Cleaning 89-90 wheels

[KiDyNomiTe]

Well I picked up another set of wheels and tires from a junkyard. Since I have no car right now I might as well clean the wheels. Now I have searched and found stuff on polishing these wheels and basically making them close to chrome. I don't really care to get them that shiney.

Basically I want to know how to clean the wheels, especially the little teardrop things on the inside. So far I am going to get some wax and a buffer and just buff the rim. But on the insides is where the trouble comes, not much room to work with in there. So what have you zenki owners done to get them clean and looking new?

[deviousKA]

im sure they are dirty from the brake dust/residue. i would just try an array of chemicals and see which works best. acids make the aluminum nice and white like, it will probably eat any kind of clearcoat but if your polishing anyway. post some pics when your done

[Bill Roberts]

I use a product called Superclean. Comes in a purple bottle, safe for Aluminum. It is made by Castrol. 4 bucks. It took a whole bottle to do mine the first time..it drys quick and you need to keep them wet.
Get some blue shop towels...3 rolls....spray this stuff on and let it sit for 30 seconds and start cleaning those holes. You will find that some of them...especially the one where the valve stem is may be pitted. These rims are a pain to get perfect..but once you do..keep using the super clean and all is well. Did you get the center caps too? I usually take those off when I clean my wheels. Not sure that plastic and wheel cleaner is a good idea. It is a bitch, but they will look great.

I keep the backsides clean as well.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Originally posted by Bill Roberts
I use a product called Superclean. Comes in a purple bottle, safe for Aluminum. It is made by Castrol. 4 bucks. It took a whole bottle to do mine the first time..it drys quick and you need to keep them wet.
Get some blue shop towels...3 rolls....spray this stuff on and let it sit for 30 seconds and start cleaning those holes. You will find that some of them...especially the one where the valve stem is may be pitted. These rims are a pain to get perfect..but once you do..keep using the super clean and all is well. Did you get the center caps too? I usually take those off when I clean my wheels. Not sure that plastic and wheel cleaner is a good idea. It is a bitch, but they will look great.

I keep the backsides clean as well.

whered u get the superclean stuff from?

[Bill Roberts]

Autozone

[KiDyNomiTe]

Thanks, prolyl go pick it up this weekend. So far I used a scotch brite sponge and some multipurpose bleach i found under the sink ;), worked pretty good so far, but i ripped the sponge to shreds, heavy duty my *ss. There still some dirt in there, hopefully this super clean will get the rest out.

[Warwick5s]

i cleaned mine with some warm soapy water and a scrub brush, and then sprayed them black.


i like that a whole lot better :)

[DRFT]

I used a brush and quick and brite. Works really well. After i cleaned the i thoguht they were just too clean...so i sprayed them Gunmtal. flows with car better since my car is dark blue.:)

[KiDyNomiTe]

Bill, I went to autozone and found the superclean but its a glass cleaner:confused: . Is that the one you used or is there a diff one?

For now I just got some heavy duty brushes. Haven't used em yet, but tested in one of the holes and it releases the dirt pretty well, now to use the brush and wheel cleaner should get all that **** out.

[Legacy]

Degreaser does the job. I'd just use that.

[masta]

KiDyNomiTe: The Superclean he is refering to is made by Castrol who also makes the "Syntec" Brand Oil. The color of the bottle can be changed though. It is pretty good stuff.

I personally use Simple Green Automotive which is stronger than normal Simple Green and it works better. But I heard on some finishes it left a white residue, but it did not on mines. Just do a small spot first and check. Also get many brushes or many size and shapes. It will pay off in the long run.

[f2a4s0t]

A freind of mine works at the local Nissan dealership. He gets me authentic Nissan wheel cleaner. Its really easy spray on wait 30 seconds hose off. Works really well on my stock s13 wheels. I used on my girlfriends polished alum rims and it left all kinds of what looks like oxidation. White stuff came off after a couple days and before she even noticed.