The clear coat (or clear paint) was added to the wheels to prevent degradation/oxidation damage. However, after extended daily exposure to the sun, road grime and environmental residue, and use of acidic cleaners, the clear coat itself will degrade, causing the wheels to appear dull or cloudy, with a white or yellow discoloration and/or streaks, and it eventually begins to flake off. This is when it becomes necessary to remove the clear coat in order to get the shine and luster back into your wheels.

Removing the Clear Coat
I've found that Naval Jelly worked best to remove the clear coat on my stock aluminum wheels -- requiring no sanding or scrubbing, and no scratches (do NOT use on the stock gold wheels).

Procedure:

• 1. Dismount wheels (this helps to avoid getting jelly on the tires).
  
• 2. In a cool, dry area (no direct heat or sunlight), apply a semi-thick coat of the Naval Jelly directly on the wheels (being very careful not to get it on the tires), using a basting or 1-1½" paint brush.
  
• 3. Let the wheels sit for approx. 1 hour, then thoroughly rinse off with water, and wipe the wheels dry with a cloth or towel.

Note: For stubborn areas, a fine steel wool works well.

Once the coating is removed you will need to protect your wheels. Here are some options:

• Have them professionally polished, then recoated or chromed.
  
• Do it yourself, by simply waxing/polishing them. This method requires that you keep them waxed periodically thereafter. I wax my wheels about 2-3 times a year, but others may require more often, as my Z's aren't driven/exposed that often to daily environmental harm. The wax/polish I currently use is One Grand Metal 300 Polish.

Polishing
I had always used Mother's Polish to shine my wheels ... that is, until I found an even better product called "One Grand Metal 300 Polish". You don't have to rub in one tiny area at a time for hours on end until your fingers blister or turn blue with this stuff. It's absolutely wonderful, and is much easier to apply than Mother's. It comes in a 16 oz. bottle (liquid), which should last about 13 or more applications -- estimating from my prior usage.

 

I use air craft paint remover from walmart for 4.99 it takes off the clear coat and road grim also. Tar etc. then i resand t he wheel if there is any curb marks.. starting with 800 wet grit working all the way up to 2000 wet grit then i buff the wheels etc with " mothers " almuinum " polish.

 

Screw all that polishing,cleaning,buffing,polishing again elbow grease nonsense... Just go get a new set of 17's or 18's like I do everytime your wheels get dirty!



Rod.

 

were not all as rich as u ROD... we all dont own a tire store... hey why dont u sell me some of your used wheelz ? if u wouldnt mind.

 

I prefer the stock wheels on all of my cars.

 

6 things:

1. It was a JOKE!

2. Not sure what forum you've been reading for the last 4 months, but I don't have the tire store anymore. I haven't had it since June. I have a corporate shluppy job now.

3. I'm NOT rich... I work for a living and I have a wife and 3 kids to support.

4. The first set of 17" wheels I replaced because they were stolen with the rest of my car. The second set was two years later when I wanted to upgrade the size, and I never really liked that set, and my tires were worn out anyways, and i was lucky enough to get a SWEET deal on the wheels.

5. It's not "were", It's "We're"

6. It was a JOKE!

Rod.

 

excuses, excuses,excuses!!!

 

3 kids eh??? thats not an even number... start over try again.

 

No more Big-O? Damn I must have missed that thread... no wonder you never answered my PM. Anyway:

Just paint the wheels w/ black epoxy and matted clear, or powdercoat and be done with it. I never want to be afraid of curb rash, or any kind of kids, even emo kids. You dont need to be rich to buy lots of wheels, Its the tires that are the killer.

 

I have been polishing to much in the past now i'm glad to pay the 50 a wheel to get em done ... though i'm partial on flat black now

 

can you use a rustoleum clear gloss paint on these rims? i have the stock rims--1983 280zx-- and i got most of the clear coat off from sanding. i polished as best as i could, but there still are spots that have super-hard crap on it that i can't get off, and the shine could be brighter.

any suggestions?

 

You would better of useing automotive clear boat from " dupont " i found it to be a clean clear awsome finnish.... yes it did take me 8 hours for each of my turbo wheels to polish by hand...