Wheel cleaning question

[schiddy]

Plan on cleaning and sealing my factory wheels before mounting new sneakers on them. Time for the snow tires to come off the car and these to go back on. As far as I can tell they are aluminum wheels with paint on the front. I can see a glossy to dull/rough transition on the back of the wheel. Does that mean only the front is painted? Here are some pics after I cleaned with a pretty strong chemical guys grime reaper degreaser mix. I couldn't get the back clean or all the tar off with just the degreaser and bush. When done I'd like to seal with opti-coat 2.0.



Is there a way I can clean up the back of these more? Would it be hard to clay back there because it's rough aluminum? When coating, do I do just face of wheel or whole thing?

 

[mdbohica]

I would try a good wheel cleaner like Sonax, CG Diablo or P21S to loosen up the brake dust and using a good small scrub brush couldn't hurt in the process. It may take you several attempts but I have seen wheels like that come clean with some effort. Using something like the Mothers powerball or CG Ballbuster system might help too if you have a few bucks to put into them, they could save your arms and sanity :cool1:

 

[wascallyrabbit]

wheel cleaner acid and agitation. the front of the wheels are painted and clear coated the backs are often painted but not clear coated.

 

[Accumulator]

schiddy- I've done OK uwith a Dremel on the back sides, using the black plasticy "fiber brush" accessories they sell for it. You might even want to use their brass brushes for the really nasty areas.



Oh, and I'd wait to do the sealing until *after* the tires get mounted. I might even hold off on some of the polishing until then because, well...[stuff] happens.