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Alloy wheel corosion
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 1:05 pm
by Anonymous
My 68 Dart came with a set of old US slot mags. Last autumn had the front pair polished, via a local tyre dealer, by a firm called 'Spit And Polish'. They came back like new. I did not get them laquered, thinking that I could keep on top of the polishing. The car sat in the garage all winter and when I got her out, I found that the wheels had already started to show corosion with some pitting etc. Have tried to polish this out but to know avail. My question is, when I come to getting the rear wheels done, should I have them laquered? I am also thinking about getting the front ones done again, but laquered this time. What do you think guys?
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 1:54 pm
by Alex
I have always got them nice and kept them that way with Autosol, when the bad weather starts I spray them over with WD40 and keep an eye on them, clean and re coat every month or so.
Problem with laquer is once it gets a chip water gets under it and they corrode twice as bad but you cant do anything about it...
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 1:57 pm
by Blue
My thoughts exactly...
Alloy wheel corosion
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 5:15 pm
by Anonymous
I've tried Autosol to try and get them back to the condition they were when I got them back from the polishers, without much success.
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 6:02 pm
by Holly
Thats because the anodisation got established, it doesn't just sit on the surface when it gets going. Sounds like you'll have to get them re-polished.
I heard of several people using wax on polished ally wheels - specifically when they're done to a mirror finish. I used to wax the shiny parts of the Revolution 4 spokes I had on my Capri with great results

Alloy wheel corosion
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 8:20 pm
by Anonymous
Is that a wax polish?
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 05 8:36 pm
by Holly
yup, though I've seen wheel-specific wax being sold in the US (dunno if it's stickier or something?). This would need to be done as regularly as the Autosol though, so I don't think it really makes any odds which you go for.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 10:19 am
by TrevD
i always used Autosol on all my ali and stainless parts , but now use "Meguires nxt generation all metal polish"its not cheap(?6.99) but the results are amazing, thare wax is good also.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 10:33 am
by Blue
Trev,where can you buy that from?
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 11:47 am
by TrevD
Blue
my local shop stocks all the Meguires polishes , if you cant find it near you let me know and i(

) will pop some in the post to you
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 2:12 pm
by Kev
Who's this mysterious "o" you speak of, Trev!

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 2:21 pm
by TrevD
whoops , i cant type at the best of times , its hot im sticky , now off to the pub for dinner and a beer

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 3:10 pm
by Anonymous
Believe it or not Halfords now stocks maguires range. dam good stuff.
When we used to polish up bike wheels and had them lacquered the lacquer always ended up yellowing, so i would say no to lacquer.
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 3:11 pm
by Anonymous
although if anybody knows of a non yellowing lacquer it could save me a lot of polishing!
Alloy wheel corosion
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 05 5:53 pm
by Anonymous
I take it then that, with the right product and continuing elbow grease, the best I can hope for is to stop them getting a lot worse.