Getting rust off chrome wheels

MackMan · 04-18-2011, 09:52 AM

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting rust off chrome wheels? My Caprice has chrome wheels and I didn't take them off last winter and didn't keep up with them, so the salt from the roads and snow destroyed them. I'm up for anything, last year I took a brillo pad and got some of the rust off. I think that took the clear coating off of it so this year they're worse!! I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance of what I am dealing with but it's pretty bad.

myold88 · 04-18-2011, 12:18 PM

Their ruined !!
You can clean them up as best you can but the rust will keep coming back. You can clear coat them but your shoveling against the tide.

MackMan · 04-18-2011, 12:22 PM

Dang. I might do the plastidip stuff that some people on here are doing, or maybe repaint them. Probably not worth repainting though. It's not anything special just makes the car look a LOT better with them on.

hot_rod · 04-18-2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

Their ruined !!
You can clean them up as best you can but the rust will keep coming back. You can clear coat them but your shoveling against the tide.

+1, YEP.... their history.........

Chrome use to be used as corrosion protection, comparatively speaking, not very cost effective these days.

Re-plating will cost a fortune, re-painting might work. Getting the paint to adhere might be a problem, but might be worth a try.

Good luck.....

2ndgenz28 · 04-19-2011, 06:10 AM

CLR look under your sink for some already in the house.

Then wax them often.

spent several years doing that till I got sick of it and now I paint all rims 99cent spray bomb black. [cheap and easy to freshen up the look any time I need]

MackMan · 04-20-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

CLR look under your sink for some already in the house.

Then wax them often.

spent several years doing that till I got sick of it and now I paint all rims 99cent spray bomb black. [cheap and easy to freshen up the look any time I need]

Thanks, I will definitely try that. If it doesn't work then I will probably sand them down best I can or something to get them smooth again and spray paint them black or plastidip them like I said.

MackMan · 05-16-2011, 10:58 AM

I tried to clean them with CLR, but it didn't work. Here's what I'm working with.

I really let them go. I don't know what to do anymore, I guess they're too far gone. Thought about sanding them down or something and repainting them. They go on my Caprice.

hot_rod · 05-16-2011, 12:26 PM

WOW! You weren't kidding they are destroyed.

Get somebody to blow TAPS and bury them......

MackMan · 05-16-2011, 12:56 PM

I did manage to get one clean, but I've been trying so many things I can't remember what really worked haha. It just needs to be shiny.. lol. I'm gonna keep working on them. Hopefully I can get them to a decent status.

2ndgenz28 · 05-16-2011, 01:02 PM

Well you don't even have chrome left......

you need heavier cleaning then.

read this, a thread of mine about cleaning a nasty heavily rusted diff cover for my Buick.

http://viragotechforum.com/viewtopic...emoval#p132787

MackMan · 05-16-2011, 02:48 PM

I'll try that whenever it warms up again. Thanks so much. Gonna be hard to do with my tire still on it though. Gotta figure that part out.

2ndgenz28 · 05-16-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MackMan

I'll try that whenever it warms up again. Thanks so much. Gonna be hard to do with my tire still on it though. Gotta figure that part out.

Wait for it to go on sale for 40% off and pick up a manual tire changer from harborfrieght.com

like $35 on sale

Its beyond useful, have saved so so so much money.

mark where it was on the rim if you don't want to rebalance.

They also sell a bubble level.

First time it may beat you down, but once you get the hang of it, and the tires are good and so are the rims, it takes 0 effort on your part.

[nasty old rims, with nasty old tires on em with little flex left, will give ya a work out.]

A cig lighter electric air pump is enough to pop them back on the bead and fill.

2ndgenz28 · 05-16-2011, 03:18 PM

Now I do have another shortcut, but the fumes are super nasty, will drop ya if you breath in to much, and will burn your skin if you get it on you.

Muric acid from any hardware store will destroy that rust very very quick.

A quick spray with a hose will deactive it though.

Probably take 2-3 hits with a spray bottle and it will be beyond clean, and note bare metal can rust in less then 30sec. So have a plan on what to do once clean. Right before your eyes it will re-rust.

