I have a set of the 17" 'chrome' wheels that have corrosion issues and some light curbing. I'd like to remove the clear coat and repair the scratches, then polish. Are they just clearcoated, or are they chrome clad?

 

You know there are companies that do that?

 

Do you know I'm cheap?

 

This style 2LT 17” rim can be sanded and polished then resprayed with clear coat. It is tedious but they can look like new.

 

After sanding polishing and buffing.

Before gun metal grey clear coat SS rims

 

Thanks!

 

If the rims are loose (no tires or valve stems) you can use oven cleaner or paint remover. However this can stain the alloy wheels, that’s why I went with hand sanding in steps to remove all the coating, then to remove scratches and then to smooth out any sanding marks finishing with 3000 grit then moved on to buffing compound, then polishing compound .

 

Chrome doesn't have clear coat. But the factory HHR 2LT rims Blue has shown are just polished alum & clear coating.

Chrome-Clad is plastic but chrome coated.

 

These are chrome clad plastic caps bonded to the G6 aluminium 17” wheel that came on the 2LT in 2010 and 2011 years

 

Which ones do you have? That's important for correct advice. Perhaps post a pic?