Help on repolishing my wheels needed, any BTDT advice?

[UrQuattro]

Hey all...

So, as mentioned in my suspension topic, my Zuffenhaus Fuchs have been subjected to bad weather and poor maintenance by me (a lesson I have now learned), and I need to remove the pitting and water stains, etc from them.

I got some mothers aluminum wheel polish and one of those polishing ball things (the cone one, actually, I figured the shape was better suited to the task.) I'm hoping that I got the right product to do this.

Since ive never done this before, I'm not really expecting perfection, but I really really miss the beautiful shiny finish of the polished outer lips.

Also, once I do polish them, what can I put on the heels to help them better last in between basic cleanings?

It was a matter of two weeks after I got the wheels that they started looking noticably worse, and I think I just got dismayed and figured that I would take care of them later, but haven't really done anything at all since I got them in August of last year. I know, I'm an idiot. I fully get that, so please don't get on me for my lack of caring for them at the time.

I'm hoping that applying a couple coats of high quality wax will provide the best protection. I'm looking for something where it will be more than two weeks before I'm seeing big white spots on the aluminum, ya know?

If I can just wipe them off every couple weeks or so, ok. But knowing I have a bit more of a buffer time-wise would be really cool.

Thanks in advance everyone. I really appreciate it.

Michael

[wholio94112]

...before i accidentally chipped off the anodizing from a small section of one rim, I too, i guess seemed much more paranoid than needed...i ended up getting it all off all 4 rims - because you can't hide a non-anodized blotch - and used a distinguished array of sandpapers to scotch brites to a mothers polish, and finally to this bluish metal polish for guns my dad offered me to try...the result was this smokey gun-metal grey - as opposed to the brushed aluminum or polished destinations...don't be afraid, but be conscious...its gotta be pretty hard to render a balancing un-doable...

[WPOZZZ]

Try some Gords metal polish. A detailer friend used it in my Merc and I was pleasantly surprised!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3fHzyK2wic

[llangston1]

I tried the Mothers polish and cone on my Fuchs and I was amazed at how good they turned out. Near mirror finish on the polished parts of my wheels.

[UrQuattro]

Langston - THANK YOU for that VERY inspiring post. Hehe.

How long did it take you to do, and how bad was the finish when you started.

Also, any tips that. You may have learned?

Michael

[llangston1]

They were not that bad but a little dull and with some stain spots from some slopped on wheel cleaner. The cone worked great getting I all the tight areas of the petals and the rim edge. Just slathered some Mothers polish on the cone and let the drill do it's job. When done all the cleaner stains were gone and a near mirror finish was left. It took about 10 min per rim.

[UrQuattro]

Hmm, well that is good news, again. Given how badly mine are stained from the brake dust and water, I'll probably have to go spend a bit more time on them, at least the fronts, I'd imagine, but I feel better now and feel less hopeless about bringing back the shine myself.

As far as post-polish treatment, what is you do? And how often should I be expecting to need to clean the wheels off in order to preserve the shine, ya think?

Michael

[Classic]

Even after you polish them there will be very fine scratches in the metal, a good wax ( I know) helps reduce the build up of brake dust and prevents water stains.

Keeps them looking good and prevents you from having to polish very often.