Don't use brake cleaner and a scouring pad on barrels of chrome wheels
#1
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Don't use brake cleaner and a scouring pad on barrels of chrome wheels
The barrels of the chrome wheels are not bare metal. They have a single-stage silver paint. I incorrectly assumed they were bare unpolished cast aluminum. The silver painted wheels have a gloss clear on the entire wheel which is more durable. I have spot cleaned wheel barrels with brake cleaner for years, but it removes the paint on the chrome wheel back sides.
No polish or sealant yet...
1 pass of Adam's #1
Barrels wiped with WD-40 and denatured alcohol. Need to paint cleaner and seal.
Whoops... brake cleaner and a green scouring pad takes the silver off. Didn't harm my silver painted wheels at all.
No polish or sealant yet...
1 pass of Adam's #1
Barrels wiped with WD-40 and denatured alcohol. Need to paint cleaner and seal.
Whoops... brake cleaner and a green scouring pad takes the silver off. Didn't harm my silver painted wheels at all.
Last edited by RapidC84B; 04-02-2018 at 11:55 PM.
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04-01-2018, 08:27 PM
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Who could possibly think using brake cleaner and a scouring pad on chrome is a good idea?
#2
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Who could possibly think using brake cleaner and a scouring pad on chrome is a good idea?
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#3
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Lesson learned the hard way, but have to say the thought of using your method never crossed my mind, but thanks for the tip.
#4
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Don't use steel wool either. Duh.
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Never have tried brake cleaner and a scouring pad on any of the wheels I have owned. Sorry about the damage to your wheel.
#8
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Before....
Sonax...
Lots of stubborn deposits!
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Yea the chrome is a plating. The barrels are chromed as well then painted silver.
Polishing chrome shouldn't be done with abrasives.
Neither should paint, dunno how your older wheels managed.
Polishing chrome shouldn't be done with abrasives.
Neither should paint, dunno how your older wheels managed.
#10
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#12
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#13
Safety Car
EDIT - The whole point of this post is to inform that the barrels of the chrome wheels are not bare metal and that they have a single-stage silver paint. I incorrectly assumed they were bare unpolished cast aluminum. The silver painted wheels have a gloss clear on the entire wheel which is more durable.
What kind of brake cleaner did you use? Non-chlorinated brake cleaner = very effective paint remover. The older style, chlorinated type is pretty safe for painted surfaces, though I still wouldn't use it with a scouring pad.
For the barrels of alloy wheels, a scrub brush or a Scotch Brite™ pad with soapy water or "wheel cleaner" spray is the best approach.
#15
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Looks like they are now.
What kind of brake cleaner did you use? Non-chlorinated brake cleaner = very effective paint remover. The older style, chlorinated type is pretty safe for painted surfaces, though I still wouldn't use it with a scouring pad.
For the barrels of alloy wheels, a scrub brush or a Scotch Brite™ pad with soapy water or "wheel cleaner" spray is the best approach.
What kind of brake cleaner did you use? Non-chlorinated brake cleaner = very effective paint remover. The older style, chlorinated type is pretty safe for painted surfaces, though I still wouldn't use it with a scouring pad.
For the barrels of alloy wheels, a scrub brush or a Scotch Brite™ pad with soapy water or "wheel cleaner" spray is the best approach.
Im very familiar with how to clean wheels... I used Sonax first (see pics of wheels in purple). I used brake cleaner and a scrub pad because I thought the flat silver paint was bare cast metal.
Again... only one spot came off.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 06-13-2018 at 08:48 PM. Reason: Merged Posts
#16
Safety Car
I spray painted the barrels of the chrome wheels gloss black. The black paint hides the brake dust better and makes the barrels easier to clean.
The gloss black sets off the chrome wheels much better than the silver paint.
The gloss black sets off the chrome wheels much better than the silver paint.
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#17
Melting Slicks
For the wheel cleaning novices out there (like me) what's the recommended method to clean the wheel barrels? Between brake dust and what looks like spatters of tar, it takes me a while and quite a bit of elbow grease to get them 'mostly' clean.
#19
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Good idea.
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