Problem With 20" Chrome Wheels
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 29
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From: Huntington Beach Ca.
Problem With 20" Chrome Wheels
Can someone help with a wheel problem. I bought a set of 20" 5 spoke wheels, alumimun with a chrome finish. They looked good for about 8 months and them I noticed some small spots begining to develope on the wheel face. I have had them now on my truck (F150) for 10 months and I see small spots all over them. The spots will not come off with wheel cleaner or wax, it seems like the chrome is failing. They look like a bumper you would find on an old junk car. I took them back to where I bought them (Wheel Warehouse) in Anaheim Ca. the sales guy says this is common for the spots to appear. Now I paid over $450.00 a wheel and the manufacture is a name brand (MOMO), if it was a cheap wheel I could see a problem but not with MOMOs. Has anyone had a simular expereance with chrome wheels spotting??
Thanks Pete
Thanks Pete
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Calgary, Canada
I worked in a chrome shop for 12 years and have seen lots of chromed aluminum wheels... It depends on what the spots look like. Are they little pits like from gravel; are the spots raised, like a bubble. Unfortunately, pitting, chipping, cracking and peeling are just a few of the perils of owning chromed aluminum wheels. Aluminum is soft and the layer of nickel used in the chrome process is very hard and brittle so any impact from so much as a small pebble will breach the nickel and the wheel is doomed.
I could think of about a dozen reasons why I wouldn't/won't get my aluminum wheels chromed, main reason being you reduce the life expectancy of the wheels by about 50 fold, maybe even worse in areas where they use salt on the roads.
I could think of about a dozen reasons why I wouldn't/won't get my aluminum wheels chromed, main reason being you reduce the life expectancy of the wheels by about 50 fold, maybe even worse in areas where they use salt on the roads.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Calgary, Canada
It sounds like grime but without seeing them it's hard to say. I would try a polish specifically intended for chrome wheels and see what happens. If you can find a product called Bon Ami try it with one of those kitchen sponges with the white scrubby stuff on one side. make sure you test a small area first to see that it's not scratching the chrome.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 379
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From: Azle, TX
Sounds like it could be water spots. I had to buy special(aka expensive, lol) polish to remove them off of my billet wheels. You can also get them professionally cleaned if you can't get the spots off.
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8
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From: Iowa City
My problem
I bought a truck with a set of 20" Weld " slingblades" that were pitting and the crome was chipping off around the blemishes. The guys at my tire shop recommended using car wax to buff out the pits and not running them in the snow and salt. I called up Weld and in that the wheels have a five year warranty they agreed to replace them! Even though I was not the origional purchaser and they were bought in CA. It took a while to get them, but the folks at Weld really stand behind thier products. My problem is these pimpin wheels also came with 2 sets of TOYO 325 60R20 Open Country tires that RUB so much that I cannot run them. One set totally new and the other 90%. Anyone interested in a great package deal?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,437
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From: Hamilton, ohio
try never dull by eagle one. i use it on billet aluminum and some chrome. also try mother chrome polish. sounds like you may have got some type of acid on them. do you run through car washes alot?? it also my be a manufacture defect. i would contact momo and see about getting them replaced before the warrenty is over.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Huntington Beach Ca.
I talked to the manufacture of the wheels (Momo) and they said that the tiny brownish spots on the wheels are from brake dust. It seems that SUVs and trucks have a different material in the brake pad than cars that will eat up the chrome. They suggested waxing the wheels to keep the dust from collecting on the wheel. No warranty.... so be aware if you have chrome wheels on a truck or SUV.....
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