Wheel Problem

**waxhappy** · 03-19-2009, 06:55 PM

When I purchased my 1998 pick up truck in 2002, I noticed there were some spots on the wheels. After a closer examination it appears as though something may have etched into the coating and on to the wheel. Almost as if someone sprayed a cleaner on the wheels and never washed it off (or on hot wheels). In any event, I have been trying for years to get these flaws out but no dice. I tried everything I know of to get rid of these. I can polish them, apply wheel wax and from a few feet away they look great but, look up close or when the sun shines on them these spots show up (frustrating of course). Any thoughts on how to polish these out or is this something that I am just going to have to live with aside from refinishing or replacing the wheels?

**Premium** · 03-19-2009, 07:15 PM

Can you post some pics so we can see these spots?

**imported_BretFraz** · 03-19-2009, 08:31 PM

They were probably damaged by someone using a very aggressive wheel cleaner. The clearcoat on the wheels is probably damaged permanently.

I suggest living with the spots but an option is,

Remove the wheels and tires from the truck and hand polish them using a fairly aggressive polish. This is a bit of a risk but the clearcoating on OEM wheels is pretty tough and might respond to some elbow grease. Again, I am not guranteeing you this will be 100% safe but its a last resort.

**waxhappy** · 03-19-2009, 08:48 PM

Trying to upload some pics but keep getting internal server errors. I`ll try later.

**imported_BretFraz** · 03-19-2009, 08:59 PM

**imported_BretFraz** · 03-19-2009, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by waxhappy

Trying to upload some pics but keep getting internal server errors. I`ll try later.

Pics are working OK for me. Where are you hosting yours? If you do not have a host, try Photobucket or Imageshack. Link them back to here and you`re good to go.

**imported_blk45** · 03-20-2009, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by waxhappy

Trying to upload some pics but keep getting internal server errors. I`ll try later.

Just use Photobucket and link them. Don`t try to upload them to this site.

admin_old · 03-20-2009, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by blk45

Just use Photobucket and link them. Don`t try to upload them to this site.

Since pics can consume a ton of storage space, the accepted way of displaying your pics is to host them on a site such as Photobucket, Fliker, Imageshack, etc.
Then, you just have to embedded the link to the pics.
This keeps the site performing well for all concerned.

There is an explanation of this in the FAQ`s and the "Forum Rules" section.

Thanks

Admin

**waxhappy** · 03-20-2009, 05:21 PM

Here are a couple of pics that show the defects.

**imported_BretFraz** · 03-21-2009, 10:54 AM

That looks to me like the road salt has been eating away at the clearcoat. I think that`s pretty common. I`m sure a harsh wheel cleaner also contributed to the problem.

I hate to say it, but with an 11 year old truck, I don`t think there is an easy solution short of refinishing them.