I have a set of 15x8 aluminum wheels that are not clear coated and I was wondering what would be the best way to clean them and clearcoat them so they would look better and be easier to clean. This is what they look like.

Of course not this shiney. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> I know some of you guys have done this. I just want to clean them and clear them - not polish(don't have the time for that, nor the desire). Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't do it. I've had and seen clear coat problems with alloy wheels and those were Toyota factory wheels, professionally done under Toyota quality engineer's guidance. Once they start going bad it is a lot more work to polish them up. I just keep a good coat of wax on them.

Clear powder coat is an option too. Make sure theres room in your oven! DuPont has a clear powder coat but I have done wheels with just their automotive clearcoat paint system. Use an adhesion promoter and add a tich more hardner than calls for. The factory stuff is powder coat and the problems start once you hammer weights to the wheel and drive in the salt belt.

I agree with this - do not clear coat wheels that are not clear coated from the factory. I had a set of Weld RoadHawk's clear powder coated. The wheels eventually started to corroad behind the powder coating and I had to strip it all off.

IF they are not clear coated, just take good care of them.

What do you guys use to clean them? SOS pads? Steel wool?

WHAT? I disagree because something needs to be done to protect them. I'm speaking from experience because I had uncoated aluminum wheels ("Ultra" brand "aluminum mod" wheels that look exactly like the ones pictured). It was a difference of $15-20/wheel when new that I really regret not paying to get the American Racing clear coated wheels that look identical.

I used my crummy wheels for 4 years before very recently giving up on them. They were severely corroded on the entire surface and looked horrible. I HAD cleaned them at about 2 years old with a product called Xtreme Wheel Cleaner or something like that. It took a TON of hard work scrubbing off the bad corrosion just to look decent again.

In Colorado they use magnesium chloride instead of salt for the roads during the winter. It's very corrosive on softer metals such as aluminum. My wheels were ruined after 4 years with no clear coat. I had waxed them when new, but that didn't last long at all.

I don't know what the answer to the question is about what to use to clear coat them. But I can tell you that you definitely need to clearcoat them with something when they're not originally clearcoated from the factory. Heck, I'm awefully tempted to re-clear coat my new factory clear coated wheels after the hell I went through with the last set of wheels. I now have $65/wheel new but "blemished" aluminum wheels that are clear coated and I'm MUCH happier.

Yes
And also ScotchBrite and wet sanding.
If I paint them then I etch them with an acid.

It's all inthe prep work. If you paint rust, rust comes back. If you clear corrosion, corrosion comes back. Clearcoating last forever on your car paint, done right it lasts a long long time on your wheels.

either way you have to take care of them. Several of my rides over the years have two sets of wheels, a nice summer set and a sacrificial winter set.

Hmmmm. I guess I will try cleaning them up first and see what I have to work with. I don't have any problems with the crap they put on the roads here. The wheels are actually in pretty good shape. They just stay dirty and don't clean up really easy. I know I said I didn't want to do it, but I might just take the time and polish them. Then I can clear them and have really shiney wheels. Bling Bling! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" /> I don't know what I will do yet till this weekend, when I clean them. Thanks for all the replies.

I wax mine with "Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #26 Professional Hi-Tech Yellow Wax". Here's a pic after about 6-7 years of being on the truck. http://community.webshots.com/photo/56709005/140994094EUWOVp