Cleaning 1991-92 Camaro rims?????

I have a set of 16x8 Camaro rims from my 1991. I am guessing I should have them taken to the shop to have them redone. I am just wondering if anyone has tried to do this themselves.


Any horror stories? Any success? :smokin:

What is wrong with them, just brake dust and dirt on them? If so, I'd suggest something like mother's metal polish, or another's brands equivalent. Yes it will take some elbow grease and several microfiber cloths, but they'll come out looking like new after you buff that stuff off.

i use an orange cleaner, i have the RS rims with the horrrrrrrible to clean center sections on the spokes, and with a nylon brush and the orange cleaner, even cleans out the pores on those rims. takes all the brake dust and road grime right off. the pics of the black RS below, i dont know if you can really see the rims, but i just cleaned that car before the pics, and before they were dark grey with crap. so take that as an example if ya like :)

Well if you have the brushed alluminum ones then I would take some orange cleaner and a scouring pad to them then promplty deliver them to the nearest chrome shop for an upgrade. But that's just me.

A cool trick I learned at the body shop I worked at (for chrome rims) is to put a coat of wax on them after you clean them. Next time they get dirty they will clean up with a breeze.

My rims are like the ones on the TEAL camaro above, NOT the black one. My wheels have a few stains in the CLEARCOAT that I am afraid of experimenting on. The rims have a machined finish with a CLEARCOAT over them. I can remove the brake dust and road grime with out any problems.
I will not use abrasives or chemicals that will hurt clearcoat. I have seen it done and when you put the wrong chemical on a clearcoated rim you better prepare to have them redone.


I thought maybe someone has had some similiar wheels with the clear coat coming off and has had them redone or done it themselves. If I removed the clearcoat I would be cleaning and scrubbing these rims constantly.

If anyone wants to clean a BARE aluminum or chrome that most cleaners wont cut it I suggest a can of NEVER-DULL.


And to the guy above who stated that the center caps are a pain to clean I had the same problem. My caps had the clearcoat chipping away and they get a corroded look to them. You cant clean this. You will just get chemicals under the rest of the clearcoat and it will spread. If your caps are peeling they are DONE. You can find the on EBAY for around $10 a peice for decent used ones. BUT MIGHT I SUGGEST that you 91-96 Camaro owners with nasty looking caps take a look at the center caps on the newer Montes, Malibus, and Impalas. The are the same caps with different appearance. Your caps will say CAMARO on them. THese caps just have a CHROME bowtie in the middle. Or a very few which came on early 90s Montes have a red bowtie on them. They will also fit 94-96 Impala SSs. I have a set of them (not the red bowties) if anyone is interested. I accept PAYPAL or M/Os. :2cents: