center caps on rims are eroding?

[violent31601]

Hey guys

So i made a bold move and decided to keep my Motegi MR'7s on my Eclipse for the winter, I figured as long as I washed my car weekly and kept the salt off them the best I could I would be fine.

I guess I was wrong cause center caps look as if they are eroding around the edges, anyone ever experience this? is there a way to get them to look normal again or do I have to buy new ones. If I do have to buy new ones, where do i even get them?

PS if nobody knows what i'm talking about let me know and I will attempt to take a good picture

thanks in advance

[david-b]

Just kidding. You know we love pics.
Eroding like actually melting away or rusting? You'll probably have to buy new ones. Haven't seen them (except eBay brand "Type-R" caps) so you may have to get them from the company.

[violent31601]

i'll take some pics after work today

[SilvrEclipse]

Depending on the kind of center cap you may be able to sand and polish it to get it looking decent again. It just depends how much damage has been done to it.

[violent31601]

so I finally took some pics of what my center caps are doing.






any ideas?

[vanilla gorilla]

Just looks like oxidation. You should be able to sand and polish them, like silvr said.
My falken center caps are starting to do the same thing, but in the very early stages of it.

[Black99GST]

Originally Posted by vanilla gorilla

Just looks like oxidation. You should be able to sand and polish them, like silvr said.
My falken center caps are starting to do the same thing, but in the very early stages of it.

nah! just get some mothers mag polish, and a polish wheel for a drill, and polish them up! my old DSM rocked the stockers, but it was from up north, and the center caps where all jacked up, but mag polish, a drill, and some TLC, they looked *almost* good as new! let me see if i can find a pic... lol

[gthompson97]

If they're painted plastic, the clear could be wearing away too. Only way to fix that is to sand them down, repaint, and then reclear them. Not tough, but probably more work into it than I'd want when you could just buy new ones for $40 or so.

[violent31601]

Originally Posted by Black99GST

nah! just get some mothers mag polish, and a polish wheel for a drill, and polish them up! my old DSM rocked the stockers, but it was from up north, and the center caps where all jacked up, but mag polish, a drill, and some TLC, they looked *almost* good as new! let me see if i can find a pic... lol

are you talking about the Wheel Mist Chrome/Wire, or the Mag & Aluminum Polish.

cause the wheel mist sounds more likely what would work?

http://www.mothers.com/products/prod...wheelprod.html


and what kind of polish wheel? one that specializes in polishing aluminum?

[violent31601]

anyone ever here of using oven cleaner and a steel brush on them?

i was reading a website (cant find it for the life of me) today talking about this

[vanilla gorilla]

Originally Posted by violent31601

anyone ever here of using oven cleaner and a steel brush on them?

i was reading a website (cant find it for the life of me) today talking about this

Your braver than I am

[SilvrEclipse]

I wouldn't use oven cleaner. I would just repaint the caps with silver paint.

[Black99GST]

Originally Posted by violent31601

are you talking about the Wheel Mist Chrome/Wire, or the Mag & Aluminum Polish.

cause the wheel mist sounds more likely what would work?

http://www.mothers.com/products/prod...wheelprod.html


and what kind of polish wheel? one that specializes in polishing aluminum?

aluminum & mag polish is what i used... and i used like a big soft wheel for the drill, almost like that "flitz it" crap... lol thats the best i can describe the wheel... haha but it is for polishing.... i think?

[violent31601]

so I sanded it down with some 400 grit then 800 then used mothers on it and they look pretty damn good again.

should I put some clear coat of some sort on them now? or just leave them at straight alumminum?

[gthompson97]

Clear them or they will corrode.