Cleaning Up Stock Wheels
 

As some of you know I recently purchased a used 2000 GT and so far it's been pretty damn good to it and I've returned the love. One of the minor things I've been still working on is the fact that the rear driver's side wheel has a considerable amount of brake dust build-up on it to the point where the wheel was completely covered in a rust-like coating.

A few people I've talked to think that the wheel was used up front and whoever previously owned the car ran the brake pads and rotors metal to metal but I don't see why the wider wheel would have been up front. Regardless, here are two photos of the wheel.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5456/dsc00577f.jpg

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5953/dsc00581ezh.jpg

I've taken the wheel off a few times and used wheel cleaner on it rubbing it in with a rag like any other cleaning product you would use around the house and it has taken a HUGE majority of the gunk off. I've also used a pressure washer which blasted some of the residue off but I'd like the wheel to, if possible, appear like it should. I'd much rather spend a lot of time and less money that putting up the dough for 18's and matching tires.

Thanks for the help guys (and girls)... you've been good to me so far! :)

honestly I would try steel wool or scotch-brite pad see what that does, and just throw a fresh coat of paint on the inside of the rim. It will make it look as good as new.

Happens to me alot, but then again I need to change my brake pads and calipers, too. They're pretty worn out. Whenever I clean my wheels though, I take them off, and use some kind of industrial degreaser on them, let it sit for a minute or too, then scrub the hell out of them. Cant ever get the black spots out like the ones on your rims, though. Hell, Ill bet a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser would get it out.or fade it out pretty good. Those things really do work miracles.

Steel wool would scratch the painted surface would it not? And if I'm not mistaken the magic eraser is basically a soft foam? I'd be more likely to try the latter; I'd rather not scratch into the paint and have to paint them over again.

yeah both items I suggested would definitely scratch them. Maybe try clay baring them?

I dont know how the Magic eraser fairs on metal, but I use it alot at work to clean rust stains, oil, and grease stains, but its vinyl that Im cleaning. Not rims. However it gets out most of the shit that a buffer wont.

I've been throwing around the idea of keeping the stock wheels and just making them look factory-spec again. It's probably a piss poor idea, but could I get the wheel refinished or sand them down and repaint them myself? I saw an article on Autopia about repairing a curb-bashed wheel and it looks like I could do the same procedure to the entire wheel. Worth an idea... what do you guys think?

I could save a bit of money and just get 245/45 all around for now and in the coming years upgrade my wheels and tires, or I could just stop being a bitch and man up and do it all at once this spring. Thoughts?

what rims are they, hard to tell with out the front view too? Are they painted White?

What I normally do is use Armor All Wheel Cleaner and then Meg Car Wash Soap and scrub them really good. Or you could use maybe Greased Lightning in a spray bottle from Wally-World ( be careful using it, and wear gloves since it will dry your hands out like crazy and might wanna consider a painters mask since its rather strong ) and it will do the job, dont let it sit very long though.

- Dont use steel wool, it will scratch it up most def ( hense the word steel )

It's coming time to put the car back on the road very very soon, and I'm in need of new tires all around. I'd much rather drop the dough on 245/45 all the way around then fork over a grand for new wheels and tires, but I can't stand to see that rear wheel looking as it does.

I'm going to try using a clay bar; should I use SG as a lubricant or will that make the clay less effective? I figure if I use a degreaser of some kind as a lubricant it will loosen up the shit and the clay will pick it up.

After that, I've thought about repainting the wheel. I know people have done it by hand with spray cans and some prep, but I'm not too sure. I'm not too sure how well that would work out but time or work isn't a problem. I'd actually like to keep the stock look going for now.

What is " SG " you are referring too?

yeah i missed the "SG" as well lol

Simple Green.