Method for cleaning Heavily Abused Chrome Wheels?

S

shanker

New member
I have a set of wheels on my 2000 Harley F150 that havnt been cleaned in about a year.



You cant even tell that they are chrome anymore.



I have too many vehicles to keep up with and this is my daily driver so it gets the most abuse.





So what professional products are out there?



I have a buffer and Im willing to polish them off of the vehicle, I am putting new tires on it next week and figured i would do it then.





Wheel Cleaners I dont like:



1. Weenol (too much abrasive and amonia)

2. Any spray on Cleaner, Simple Green is the only one that I like out of all Spray on Products that ive used.
 
these wheel are beyond a need of cleaning. they need to be polished.





I have driven about 12K miles w/o even spraying water on them other than rain/roadgrime combo.





Whats a good polisher for chrome wheels?



I use Mothers on my Billet Wheels, but I really dont like it all that much b/c it is such a pain to use.
 
NeverDull i think eagle one makes it, its a cotton wadding with the polish on it, rub it into the wheels real good let it dry and buff it off with a terry cloth towel.
 
My personal favorite: Old No.7 Chrome Polish. Available at Ace Hardware Stores. I use something else on just slightly soiled chrome, but for the chrome with CAKED on brake dust and other black sh*t, I have to break out this stuff. Scrub it on to a washed and dried chrome surface with a cotton applicator and buff off with a microfiber. If it's coming off your rim, it's coming off with this stuff. If it doesn't come off, it's never gonna happen.



Oh BTW: It's like $1.99 for a 10 oz. bottle. Please post pics if you try it.
 
What I'd do is remove the wheel/tire and clean them off the truck one at a time. I'd bust out the #000 steel wool and something like Mothers Chrome Polish and go to town. If the plating is still in good condition then the wheels should come out fine. It'll take some elbow grease but that's it.
 
I'd use a nasty acid (HC and HF) based wheel cleaner and a soft brush to agitate it.



Follow with a good rinse and then a quality chrome polish.
 
im gonna do it this weekend.





1. Simple Green to get all the crud off - rince

2. Simple Green with scrubbing

3. Meguires Chrome Polish

4. Buff off Meguires w/ MF towel





All I have are the 3M microfiber towels. A buddy's dad in Dallas is a regional rep for 3M, so he hooks us up with all the new details stuff. I have all sorts of the Perfect-It line that I use to detail my R/T and my Chevy C1500.





The HD F150 is getting a bath this weekend. I am going to try and make it look new again. I got some Zaino Leather Cleaner, that has got to be the BEST stuff Zaino makes. It makes the truck smell like a Saddle Factory :)
 
You talking about the STOCK Chrome wheels? If so 99% chance they are clear coated then.

Do NOT use a chrome polish, you will have to use a paint polish like DACP, 3M fine cut rubbing compound, etc. The chrome polish will most likely be too abrasive and leave the clear on them swirled.
 
Everyone here is bypassing the the true FACT you need ACID wait Look Read and Learn. With proper dilution [3/1]and wheels removed to CLEAN properly this is the BEST solution I use product[Loom brite] from Production
 
well... after doing the above method, my wheels look like new again. I took them off the truck and did each one just as I described above.



They pass every test but the 3inch inspection test.





From 3 inches you can see imperfections in the chrome, further away, and they look beautiful
 
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