Brake Crud On Backside of Wheel

[special-K]

What can you do to clean up the backside of alloy wheels that have gotten truly rank? I normally could care less about the back,but these are nasty black skank back there. The front surface will need work anyway,so some extra steps on front I can accept. These are vintage aluminum slots and I feel they're worth the effort

[cdowns]

i'd get that brake dust cleaner stuff for wheels spray let set spray again use scrubbrush use powerwasher to rins/ to get a majority of crap off then let dry for a couple days and put them in the blastcabinet

[special-K]

I'm thinking blasting is the only way with this stuff,but was hoping someone had a secret old Indian trick to share. I did first try the wheel cleaner and it didn't touch it. I find that stuff cleans nice rims very well (maintenance) but with any blemishes or stains at all it takes a scuff pad or steel wool and elbow grease,too. I use a flexible abrasive wheel on a drill with wheel cleaner on the fronts and it works really well. The backs are so irregular with ridges and divots it's about impossible to do anything by hand. I went and used oven cleaner. Maybe if I used it and used it and used it some more it would take it off,but probably be cheaper to pay to have them glass beaded and that's where I'm at if no one has a magic trick.

[68panelman]

Maybe a little muriatic acid?

[nascarguy320]

Go to a detailing supply store and get some wheel acid and spray in on and let is sit no more then 10 sec and then wash off..

[special-K]

Thanks,I'll see if I can find a detail supply house.

[special-K]

I never found any detail supply businesses around here. I used oven cleaner on the back and decided to leave it on...for a long time (since before I started this thread). I just got back on them a little today. I pressure washed the white crust off and sanded with pretty coarse paper some. These pictures I took a few months ago:

[nascarguy320]

Get a mothers power ball and polish them out..

[special-K]

Got back on them again,a little,and here's the results. The backs just look like old wheels now,instead of horrible. I used wet 100 grit so far. Pretty rough,but I had these figured for bead blasting and polishing back out. That staining I brought on myself with Ez-Off on the backside. This is elbow grease and gitter done.

[special-K]

And a little more elbow grease:

[chevy-fun]

awesome job....a pain in the @$$ but well worth it

[special-K]

Yeah,lots of hand work. I'll go through some finer sanding stages,then polish. Really,they're fine now for my uses. I love these slots on an 8-lugger. They look great highly polished looking like chrome,but I've also always liked them how that one looks...just aluminum. I don't mind the grooves from the paper,but I imagine they'll get dirty fast filling those up.

[TBONE1964]

Very nice. It is amazing what a little elbow will do to these old classic wheels. I just bought some 6 lug slots for my 64 and cannot wait to get them polished up and mounted.

Good job!!

[special-K]

It's true. These wheels can always be brought back. The wheels you see sold these days will be impossible to bring back. Too many nubs,nooks,and crannies. I hope to get to them with finer paper before it gets too cold. Then I'll put a Power Ball to them. I actually like how they look just clean raw aluminum with low luster for the 4wd. But I'm sure the scuffs would hold dirt and start looking crappy quick. I have another set not nearly as bad that I may not take down as far for a more raw and tough set.

[Jonboy]

Those slots sure would look good on your Jimmy.

[special-K]

You know what? I think that's exactly where they'll be going,too. At least for a while. I got them as alternates for my '72,but that isn't even lifted yet and things keep coming up to take away the new tires for Jimmy fund.