Hi all.

I bought a set of 17 inch alloy rims from the auto wrecker, and am going to mount my snows on them for the easy quick switch in winter.

I noticed that the inside back part of the rim where the rotor/drums are is not only dirty, but pitted and so on.

I don't want to use anything too abrasive to clean them up, but an sos pad only removed the dirt, but not the pitting and the other bits of stuff on the surface.

I wanted to clean them up and make em look new before mounting the snows.

I am also not sure if the that part of the wheel is clear coated or just raw aluminum.
Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

I'm the same way. Every time I rotate my tires I clean the inside of the rim. Not sure how you would get the Pits out. I know I use buffing compound and a buffing wheel on our tanks and forged aluminum rims on our rig to get the pits out. It's a pita job though.

 

If they are the factory 17" HHR rims, they are clear coated polished aluminum. I would treat them the same as the paint...with paint polish and wax.

EDIT: the other part is not clear coated. sorry for not completely reading your post. I spray brake cleaner on them, then a scour pad or scrub pad of some sort.

 

To remove corrosion I would sand and spray some clear coat, but that's me. Unless it's painted, then it would be sand, prime, paint, clear coat. You won't remove corrosion with polishing.

 

Scotch pad and paint em black....makes the visable part of the rim stand out ( and caliper if painted) the black back 'disappears' under the car

 

X 2, that's the ticket for those..