Suggestions on cleaning chrome wheels

[rex450se]

So I just got some new to me chrome OEM 22's. The previous owner didn't keep up with cleaning them and even when he took them off for storage in his garage just stacked them with brake dust and all. So of course there is a little pitting and dark spots that didn't just clean right off. What do I need to do to clean off stop any further damage? Thanks in advance.

Victor

 

[rex450se]

Here is the worst one. It really was just one of the wheels that's bad. I just want to take care of them before it gets worse.



Thanks
Victor


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[cleaningman94]

Have you tried magic erasers I did that on some really bad alloy wheels on my cousins 2001 durango and they look new. Post some finished pictures.

 

[splintrcel]

Magic erasers will leave scratches. I had a brake rotor shred and stain a whole side of m truck so i used rubbing compund and got all the crap off by hand. It takes a lot of elbow grease. Also use a chrome wax after u finish getting the brake dust off. It may help to wash the wheel every so often when trying to use the rubbing compound, just make sure to dry it off well.

 

[rex450se]

I ended up using #0000 steel wool to clean off the surface spots and polish it then used Eagle One Nevr Dull. I was hesitant at first with taking steel wool to them but it did wonders. It is a great way to clean chrome rims and I will probably do this periodically to make sure they don't ever look like that again. From even 5 feet away they looked great before, now they really shine. They almost looked photoshopped in the picture of the whole truck. Here's how they turned out.







Victor

 

[GAINMOB]

With chrome rims u have to wash them thoroughly at least weekly. That's why it's so important when choosing rims to also think about how much time and how much work is required to clean them. That's why I don't do inserts and go with no more than 7 spoke rims



Holy Roller Christian Car Club (HRC3) National Member...

 

[Stoned06]

I know there are other more expensive polishes out there, but I always had good luck with the plain 'ol Turtle Wax Chrome Polish. Never Dull is good, as well as a chrome polish you can find at Harley Davidson dealerships. Just make sure to keep up with the cleaning like Freeway said, and a coat of wax or Zaino (fairly costly) would be a good idea to protect the finish.

 

[Mikes05expy]

I ended up using #0000 steel wool to clean off the surface spots and polish it then used Eagle One Nevr Dull. I was hesitant at first with taking steel wool to them but it did wonders. It is a great way to clean chrome rims and I will probably do this periodically to make sure they don't ever look like that again. From even 5 feet away they looked great before, now they really shine. They almost looked photoshopped in the picture of the whole truck. Here's how they turned out.


Victor

That's the same method I used on my Ram, even got the molten rubber off my chrome exhaust tip lol. Always looked brand new when I was done.

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[RI-Matt]

Just wondering if those rims are actually chromed or "chrome clad" like the 3rd gen factory 20"s.



Matt

 

[rex450se]

They are chrome. I've had chrome clad before and these aren't.

 

[Mikes05expy]

My stock ram 20s were chrome clad, cheap ****.

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[rex450se]

Here are the 2011 Ram chrome clad wheels I had on my '02.

Victor

 

[Mikes05expy]

I swapped the stock 20s for some 26s on my 04 but I had to sell it and get something with more room since it was only a std cab & I got a ton of kids lol. I still miss it. The rim is just sitting in front of mine in the pic so I could get an idea of how it was gonna look.



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[06KR]

Turtle wax chrome cleaner + 1. I use it every time I was my f150

 

[01yellerCobra]

I ended up using #0000 steel wool to clean off the surface spots and polish it then used Eagle One Nevr Dull. I was hesitant at first with taking steel wool to them but it did wonders. It is a great way to clean chrome rims and I will probably do this periodically to make sure they don't ever look like that again. From even 5 feet away they looked great before, now they really shine. They almost looked photoshopped in the picture of the whole truck. Here's how they turned out.


Victor

Did you use any kind of compound with the steel wool or just water?

 

[GAINMOB]

best thing for chrome wheels is soap...water...elbow grease at least weekly...be careful with the type of brush you use to scrub prob areas and i tend to use meguiars hot rims for when i dont wash them weekly...my truck sat for a month and the elements/rain/dirt got on the pretty good...hot rims got them back right...the reason u want to wash regular is so the dirt doesnt pile up...when it does it will get hard and pitting may start

 

[01yellerCobra]

best thing for chrome wheels is soap...water...elbow grease at least weekly...be careful with the type of brush you use to scrub prob areas and i tend to use meguiars hot rims for when i dont wash them weekly...my truck sat for a month and the elements/rain/dirt got on the pretty good...hot rims got them back right...the reason u want to wash regular is so the dirt doesnt pile up...when it does it will get hard and pitting may start

I was actually asking because of the exhaust tips on my Cobra need some work. And I'm taking the catback off soon to swap out the gears. Since there's a show coming up in a couple weeks I figured it would be a good time to get the tips shining again. Guess I should have quoted the guy that did his exhaust instead.

I keep up on my rims pretty good. I have to since everyone points them out.

 

[rex450se]

I made sure the wheels were dry, and make sure you remove all the steel wool remnants with a microfiber towel to get it all or you will have rust spots after it gets wet. These wheels had been severely neglected, and this method was not quick as it took me about an hour per wheel. But the results were worth it.

Victor

 

[Canadian Expy]

I like to use Sonax to keep the rims clean.
SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect - 500 ml | Free Shipping Available - Detailed Image

 

[Hartley]

Well I use the Mothers Chrome wheel cleaner for cleaning the chromed rims.. because before that use the simple car wash and got so many spots on the rims. But Chrome wheel cleaner give me the best results. I think you should try that too.