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'Rust' on alloy wheels?
Slimy38 - 30/7/16 at 03:12 PM

I've just picked up a set of smaller alloys for my Mondeo. They're incredibly tatty, and one needs welding, but I did only pay £50 with usable tyres.

Anyhow, they're coated in what can only be described as rust. I mean proper copper coloured steel rust, not the white powder you get from aluminium corrosion. How is it possible, and what's the best way to clean it off?

At best I think it's years of brake dust. I was thinking of one of those surface preparation wheels in an angle grinder, then a coat of paint?

obfripper - 30/7/16 at 04:26 PM

It's probably from metal to metal pads and discs, i've seen it thick enough to chip off in lumps!
Proper acidic alloy wheel cleaner, or phosphoric acid will break down the rust, and leave the paint in it's current state.
If you're repainting, you'll want to clean off as much as possible before sanding down so you don't contaminate the alloy with iron particles that will react under the paint.

Dave

miskit - 30/7/16 at 08:36 PM

or someone was grinding/cutting a car up nearby esp if it was then humid afterwards.

Slimy38 - 30/7/16 at 08:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by miskit
or someone was grinding/cutting a car up nearby esp if it was then humid afterwards.


They were from a scrapyard so it's very likely.

The acid cleaner did a little bit, but mostly it revealed normal aluminium corrosion with dirt embedded in it. Looks like I'm back to normal flaking powdercoat/lacquer that needs a bit of mechanical 'encouragement'.