how do i get this out on the backside of a wheel?

[ptownTSI]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/ptownTSi/wheelinside.jpg



the wheels are a painted cast aluminum, I`m thinking the dark black parts are where it has been corroded through the paint/primer to the wheel. How can I clean this? I have scrubbed and scrubbed this stuff is stubborn. Any chemicals that would be helpful? Do I just need to break out a steel bristle brush?



I am cleaning up the wheel for refinishing.



thanks.



************************************************ed it 1/30/12



This is an update from CarPro



Hi Mr. ptown







it should be ok, no problem on Aluminum , just spray it there , wiat 5 min and rinse off.







if you need more help let me know







rgrds



XXX



I had no idea they were from Cyprus? weird.



CarPro Trading Ltd.

Cyprus

tel: +972 546 411911

www.Cquartz.com

Welcome to CarPro - innovative car care (http://www.CarPro.ME)

[ptownTSI]

it comes off if i scrape it with the flat edge of a razor blade. I don`t want to have the wheel media blasted, I`m just refinishing 1 wheel that seems expensive and a hassle.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I would try IronX to break up whatever part of that is embedded brake dust.

[ptownTSI]

it says to keep iron x away from zinc and aluminum. since that corrosion is on the aluminum, Iron x is probably not good then right?

[ptownTSI]

would fritz be better? Flitz Industrial Strength Aluminum PreClean remove heavily-encrusted corrosion, lime, tarnish, grease, oil and water stains without dulling (http://www.autogeek.net/flitz--aluminum-preclean.html)

[SoonerFan]

I had the same problem when working on a grand Cherokee wheel. I used 0000 steel wool which helped. I also used some never dull. It was not completely removed but it turned out much better. Customer was happy.

[C. Charles Hahn]

it says to keep iron x away from zinc and aluminum. since that corrosion is on the aluminum, Iron x is probably not good then right?



That really depends; are you SURE the crud ate through the paint on the wheel?



I`ve cleaned plenty of wheels that look similar to that using IronX and never had a problem, but usually the paint was still intact under the layer of crud.

[ptownTSI]

well what is the risk of iron x getting to the untreated aluminum, this is the inside of the wheel afterall.

[C. Charles Hahn]

well what is the risk of iron x getting to the untreated aluminum, this is the inside of the wheel afterall.



My guess is clouding/hazing... but you`d probably want to ask CarPro for clarification. They have also changed/tweaked the product formula several times so it may very well even be safe now on any of those materials.

[ptownTSI]

who/where is CarPro, are they a member here?

[C. Charles Hahn]

who/where is CarPro, are they a member here?



CarPro -- the manufacturer of IronX.



Contact (http://cquartz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=57)

[CTSV]

let us know what they say!



My GM wheels are only half-painted, so twoard the inner part of the barrel you`re down to bare aluminum.

[Accumulator]

Here`s my 2₵ based on how I cleaned up the backs of the Borbet wheels my wife runs in the winter (finally decided to do the back sides right)-



First use some aggressive wheel cleaner and some aggressive clay (the former will eat up the latter pretty fast). Yeah, the aggressive wheel cleaner might cloud up any exposed bare aluminum, so take that into consideration before you do it. The idea is to get off any [crap] that`s between you and the aluminum and/or whatever finish might be left.



Once I got it as clean as possible, I used abrasion; you gotta get through the nasty stuff, down into the bare aluminum or the paint, and that usually does mean "to the bare aluminum" because any paint/etc. is compromised.





The steel wool oughta work but that`s kinda aggressive. Not as abrasive as sandpaper though, so use what you gotta use to do the job; hey, you`re refinishing anyhow, right?



I used a bristle brush on a Dremel the last time I did this, and between that and an aggressive polish things came out OK without tearing up the wheels too badly.



On the Dremel, I use something I think they call a "fiber brush", but the brass ones would be worth considering if you don`t mind chewing stuff up a bit more and then there are all the various sandpaper-flap things and other abrasive accessories that you can use. Wear eye protection...

[ptownTSI]

I can dig the dremel idea, that would work good. yeah just need to get it all clean for primer, the original wheels don`t look like they were painted on the inside, is it just primer, or paint without a clear coat?

[wascallyrabbit]

400 grit sandpaper.