Cleaning rims this weekend and need help

[shallowreef]

I am cleaning my rims and my fiance's rims this weekend and i need some help for hers. She has a taurus (at least its a ford) and her rims look like they have a salt build up on them but its not salt and it won't come off with water. I was thinking about using Mothers mag and alum polish on it to see if that will take it off. i really have no clue what it is. I am also using the same stuff on my alluminum alloys. Does this sound okay?

 

[wytstang]

Sounds fine to me; If you have some claybar I would also suggest using it to help remove it.

 

[98stangv8]

ok...do this and they will shine!

Get a mother's power ball...get the mag and aluminum polish as you stated before...and go to town! I scrubbed by hand on my rims to no avail...got the powerball and they shined in under a minute!

 

[shallowreef]

What about my fiances rims?

Are you guys giving me suggestions for hers or mine? I'm a little confused.

 

[wytstang]

I was referring to hers...

 

[shallowreef]

Okay thanks. I never used claybar before do i need to be careful with it on rims? I know you need to be careful on paint but what about rims? What exactly should i buy??

 

[wytstang]

Use the same technique on rims as you would on paint.

 

[shallowreef]

What brand? Are there different types?

 

[wytstang]

I've tried Mother but didn't like it the clay was to gummy and fell apart to fast. Megs has a kit for maybe a dollar more then mother but you get 2 peices of clay both 50 grams each while Mother is 1 80 grams. Megs also come with a paint cleaner, quick detailer and 1 gold microfiber towel. You basiclly pay a dollar more to get a micrfiber towel. You can also use on clay for rims and the other peice for paint.

 

[wytstang]

Here's what it looks like
http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Clay Bars.htm

 

[shallowreef]

Thanks so just lubricate the rim and use the clay ar to get out the odd marks?

 

[98stangv8]

try the powerball first...I love my claybar...but it is seriously tough to use on rims in the tight spaces and such...a claybar can work great...I just think the powerball is much easier and quicker to use...

 

[shallowreef]

Well i am going to get both and see which works best for me. Do you guys know if autozone sells them or not? I don't know if you guys have autozones by you or not?

 

[wytstang]

Advance Auto sells claybar both megs/mothers and powerball.

 

[shallowreef]

I will look around this weekend.

Thanks

 

[shallowreef]

Well i tried them both and got nowhere. The aluminum needs to be sanded down or something. Its bumpy when you run your fingers over it, so thats why i think if it was sanded it would look better. My fiances dad had his work truck this weekend and i used the powerball on his truck. The metal on that think shined better than it did when he picked it up at the dealership. He had a ton of diamond plating on the truck and before it was like a light grey but after i finished it with the powerball it looked like a mirror! Powerball is awesome. It also cleans up like a dream. Just a little dich soap and water and your done. You literally just squezze the dirt out. Thanks you guys for all your help.

Any ideas though on what else might clear up those rims? I have the feeling that they are fked!

 

[98stangv8]

good to hear you liked the powerball...I love it!

are your rims stainless or chrome? if they are stainless, take some 400 grit sandpaper, then some 2000 grit sandpaper to them...then use the powerball....will work like a charm...just make sure they aren't chrome or you will DESTROY them..

 

[wytstang]

If you can post some good clear close up pics.