I think I screwed up my wheels...

with some of that corrosive wheel cleaning stuff. Just spraying it on and letting it sit doesn't actually do anything, so I sprayed some on a wheelbrush and scrubbed them a bit. I then hosed them off, but immeadiatley had to drive across town, which caused the wheels to be hot by the time I reached my destination. It may just be me being paranoid, but to me it looks like I screwed up the finish on my wheels pretty bad, although you wouldn't notice if I didn't tell you. How can I fix it?

Is it splotchy and discolored?
I've never heard of driving them after using acid having any effects...but I have seen acid eat through rims before. One thing that helped me once, was getting a mild compound and rubbing it over the discolored splotches...it took a TON of elbow grease and time, but I got the ones I damaged back to an almost perfect original look. I've noticed this happens frequently with factory Ford rims, but I've seen it happen on plenty of others.

Are the wheels clear coated or not???

If not..the acid will have etched the aluminum.

Driving after rinsing well would not do any harm IMO!

Never use acid based cleaners on wheels that are not clear coated!

I do believe that the wheels are clear coated; there is definitely paint on there as it isn't bare aluminum. Its not really splotchy and discolored, the problem is that most of the wheels seems to be a lighter shade than it was before, and if you look close you can see light abrasions from (I'm assuming) the brush. Can I polish it out, or will I have to prime and repaint them to get them back to where they were?

So, the wheels are painted..Aghhhh I see!

But they might not be clear coated?? So if not, the acids could have changed the color somewhat! Either that or they are clear coated and were really dirty and now they are clean so they look a different color?? Brake dust is dark, so if a lot was on the rims, it would make them look darker!

As for the abrasions...you might/should be able to polish them out!

Assuming they are clear coated....Try some Mother's Clear Coat Wheel Polish!

Here's some info from their websight:

http://www.mothers.com/products/productcatalog/productpix/05108.jpg

Clear-coated wheels will dull with time-the surface is a clear coat, which is just like paint. You polish and wax the rest of the paint on your car, right? Give your clear-coated and painted wheels the same respect with Mothers® Clear Coat Wheel Polish. Designed specifically for wheel coatings, it will remove minor scratches and blemishes and polish out all the little imperfections. Your wheels will sparkle just as bright as your paint-give them some Mothers®' love with Clear Coat Wheel Polish.

Wheel acids should not be used on clear coated wheels or aluminum non-coated wheels. I am speaking of wheel cleaners with a hydroflouric acid...these can not only damage your cars materials but also kill the user, literally.

There are safer wheel cleaners out there now, still acid based but not of the hydroflouric nature. Poorboys, Hi-Temp, Valu-Guard and Top of the Line make some very effective yet very safe wheel cleaners.

Heavy duty wheel acids do a great job on chrome wheels but can wreak other materials. As already noted you may now need to spend some time polishing these areas out OR if they are too far gone you can have them stripped and then re-cleared.

Hope that helps,
Anthony

If Acids like sulphuric or hydrofloric acids are used on painted aluminum rims they MUST be nutralized with amonia. The acid can keep working even though at a diluted rate the acid will have adverse effects on bare metal and accelerates natural corrosion. Make sure you dilute those acids and wear a respirator , goggles , coveralls and gloves.
Usually these chemicals are available to body shops and manufacturing facilities I didnt realize they were included in detailing.

I use these chemicals DTails , you dummy I showed you at my shop remember. I use acid on painted rims however I use different dilution ratios for different applications. This makes the acid less agressive but I have made the mistake of using to strong of a mixture and it gets under the clear coating and stains the polished metal underneath , very nasty and hard to reverse. I made the mistake on spraying straight hydroforic on polished rims and they turned splotchy black and grey. It took me 3 hours to repolish these rims but after I was done it was well worth it cus for 3 years they havent lost there luster and dont seem to require repolishing like they used to.
When I made the same mistake with painted rims it was alot easier to fix than the polished rims by simply using a finishing compound and a auto paint conditioner.