KXRM · 05-16-2011, 03:35 PM

Submerge them in CLR for a few days.

04-18-2011, 09:52 AM	#1
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,203 View My Garage	Getting rust off chrome wheels Does anyone have any suggestions on getting rust off chrome wheels? My Caprice has chrome wheels and I didn't take them off last winter and didn't keep up with them, so the salt from the roads and snow destroyed them. I'm up for anything, last year I took a brillo pad and got some of the rust off. I think that took the clear coating off of it so this year they're worse!! I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance of what I am dealing with but it's pretty bad.

04-18-2011, 12:18 PM	#2
myold88 Drives: SUMMIT WHITE 2SS/RS CAMARO Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 2018: Lakewood Ranch, Fl. Posts: 8,181 View My Garage	Their ruined !! You can clean them up as best you can but the rust will keep coming back. You can clear coat them but your shoveling against the tide. __________________

05-16-2011, 10:58 AM	#7
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,203 View My Garage	I tried to clean them with CLR, but it didn't work. Here's what I'm working with.I really let them go. I don't know what to do anymore, I guess they're too far gone. Thought about sanding them down or something and repainting them. They go on my Caprice.

05-16-2011, 12:26 PM	#8
hot_rod Drives: 2010 2SS RS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,222 View My Garage	WOW! You weren't kidding they are destroyed. Get somebody to blow TAPS and bury them...... __________________ "Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." - Mark Twain "Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience" - Unknown

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Black chrome vs. Powdercoated wheels	sfgiantsfan9	Wheels and Tires Talk Sponsored by The Tire Rack	20	02-28-2011 11:33 PM
Problems with Savini - beware	Darth_Emma	Vendor and Seller review / feedback / experiences	115	12-22-2010 09:51 AM
SLP 2010 Camaro ZL575 supercharged -- unique aero parts & "SS" on grill	nUcLeArEnVoY	Camaro Photos \| Spyshots \| Video \| Media Gallery	129	04-22-2010 02:59 PM
Having trouble with pics of chrome wheels on a Yellow car.....	Rickerbucks	Wheels and Tires Talk Sponsored by The Tire Rack	5	04-03-2010 01:08 AM
Request: Chrome Wheels Pictures....	Mr CLuTcH	Camaro Photos \| Spyshots \| Video \| Media Gallery	1	12-01-2009 10:14 PM

04-18-2011, 12:22 PM	#3
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,203 View My Garage	Dang. I might do the plastidip stuff that some people on here are doing, or maybe repaint them. Probably not worth repainting though. It's not anything special just makes the car look a LOT better with them on.

04-19-2011, 06:10 AM	#5
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	CLR look under your sink for some already in the house. Then wax them often. spent several years doing that till I got sick of it and now I paint all rims 99cent spray bomb black. [cheap and easy to freshen up the look any time I need]

05-16-2011, 12:56 PM	#9
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,203 View My Garage	I did manage to get one clean, but I've been trying so many things I can't remember what really worked haha. It just needs to be shiny.. lol. I'm gonna keep working on them. Hopefully I can get them to a decent status.

05-16-2011, 01:02 PM	#10
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	Well you don't even have chrome left...... you need heavier cleaning then. read this, a thread of mine about cleaning a nasty heavily rusted diff cover for my Buick. http://viragotechforum.com/viewtopic...emoval#p132787

05-16-2011, 02:48 PM	#11
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,203 View My Garage	I'll try that whenever it warms up again. Thanks so much. Gonna be hard to do with my tire still on it though. Gotta figure that part out.

05-16-2011, 03:18 PM	#13
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	Now I do have another shortcut, but the fumes are super nasty, will drop ya if you breath in to much, and will burn your skin if you get it on you. Muric acid from any hardware store will destroy that rust very very quick. A quick spray with a hose will deactive it though. Probably take 2-3 hits with a spray bottle and it will be beyond clean, and note bare metal can rust in less then 30sec. So have a plan on what to do once clean. Right before your eyes it will re-rust.

05-16-2011, 03:35 PM	#14
KXRM Drives: 2011 Mustang GT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 168	Submerge them in CLR for a few days.