheel barrels where the chrome plating was flawed. It appears that a buffer wheel "burned" through the chrome plating...exposing a spot of bare aluminum. You can see the spot when the wheel is off the car. With the wheel on the car, you can't tell it’s there unless you really look for it.
Here are a couple of pictures of the spot so you can see what I'm talking about. Look directly behind the hole where the valve stem should be...
Here are a couple of pictures of the spot so you can see what I'm talking about. Look directly behind the hole where the valve stem should be...
