Rust on wheel weight

[DaveInLA]

There's a good deal of rust on the balancing weight on one of my wheels. The wheels are aluminum/alloy, and they're fine-- but I think the weight is made of a different metal, and it's got a lot of rust on it. What can I use to clean it up? Thanks.

 

[Bill D]

I tackle this problem routinely on my gf's car. I just use some steel wool and file off the rust, you could then treat it with a sealant. I have a big jug of this metal coating shellac like stuff called Weatherpruf by Kano Labs. I just did this the other day and applied the Weatherpruf with a small paint brush. It lasts a good long while. I assume a typical paint sealant should work the same.

 

[Accumulator]

Just be sure to mask off the wheel around the weight before you do anything, just in case there's an "oops".



Ya know, the *real* solution to this is to replace the crimp-on wheelweights. On our vehicles (OK, not the Volvo or the MPV's winter wheels ) I had the wheels rebalanced with adhesive weights mounted on the back side of the wheels. I have this done before delivery or as soon as I buy a used car. Solves a lot of potential problems. Ever see a wheel that's been rebalanced after years with a crimp-on weight? Not a pretty sight where the old weight used to be. The Benz-style clip-on weights (which also have the actual weight part coated) aren't quite as bad, but still, the adhesive ones are safer for your wheels' finish and who wants to look at wheelweights anyhow?

 

[imported_memnuts]

Any good polish (esp a metal or chrome polish) will do the job.



I like Clearkote's Metal polish because it works via a dissolution method and very mild abrasives verses using larger particulate abrasives.



Q-tips work great.