I have a set of 15x10 american racing chromed steel wheels that are less than a year old, and are already starting to get surface rust around where the lugs are and at spots on the outer lip. Is there anything short of waxing them every other week that I can do to help this from happening? I try to keep them as clean as I can, but I guess brake dust and Pennsylvanias finest road salt eat way anything that I do.
I dont know if there is some sort of clearcoat or even a powdercoat (I don't know, maybe there is no such thing as a clear powdercoat) that i could do to protect the finish???
The guy at NTB (where i got them)... a real rocket scientist here... who was ABOSLUTELY no help said "oh, you gotta wax them" this right after i got done telling him that i have the wheels off and wax them about once a month or so.
Thanks!!!
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Brian
95 F-150 4x4 ExCab/SB 351 6"/35's
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95 F-150 4x4 ex cab short bed, 5.8, 4" susp & 2" body lift, 35" Kelly Safari ATR's, flowmaster w/ custom bent duals... blah blah blah
I live in Ohio and the salt works wonders on the chrome parts. The only thing I have had good luck with is Eagle One 'Chrome and Wire Wheel Cleaner' and a metal polish made by the same company. I will usually spray the wheels, use a brush to scrub them and then use a pressure washer to blast the gunk off. This works pretty well. The polish is for after cleaning to help protect the wheels.
But, I recently heard American Racing has some sort of wheel sealer that should be used to prevent the rust. I have not tried it yet, but maybe this summer.
These are the only two ideas I have, maybe someone has a better/easier idea?
Rust is the main drawback of chromes wheels. Other than cleaning and polishing them regularly, there isn't much you can do to prevent it. You can use a very fine steel wool to remove the rust that is already there, but it will also leave fine scratches in the chrome.
Lemon Pledge. Really. And its got to be the lemon type. After several wheel guys told me about this I've tried it and it works like a charm. It makes the mud easy to wash off, and animals not want to do their business on it (the acidity of animal urine is also a big culprit in the damage to these wheels). Just wash the wheel and spray the stuff on. I've been hitting it about once every two months and so far after a year they still look new.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE390 @ 400hp(purt near!), 4-speed, custom suspension w 4" lift, mud on black.
Here in New hampshire the roads are heavly salted.I put on new chrome Stockton wheels this fall.I gave up keeping them clean all the time.But after every storm i wash them and soak them with WD-40.I spray them down once a week untill the next storm.Alot of my driving is on dirt roads so the wheels get real nasty,but they clean up easy and no rust!
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