Alright,

Just wondering if anyone has ever had Aluminum rims that have pitted because of the brake dust.

My 94 has this on some aftermarket rims (not sure what kind they are, they were on the truck when I bought it). The previous owner obviously did not take care of the rims and they are pitted.

I was wondering if anyone has a solution for this? I would like to restore them into atleast better condition. Well atleast in shiny condition.

 

I'm not sure if the brake dust is actually what causes the pitting. I think the wheels get pitted from sand and other stuff, and then when the wheel gets coated in brake dust it gets down into the pits and sticks there. Not 100% sure on that but that's what it seems like to me.

But I know exactly what you are talking about, and I think any high end polish should hopefully take some of that away. I actually used that Mequires Power Ball thingy that Chip Foose advertises for and suprisingly that thing works GREAT!! Saves so much time and really gets the job done...........might give that thing a try and see how it works.



~Nick

 

Brake dust won't cause pitting. Salt, sand, to lazy to clean them..Thats what will cause pitting.
The only remedy is a soft S/S wire brush and time. Once you have it clean wash it down with acetone/laquer thinner and coat it w a quality clearcoat.

 

That's why mine look the way they do.

They looked great for the 9 months I had them before it snowed and the city dumped a couple hundred metric tons of salt on the road.

Now I just say it's a truck, it's not supposed to be all shiny, and the wheels match the pinstripes left by a couple trees.


phox

 

This what I figured I would have to do. Before I got the truck the damage was already done because the previous owner fell under the too lazy to clean them.



Now that not the right attitude. I know what your talking about they are just as bad up here in Ogden about the salt.

 

Cat pee will pit rims. I used to have a set of AE 589's on my old 4runner. A cat wissed all over 'em. I didn't notice for a while (not really sure how long it was). When I washed it off, the pits had already began.

 

I had almost the exact same thing with my rims. I tried several different cleaners from Auto-Zone and Walmart but nothing would do a really deep clean. Last week I was at my buddies shop. He was kidding me about how nasty my wheels looked. I told him that I had given up on them. He asked me if I wanted them clean. I said sure, He pointed at a 1 gallon jug on the shelf that he said he used to clean his flat bed wrecker. I think it was Hou-Clean. Anyway he mixed a little dab in a pack sprayer with some water. Told me not to get it on me. Then he sprayed it on and coated the rims good. I got a little soft wheel brush and scrubbed it in good. Then we just rinsed it off with water. The whole process took about 15-20 minutes.They look like new rims. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. He told me he got it from his tire distributor. It is the same stuff they use at truck wash's for the rims and tanks. It smells acidic so be careful with it. I will try to find out the actual name etc. and post it later.