![]() |
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 739
|
Cleaning 3 Piece Wheels?
How to? The areas between the fasteners, and the fasteners themselves, are very tough to get to. Any chemical or tool hints?
![]() ![]() ![]()
__________________
1977 911S 1973 Alfa Romeo GT Veloce 1997 Lotus Turbo Esprit V8 2016 AMG C63S |
||
![]() |
|
RETIRED
|
Get one of those polishing balls......or a Q tip and alcohol.....
__________________
1983/3.6, backdate to long hood 2012 ML350 3.0 Turbo Diesel |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 739
|
So far I have tried metal polish, chrome polish, wadding, various cleaning waxes - even carb cleaner. Unless some leverage can be brought to bear, or someone invents a small enough foam wheel ball or cone (nothing I've seen yet is small enough to get between the wheel rim and fasteners), I may have to disassemble the wheels. That seems like a ridiculously costly way to go.
__________________
1977 911S 1973 Alfa Romeo GT Veloce 1997 Lotus Turbo Esprit V8 2016 AMG C63S |
||
![]() |
|
Northern Motorhead
|
This may sound stupid but i use a firm toothbrush to clean the brake dust around the fasteners on my wheels ...
Cheers! Phil
__________________
Cheers Phil 89 Coupe,Black,95 3.6 engine and the list goes on ... 1983 944 SP2 race car PCA #96 |
||
![]() |
|
Capitalist and Patriot
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Freedomville
Posts: 1,923
|
Quote:
Get a Mothers Power Ball, the foam is soft enough where it will reach those areas, I'd also suggest using masking tape to protect the painted centers from the polish removing the paint. You can use enough pressure on the drill and power ball to clean then polish around even the smallest bolts. This works well, I've done it many times on these types of wheels... Whatever you do don't use carb cleaner, again ![]()
__________________
Former Test driver & Production Manager Singer Vehicle Design 2009 Cayenne GTS, '81 911SC RoW Targa (lot's of goodies), '86 535csi, '84 633 csi (turbo charged-sold) ![]() ![]() "Dream it, Believe it, Decide it, DO it " |
||
![]() |
|
SAIGON 68
|
the bolting won't respond to the balls. i use a large bristle overgrown tooth brush. first polish, wash & dry, then wax. you have to stay on top of the dirt/oxidation. i think the torque setting for the bolting is 17 ft lbs. get spare nut/bolts before you need them. neglecting the torque checking can have consequences. i have kinesis.
|
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered User
|
I use the Mothers Polishing Cone. Works great!
GL!
__________________
1989 911 Targa M491 1980 Triumph TR8 (sold) 2006 BMW M3 (Interlagos Blue) |
||
![]() |
|
Schleprock
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Frankfort IL USA
Posts: 16,639
|
Long time no see Ray!
Just have to be careful around the bolts with the polishing ball because the edges of the 12 pt. head can catch the ball and tear it up. Agreed the cone is the way to go in order to get the smaller tip in between the bolts.
__________________
Kevin L '86 Carrera "Larry" |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 9,859
|
I got 1/2" or 3/8" od pvc and cut it to a 6" length. Insert a wad of NevrDull on one end and twist. It cleans the area, but you are left with shiny circles around the fasteners. lol
__________________
The fun - '06 Carrera, '79 930, '06 S4 Avant, '16 i8 The mundane - '24 Tesla Model 3, '22 Tesla Model Y, '19 Tacoma |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I use a dremel tool with an assortment of small polishing bits. Works well for the exposed bolts on my 3 piece wheels.
__________________
FUNFGRUPPEN |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: I live on the road, I just stay here sometimes...
Posts: 7,104
|
Take it apart, sand it with 600 grit, then go up to 1000 grit and polish it with your powerball and mothers billet polish.
It will be much easier to keep clean once you have a fresh start.
__________________
73 RSR replica (soon for sale) SOLD - 928 5 speed with phone dials and Pasha seats SOLD - 914 wide body hot rod My 73RSR build http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/893954-saving-73-crusher-again.html |
||
![]() |
|
E-85 sippin drunk
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 1,554
|
Quote:
To me, all other ways are band aids. In order to fix the problem, you must not take short cuts.....
__________________
Brad...930 gt-1 racecar, increased displacement to 3.6L, JB racing Cylinders, JE 8 to1 pistons, stroked crank, Carrillo rods, extrudehoned 3.2L intake, full bay Bell I/C, GT-2 EVO cams, Rarly8 headers, GTX-3584RS turbo, twin plug, P&P heads, Link G4 EFi system, G-50/50 with LTD slip and oil squirters/oil cooler, zork tube, full race coilover system, with carbon fiber body, full cage, E-85 sippin drunk |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
You don't have to fully disassemble the wheels. Simply remove wheel. Deflated the tire. Remove several fasteners at a time a polish the local area around the removed fasteners. I agree that the correct method is full disassembly and polish but it's a time consuming project. I had 40 hours in polishing on mine.
![]() |
||
![]() |
|
MBruns for President
|
I have a better suggestion - go to Uhaul and buy two of their 18 x 18 x 24 boxes.
Pad the sides of the boxes with cardboard. Ship the wheels to Al and Diane Reed. Go have a cocktail and search Pelican for the upgrade to your car that you didn't even know you wanted to do yet. Get wheels back from Al and Diane - get tires mounted - sit back and have another cocktail and admire their work.
__________________
Current Whip: - 2003 996 Twin Turbo - 39K miles - Lapis Blue/Grey Past: 1974 IROC (3.6) , 1987 Cabriolet (3.4) , 1990 C2 Targa, 1989 S2 |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: South NJ
Posts: 2,516
|
Those wheels still appear to be clearcoated, so you have to clean the paint on both the centers and the lips. I've had BBS look like that and gotten them to look much better.
Once you clean, clean, clean with soap, then move on to polish or rubbing compound with lots of clean rags. That will remove the brake dust. Then you can do sealer/glaze, then a coat of wax. It's hours and hours of finger busting work. The fasteners will still have the rust and corrosion on them though. No offense, but based on the brake dust on the centers you haven't really cleaned these wheels yet. You have to touch every little part to get anywhere, no chemical will do it for you. The good news is once it's done they are easier to maintain. And if cleaning isn't your thing, get rid of them...fuchs are much easier to keep clean.
__________________
Todd Doing business with leebparts? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/555068-attn-leebparts-please-contact-me.html |
||
![]() |
|
MBruns for President
|
Al and Diane did these:
![]() More choices in finish: ![]() Bling bling baby! ![]() Or send to memoryfab.com and have them turned into a nice set of 17" wheels http://www.memoryfab.com/wheels/used/20100708180114
__________________
Current Whip: - 2003 996 Twin Turbo - 39K miles - Lapis Blue/Grey Past: 1974 IROC (3.6) , 1987 Cabriolet (3.4) , 1990 C2 Targa, 1989 S2 Last edited by JeremyD; 06-03-2011 at 09:36 AM.. Reason: put in a link |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
I had Memory Fab do my wheels, Awsome job!!! Built new lips to my requested spec and does it properly.
K
__________________
FUNFGRUPPEN |
||
![]() |
|