Need wheel detailing tips.

[zman]

Hoping someone has a good remedy for making SRT wheels look like new again, my car is a daily driver so it's exposed to all the elements including salt, they are not in bad shape at all but they don't have that new car gloss anymore. I've tried Meguiars Mag & Aluminum polish but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference, running your finger over the surface of the rim you can feel a fine build-up of some sort and I'm thinking I need to remove this first before I can see any real results. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[racing2448]

i treat the stock srt wheels exactly like my paint. I personally would clay them to get them nice and smooth and then go with a nice polish (i use zaino on mine). i didnt want to use anything abrasive like the mag and alum polish from mothers on them because they appear to have a clearcoat overtop of them because of the silver parts.

[AEConfidential]

My SRT is a daily driver also...so most of the time, the wheels aren't clean...when I know I'm going to clean them, when I get home, I use a pressure washer at work, it gets them pretty clean (outside and inside), even the brakes...when I get home, all I have to do is wipe them down. Of course, the next day, the dirt starts all over. Ha. I've even thought of powder coating my wheels black or dark grey...we'll see.

[Crazy J]

Hoping someone has a good remedy for making SRT wheels look like new again, my car is a daily driver so it's exposed to all the elements including salt, they are not in bad shape at all but they don't have that new car gloss anymore. I've tried Meguiars Mag & Aluminum polish but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference, running your finger over the surface of the rim you can feel a fine build-up of some sort and I'm thinking I need to remove this first before I can see any real results. Any thoughts are appreciated.
You need to wash your wheels and then claybar them to get the "build up" off. Polishing is mostly useless unless you claybar first. You're essentially trying to polish crud. After claybar your wheels should be VERY smooth. You should be using this on your car too BTW. Try polishing them again with the wax of your choice. I can't recommend any specific wax as people get good results with all sorts of different stuff. In fact here's a link to a thread saying Driwash works well, maybe worth a shot.
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49253
-J

[zman]

Thanks for the input, gonna go get a clay bar. I assume these are available at a store such as Autozone.

[BartMan44]

You did not mention what kind of brake pads you have...Go with the Centrics and you willlove your wheels again. Mine is a daily driver as well and I regard the Centric Posi-Quiets as the #1 mod I have performed.
You will love the cleanliness and the performance is not bad either...

[carchitect]

You need to wash your wheels and then claybar them to get the "build up" off. Polishing is mostly useless unless you claybar first. You're essentially trying to polish crud. After claybar your wheels should be VERY smooth. You should be using this on your car too BTW. Try polishing them again with the wax of your choice. I can't recommend any specific wax as people get good results with all sorts of different stuff. In fact here's a link to a thread saying Driwash works well, maybe worth a shot.
http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49253
-J

To add to this...

Keep a clay bar specifically for your wheels. Don't use that same claybar on your paint.

[zman]

I do have the Centrics, I am being a little anal cause if you saw my car on the street you would think my wheels are real clean but if you get down on your knees you can see little black specs that soap or wheel cleaners just can't get off.

[racing2448]

To add to this...

Keep a clay bar specifically for your wheels. Don't use that same claybar on your paint.

x2 on that... forgot to mention that!!! ALWAYS keep an extra one for the wheels... all the small metal particles will destroy your paint!

[njchargerfan]

this may sound like a pain in the butt but I would break down the wheels and tires and thuroughly polish them... then have them clearcoated. Then the finish would be protected and from this time on out.... soap and water is all you'll need to maintain the shin and finish. Yes it might cost you a few $100 but the time and aggravation you'll save down the road will be well worth it.