Wheel Restoration

My career as an automotive improvement expert began when I modified my first car. Since then, as a car enthusiast and published author, my obsession with the automobile has led me to enhance tons of vehicles both inside and out. That’s why I’m thrilled to be a part of a brand new series designed to help keep your car looking great and your engine running like new! I’m Chris Duke, and welcome to eHow’s Auto Center brought to you by Mobil1! Hey Chris, My wheels are looking a bit old and gunked up, how can I get them looking great again without breaking the bank? -John Well John, there are a lot of things you can do to restore the wheels on your car. A lot of the work you can do yourself depending on what the wheels are made of. Let’s take a look at common types of wheels and what you can do to bring them back to the land of the living. First there are aluminum wheels. The bad thing about aluminum wheels is that they look really bad in a short amount of time if left dirty. Dirt and mud build up to create little pits in the surface of the aluminum, allowing rust onto the wheel. Aluminum wheels become pitted very easily, but can be cleaned up even if they are really bad. Make sure your wheels are cool to the touch. Spray the wheel down with a hose. Use a pressure nozzle to get stubborn debris off. Make sure to wash off as much dirt as possible. If you scrub the tire the dirt may actually scratch the wheel – and then you have another restoration project on your hands. Use regular car soap and microfiber mitt to wash the wheel and get remaining debris off the wheel as best as possible. Be sure to use car soap as many household detergents and cleaners are too strong for aluminum wheels. The microfiber mitt will not scratch the wheel so use some muscle to get that nasty gunk off. Dry the wheel off with a soft cloth such as a microfiber towel, chamois or even cheesecloth. Use a degreaser on the wheel to remove stuck on dirt. Brake dust will create very hard stuck on areas that regular cleaning won't remove. Place the degreaser directly on a soft rag and then clean those tough areas around the valve stem and lug bolt areas. Wash the wheel down again using the microfiber pad. This should pick up any dislodged dirt and debris from the degreaser. Spray the wheel down with the hose and dry. At this point your wheel is clean and can be put back on your car. If you decide to polish the wheel for that extra shine it is now prepared. If you’re like me though, you like the shine of something different than aluminum- Chrome. Who can resist the glint of chrome in the sunlight and the way that chromed wheels pop from under the fenders of your ride? Chrome rims require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. Corrosive materials, such as the salt that is applied to icy roads and brake dust, will ruin rims if left unchecked. A weekly clean not only keeps the shine but will extend the life of the rim. A small amount of chrome polishing compound and a lint-free cloth will keep those rims shining longer. Due to their high-reflectivity, scratches tend to be quite visible on chrome-plated surfaces. A nasty scratch or gouge can easily distract from the beauty of the wheels. If the scratch is minor, a simple polishing may be all that's required to remove it. If, on the other hand, the damage runs into the plated surface, the scratch must be filled in and then touched-up with paint or completely redipped in chrome. Feel the scratch with your fingernail. If the damage does not extend deep into the plating, it can likely be buffed out. Wipe down the wheel to remove any dirt or debris before continuing. Polish the scratch using grade 0000 steel wool that has been dipped in rubbing compound. Use small, circular motions, reapplying the rubbing compound often. Continue this process for several minutes, pausing periodically to wipe off the area and evaluate the progress. If the scratch is removed by the process, consider the task complete. If not, the wheel will have to be touched-up. If the scratch is still there you’ll need to fill it in. Mix a small amount of epoxy by following the instructions outlined on the packaging. Using a toothpick, fill in the scratch with the epoxy and allow it to dry. Polish the area again with the steel wool to even out the surface. Once you’ve filled the scratch cover the epoxy with a layer of chrome touch-up paint. Allow the paint to dry, then polish it with a buffing pad and a mild paint polish. Do not use steel wool on the paint. If necessary, apply a second coat. Don’t forget that your local tire and wheel store is a great source of information on what products work the best for cleaning, polishing and repair you can do yourself. Never hesitate to ask the professionals that deal with these situations on a daily basis. Well, I hope that I’ve given you a better idea of how to restore an old or dirty wheel back to its former shine and shape! Doing these jobs yourself can help save you a ton of money and keep your vehicle looking great! Thanks for the question John! For eHow’s Auto Center, I’m Chris Duke. Here’s to helping keep your car running like new!