Because your car's rims sit so close to the ground, they are constantly exposed to things like moisture, snow and road debris. Over time, all of these things can create the perfect environment for rust to develop. Left untreated, rust progresses and can weaken the integrity of your metal rims. Rust along the edges of the rim can even lead to seeping from your tires, which can cause uneven and untimely wear. Here are some tips to help you combat the rust development on your rims.
Start With A Clean Surface
The first thing you should do is clean the rims completely. Rinse them thoroughly with a hose first. Scrub the whole surface with a stiff brush and a solution of water and dish detergent or rim cleaner. Once cleaned, rinse them again to get rid of any residue. Dry the rims entirely with a soft, absorbent cloth. Drying is important, because more moisture can encourage the rust development.
Remove The Existing Rust
Any rust left on the surface of the rims is enough to allow it to continue spreading. Use steel wool or a wire brush to get rid of all of the surface rust on the rim. It may seem counter-productive to do this after cleaning, but it's actually important that the rims be clean first. Otherwise, the abrasions caused by the wire brush or steel wool may actually have ground-in dirt in them from the rim surface.
Work gently when you're stripping the rust away. The goal is to avoid damaging the metal beneath, so work slowly and wipe the area clean periodically with a damp cloth. That lets you see what kind of progress you're making. If you have areas of stubborn rust, use a chemical rust remover on those instead of trying to scrub them away. Once all of the rust is gone, buff the whole surface with fine-grade steel wool.
Protect The Rim From Future Damage
Once you remove all of the rust from the rims and they're buffed completely, dampen a clean, soft cloth with rubbing alcohol. Wipe the whole surface with that cloth to get rid of any oil or dirt residue. Then, spray the rims with a rust prevention coating, like ValuGard. This will form a barrier over the metal so that rust cannot develop. Let the coating dry, following the directions for the product you selected. Buff the surface with the fine steel wool, then apply a second coat. This ensures adequate protection.
Since your rims are so vulnerable to rust damage, the more you can do to protect them, the better. If you aren't comfortable doing this type of work, a local auto body shop can help.
Share11 July 2016
One of the first things I always replace in my vehicles is the stereo system. Although newer vehicles come equipped with some very nice stereo systems, there are always elements that are overlooked and need to be improved upon. If you aren't happy with the audio equipment in your vehicle, my blog is a great place to start. You will learn everything about what you have installed by the factory and advice for components that you can add to it to make it something that blows your mind and makes the listening experience greater than you ever thought could be possible.