Cleaning black pitting on Aluminum Rims??

[Banjer Picker]

Just picked up a set of Mickey Thompson Aluminum Wheels (for $150 whoo hoo) but they have some minor black pitting in them. I was told that I could use 1200 grit wet/dry sand paper to knock the black crust off and then hit it with aluminum polish and theyll be good as new. Anyone tried this? Any other tecniques or suggestions?

Thanks!

Brandon Roper

 

[Felipe]

I just polished my old aluminum wheels, I used a scotch brite pad on an electric drill untill all the rough stuff was gone then used a polishing pad on the same drill.They look really good except for the deep scratches from the guy that took off the tires also peterbuilt dealers have this polish called purple polish that is awsome, way better then mothers, to me anyways.

 

[TN1776]

Mothers works, as do many other aluminum polishes. That's the great thing about aluminum - you can polish out a lot of wrong. Sounds like yours will take some elbow grease.

 

[broncnaz]

Yep that will work might want to start with rougher sand paper like 320 or 600 to get the scratches out faster then go with the 1200 grit then polish. power tools will help speed up the process a lot.

 

[gearida]

Yes you can rub them as hard as you want with up to 80 grit and follow all the way up to 1500 and then polish. Use a well vented area, dust can explode and catch fire. I have polished several sets of Harley Fatboy rims with started looking like concrete and ended up like a mirror.

 

[broncosam]

Flitz makes some very good products for this type of cleaning and polishing. Way better than Mothers.

 

[bosshoff]

Sand blast them, and then powder coat them, and never think about it again. Bare Aluminum rims are just too much of a of a pain in the ass to keep polished. I have Weld Super II's on my 1996 DD, and I couldn't take it. They always looked like shit. (I ended up powder coating them gloss black.) If you are 100% set on polishing them, buy yourself a Flitz Poweball which attaches to a drill, to aid in the process. Good luck, and enjoy the workout.
Also, make sure they are not clearcoated. If they are not clear coated, and you intend to polish them, you can consider using Naval Jelly, or some of the other acid based cleaners to disolve the oxidation, brake dust, and pitting, prior to polishing. Wear gloves.

 

[74BroncoCO]

I used flitz and was happy with the results. You might find better stuff at an auto-body/paint store. I really think the ball is the key tho. I agree almost, once you get the done, powder coat them clear! I wanted to do this, but decided it's probably not the best thing to do on wheels that will get rock rash on it.

J.D.

 

[stretch]

Bosshoff,
Have you had any problems with the powder coat chipping off? How about around the wheel weights?

 

[Mikey]

Mother's Power Ball and their polish...just did this on a mag slot for a spare on the 68 Cougar to replace the stock steel wheel.