Keeping Polished Aluminum Clean

[2001camaroSS]

I have found a set of used CCW 505As for sale that I think would look amazing on my SS. I only drive the car in warm sunny weather and wipe the wheels down after every drive. How much maintenance would be required for these wheels if i had them?

[Y2KPewterSS]

Not bad, put a sealant on them, and you will be happy

[2001camaroSS]

Not bad, put a sealant on them, and you will be happy

Is the sealant something that gets applied like a wax?

[xmarkx]

rubbing out polished aluminum SUUUUCKS!
I've heard of people taking brand new polished aluminum wheels to a paint shop and having them powdercoated in clear coat. then you never have to polish them

[2001camaroSS]

rubbing out polished aluminum SUUUUCKS!
I've heard of people taking brand new polished aluminum wheels to a paint shop and having them powdercoated in clear coat. then you never have to polish them

yea that's what I'm worried about. That wouldn't be a bad alternative. I'll have to look into cost.

[Mr. Luos]

I refuse to clear my wheels.
Both sets are polished. When clean, they look a TON better than chrome.

Keeping them clean isn't bad at all when it has a garage to sit in.
If they sit outside...good luck. lol
I learned the hard way not to use a sealant on them over the winter while outside. The sealant made them bead...and the water would just sit in one place for extended periods of time.
My TTII's need to go to a wheel shop for a good clean up now.
My fault though...not the wheels.


Polished > Chrome hands down.

[2001camaroSS]

I refuse to clear my wheels.
Both sets are polished. When clean, they look a TON better than chrome.

Keeping them clean isn't bad at all when it has a garage to sit in.
If they sit outside...good luck. lol
I learned the hard way not to use a sealant on them over the winter while outside. The sealant made them bead...and the water would just sit in one place for extended periods of time.
My TTII's need to go to a wheel shop for a good clean up now.
My fault though...not the wheels.


Polished > Chrome hands down.

well the wheels would never get wet and would always be in a garage. so with a sealant cleaning would be minimal?

[Y2KPewterSS]

well the wheels would never get wet and would always be in a garage. so with a sealant cleaning would be minimal?

Exactly!

Mine have never seen water in 3+ years now. As long as you stick to that principle, you are fine.

[2001camaroSS]

Exactly!

Mine have never seen water in 3+ years now. As long as you stick to that principle, you are fine.

doesnt sound too bad at all. in those three years without seeing water, what have you had to do to keep them clean?

[Y2KPewterSS]

doesnt sound too bad at all. in those three years without seeing water, what have you had to do to keep them clean?

Polish them about every 3 months, by hand. Very minimal work. They still look brand new as well.

[Firebirdjones]

That sounds a bit unpracticle. Guess if you have a garage queen that never gets washed that's one thing. But some of us (at least I do) drive the cars regularly.

I have both aluminum polished wheels and chrome aluminum. I can tell you the aluminum polished wheels are on a car that is in fact a garage kept car driven on weekends only when the weather is nice. The wheels are a pain. Usually every 6 months or so, I polish them. Takes 1/2 a day. In reality they could use a polishing a little more often, but who wants to do that all the time? I agree they look great when they are done. I couldn't imagine them on a car driven more often
I prefer chrome plated nowadays, very easy to wipe off with a rag and windex. Don't have to worry about water spots, less prone to scratches etc... Besides, I'm getting too old to polish wheels all the time, don't want to spend 1/2 my day doing that, I'd rather be driving the car.

It's really all about what you can tollerate.

The only advantage I see anymore with polished aluminum wheels is they are about 1 lbs. lighter than an identical chrome wheel

[Y2KPewterSS]

That sounds a bit unpracticle. Guess if you have a garage queen that never gets washed that's one thing. But some of us (at least I do) drive the cars regularly.

I have both aluminum polished wheels and chrome aluminum. I can tell you the aluminum polished wheels are on a car that is in fact a garage kept car driven on weekends only when the weather is nice. The wheels are a pain. Usually every 6 months or so, I polish them. Takes 1/2 a day. In reality they could use a polishing a little more often, but who wants to do that all the time? I agree they look great when they are done. I couldn't imagine them on a car driven more often
I prefer chrome plated nowadays, very easy to wipe off with a rag and windex. Don't have to worry about water spots, less prone to scratches etc... Besides, I'm getting too old to polish wheels all the time, don't want to spend 1/2 my day doing that, I'd rather be driving the car.

It's really all about what you can tollerate.

The only advantage I see anymore with polished aluminum wheels is they are about 1 lbs. lighter than an identical chrome wheel

My car hasn't seen a carwash in 4+ years and won't. Its well preserved in the garage. If, and thats a big if, I ever do need to wash it, it will get put on 4 jackstands, wheels off, and washed that way. Very practical to me.

[2001camaroSS]

Polish them about every 3 months, by hand. Very minimal work. They still look brand new as well.

how is the sealant applied and what is the brand?

That sounds a bit unpracticle. Guess if you have a garage queen that never gets washed that's one thing. But some of us (at least I do) drive the cars regularly.

I have both aluminum polished wheels and chrome aluminum. I can tell you the aluminum polished wheels are on a car that is in fact a garage kept car driven on weekends only when the weather is nice. The wheels are a pain. Usually every 6 months or so, I polish them. Takes 1/2 a day. In reality they could use a polishing a little more often, but who wants to do that all the time? I agree they look great when they are done. I couldn't imagine them on a car driven more often
I prefer chrome plated nowadays, very easy to wipe off with a rag and windex. Don't have to worry about water spots, less prone to scratches etc... Besides, I'm getting too old to polish wheels all the time, don't want to spend 1/2 my day doing that, I'd rather be driving the car.

It's really all about what you can tollerate.

The only advantage I see anymore with polished aluminum wheels is they are about 1 lbs. lighter than an identical chrome wheel

my car is a garage queen. i drive it once or twice a week and it is only to go for a cruise. the car has only seen water twice since the day i bought it and that was me washing it.

[Y2KPewterSS]

how is the sealant applied and what is the brand?



my car is a garage queen. i drive it once or twice a week and it is only to go for a cruise. the car has only seen water twice since the day i bought it and that was me washing it.

I used Zoop Seal, its good for 2 years protection. I should do mine again in fact, but I don't drive it enough to need it honestly

Luos has also suggested Rejex to me in the past as another sealant alternative. I am not familiar with it first hand though. The Zoop seal, you apply it, and let it cure for 24 hours IIRC. It was a little bit of work to apply it, but well worth it. The Zoop ran about $100 for a jr. kit, but was worth it.

[Firebirdjones]

If, and thats a big if, I ever do need to wash it, it will get put on 4 jackstands, wheels off, and washed that way. Very practical to me.

[Mr. Luos]

Luos has also suggested Rejex to me in the past as another sealant alternative.

Love the stuff. I use it on everything. Paint, wheels, barrels, glass, ect....

Just don't use it on wheels that will be sitting outside over the winter....
My TTII's are in piss poor shape....at least for me. Still gets compliments, but I need to take them somewhere.

[fastform]

Clear powder coating is the way to go. Approx. $50 per wheel. Clean with just soap and water.

[zmg00camaross]

What is a good polish to use.

[Y2KPewterSS]

What is a good polish to use.

Mothers Billet, if you can find it.

[Mr. Luos]

Mothers Billet, if you can find it.

This.

I use Mother's Mag and Aluminum on the barrels.