How to Polish Aluminum Rims
As much as you may love your car, you're bound to get it a little dirty every now and then. The wheels on your car are sure to receive some of the harshest treatment, and it can seem like torture to pay someone to clean your rims whenever they get filthy. But with a few polishing products from a local auto supply store and some old-fashioned sanding, you can have rims that shine like new once again.
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Things You'll Need
- Car Jack
- Tire Iron
- 200-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- 500-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- Fine steel wool
- 3 to 5 Scotch-Brite pads
- Brasso metal cleaner
- Aluminum wheel polish
Instructions
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1
Remove the tires and wheels from the car body using a car jack and a tire iron. Slip the car jack under the car (right behind the wheels) and raise car 3 inches from the ground. Use the tire iron to remove the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise, and remove the tire from the car body once the nuts are loosened.
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2
Use soap and hot water to clean as much grease, grime and dirt from the aluminum rims as possible. For deep rust and dirt, use a small dab of Brasso on a scotch-brite pad to clean the rims. Keep the rims wet throughout the process.
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3
Sand the rims with 200-grit wet/dry sandpaper to remove any damaged finish and any possible rust. The wheel will look scratched, but this will be solved in future steps.
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4
Sand the rims once more using a 500-grit sandpaper to file down any remaining bumps and scuffs.
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5
Smooth out the aluminum and remove scratching with fine steel wool. Use a small dab of Brasso for severe scratching.
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6
Refine the shine on the rims with dollop of Brasso applied to a scotch-brite pad.
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7
Place the tires back on the car, place the lug nuts back on the tires with the tire iron, and place your car back at ground level. Hose down the tire with cold water once it's back on the ground.
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8
Apply a coat of Brasso to the rims and allow the rims to sit overnight to cure the aluminum.
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9
The next day, polish the rims with a de-oxidizing polish, and buff it out with a rag.
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10
Polish the rims with an aluminum polish of your choice, applying and removing the polish in a circular buffing motion with a large, clean rag.
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Tips & Warnings
You can have a professional recoat your wheels with a clear coat to reduce the number of times you'll need to polish your rims.
Keep the wheels wet at all times throughout the process.
