Cleaning up my new wheels, advice please

[RhysQ]

Hey guys,

I'm picking up these wheels this weekend and would like to clean them up a bit before putting them on.

I would like some advice from you guys as to what products (including costs) I should use. I am looking at giving the bolts a quick polish (all 156 of them ) and polishing the lips up. Keep in mind they are 2-piece wheels so I am able to pull them apart.

They look in pretty good condition so I wouldn't imagine I would need to do that much work on them. Anyway enough talk, here are the pics...

Impul RS Hoshino Racing 17's.... rare as hens teeth, especially in this condition.




Cheers in advance guys,
Rhys

[DMS_Dan]

P21S Polishing Soap would be the easiest thing to use in this situation.

Once done a nice sealant like Z2 pro or Duragloss 105 or Optimum opti seal would be good. Or an easier option would be some Autoglym Alloy Wheel seal

[RhysQ]

Yep i've seen that already and i've started my own thread to get opinions from a range of people. I will close it myself when i'm ready and get some feedback, cheers anyway Maris. I'd rather not hijack other threads.

Let me expand on it a bit.... i do not have access to a buffing wheel and will be doing this all by hand. I'm not chasing absolute sparkling show quality (like the BBS is that thread) but just a quick generally cheap going over to get rid of any minor blemishes they may have. I would like to have some choice in product to use... with some info on what 'to' and 'not to' use.

Cheers
Rhys

[RhysQ]

P21S Polishing Soap would be the easiest thing to use in this situation.

Once done a nice sealant like Z2 pro or Duragloss 105 or Optimum opti seal would be good. Or an easier option would be some Autoglym Alloy Wheel seal

Thanks Dan, i was hoping to get a reply from you, you seem to be the detailing king around here!

Are those products available from auto stores like Autobarn, Supercheap etc.?

[jasn78]

Rhys, follow Dan's advice mate one guy who certainly knows his stuff and if the polishing soap is as good as p21s wheel gel it will be a good thing.

[jasn78]

Thanks Dan, i was hoping to get a reply from you, you seem to be the detailing king around here!

Are those products available from auto stores like Autobarn, Supercheap etc.?

lol im too slow again, http://www.waxit.com.au would be best place in bris to get it from plus dave mail orders it

[DMS_Dan]

Thanks Dan, i was hoping to get a reply from you, you seem to be the detailing king around here!

Are those products available from auto stores like Autobarn, Supercheap etc.?

Oh thanks lol

No they arnt. The link i posted ships them out or if your close Dave can send it also

Rhys, follow Dan's advice mate one guy who certainly knows his stuff and if the polishing soap is as good as p21s wheel gel it will be a good thing.

Thanks mate. The soap is a very easy to use product and is quite effortless. Also the sponge conforms a fair bit so will get round the nuts fairly well

[RhysQ]

I've read those link, but still have a couple of questions...

1. Is that soap product just a cleaning substance, or will it get rid of blemishes on the lips and polish them up a fair bit? It's a bit hard to tell from that pic of the chrome wheels on the site.

2. Is it necessary to put a sealant on, and how well will it fight off brake dust (how often will i need to re-clean my wheels). At the moment i need to do my wheels every fortnight, but i have gloss black on them which shows up dust straight away.

[jasn78]

rhys, im pretty sure u will find the reason for the sealant is to make ur life alot easier when it comes to brake dust, all forums i have been reading on car detailing have basically said thats one of the main reasons of doing it. Next time i get my wheels repainted i def will be

[DMS_Dan]

It does get small blemishes out but not heaps. You will need a more abrasive polish for that.

As for sealing them i would do it it helps HEAPS. If you cant be bothered use autoglym alloy wheel seal its an aerosol so is heaps quicker to use

[Mrk_Mickey]

Would a sealant benefit a freshly clayed wheel in the same way it benefits freshly polished wheels or bodywork? I think it'd be a nice idea to spend a day claying and rejuvinating my wheels and sealing them

[DMS_Dan]

Would a sealant benefit a freshly clayed wheel in the same way it benefits freshly polished wheels or bodywork? I think it'd be a nice idea to spend a day claying and rejuvinating my wheels and sealing them

Hell yeah.

On the weekend i pulled the wheels of my ute. Cleaned and clayed the insides. Gave them 3 coats of Autoglym alloy wheel seal.

Cleaned all suspension and wheel wells. All metal was coated in alloy wheel seal x 3 all plastics were coated in 303 x 2.

After driving through the rain it all looks as good as it did when it was finished. My mechanic is going to be impressed when he does the service on it

[jasn78]

Dan, on this topic since my wheels are 2pak would i just be better using the same sealant as the rest of my car or something else?

[DMS_Dan]

Dan, on this topic since my wheels are 2pak would i just be better using the same sealant as the rest of my car or something else?

The car sealant is fine for the application on painted wheels. Layer it up though so you get good protection

[RhysQ]

Alright I went and picked up the wheels from the TNT depot today so they are now sitting in my lounge room at home.... pretty stoked . I have just (about 5 mins ago) ordered some of that P21S Polishing Soap from carcareproducts.com.au as well to polish them up. How long in the post should that be? Hopefully I can get the stuff by this weekend so I can work on the wheels.

The wheels are actually pretty dirty with quite a lot of brake dust inside the barrels and around the bolts. Would you advise that I give them a bit of a clean over with some warm soapy water to give myself a 'clean canvas' to work with.

I'll put some pics up tonight when I get home.