I have a set of American Racing Outlaw II wheels that I got for free on my 442. They have seen their better days, the clearcoat is badly weather checked. I like the wheels and want to save them if I can. I sent a note along with a pic of the wheel to American Racing (which is owned by another company) and got a reply suggesting that I use wheel polish or wax......... I don't think either of those would be strong enough to clean this up. Open to suggestions - help!

 

Subscribed. I have the same issue. I fear stripping and reapplying the clear coat will be the answer.

 

I am definitely no expert on this subject, but I remember friends who had similar wheel back in the '80s doing this.

 

Correct. A friend of mine had a set of alcoa dually wheels that he had stripped, polished, then clear powder coated. They still look good, five or six years later.

 

What would be the best/easiest way to strip them?

 

Not for the Olds, but watching this since I need to do the wheels on my wife's old Honda. There are wheel refurb shops (some are even mobile) but they charge over $100 per wheel. I was thinking chemical stripper and then polish, maybe rattle can clear if they don't stay nice. Searched youtube for aluminum wheel refinishing and found a bunch of examples.

 

The wheels only cost about $110.00 new, so I probably won't look in to having them done by a wheel shop........
I stopped by my local auto paint supply shop this morning and asked if they had anything they could recommend. Answer - No. They also said that stripper would discolor the aluminum. What about aircraft aluminum stipper?

 

I'd buy a new set, it's cheaper to go out and buy a new set than mess with them professionally. If you want to strip and polish them yourself then all you have is time and materials. Been there done that, no more coated wheels for me.

 

I agree with that. Still, the question remains......... how to strip them?

 

Paint stripper should remove the clear coat and not damage the wheel. Then polish, prep, then apply clear coat. There are many threads on the internet what others have used. Way back when I used steel wool, that is a lot of work.