Since the day I got my first 7 (86 GXL) the rims were pock marked and a dull grey. I didn't like that, but also didn't know what to do about it short of getting them professionally done, which I wasn't about to do at the time.

Then I eventually bump into this site:
http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/polish.htm

Why couldn't I apply this to my rims? They're aluminum, too...

The rims have always been a backburner project while I've chased the bigger problems. But now that I've eliminated all of the bigger problems (other than some bodywork - you'll see ) I thought I'd take a shot at the rims this weekend.

Check it out. I used a small hand sander (you can see it in the first pic - it's blue) and 60, 180, 320 and 600 grit sandpaper. When I finished with the 600 the surface was smoooooth (I was expecting to have to use even finer grit before that would happen.) Afterwards, I used Mother's Aluminum Wheel Polish to 'seal' them.

I have to hit them again. I didn't go at it full-bore and there are patches visible where the pock marks were quite deep. And I only did the driver's side. It took about 2 hours to do each rim.


edit: I don't recommend doing this by hand - it will take FOREVER. I know - I took at stab at doing it by hand last fall...

Here is our establishing shot, taken after I finished.

 

What the rims used to look like. These are the passenger-side rims, in shadow so the detail isn't too visible...

 

This one looks much crappier!

 

And now the (almost) final product!

 

 

That looks good, Youve just inspired me to do the same on my dull and dirty GXL rims

 

If you can borrow the sander (like I did) then all you have to buy is the sandpaper and the polish.

Just mentioning that after looking at your sig.

 

ive seen it first hand in person - theres a HUGE difference.. looks GREAT Amur_!

 

I was planning to do the same exact thing!! Thanks for the extra motivation!! Looks SWEET....

 

Nice work, nothing like factory style bling-bling.

PS- Please get both of your wheels facing the same direction.

 

Would that work on the s5 GXL rims?

 

WOW! That's great Amur. Wanna come over and revitalize my rims!!!

 

Just get some tal-strip and remove the clear cloat, then polish and re-apply the clearcoat.

That's what I intend on doing with my rims, not by choice, but because they are so falky that they won't hold a seal to the tires!

 

Oh ****.

The last time I had the rears off, to do some surgery on the differential, I must have slapped the wheels back on without checking.

 

Hm. I think Im going to do this to mine until I can get some BBS rims to replace them

 

Wow, that looks amazing. The difference is astounding. Great job.

 

what is tal-strip? How much and where can I find it?

 

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/te...iowheels.shtml

That guy did a nice write up, and no... that's not 3rd gen as in FD

Tal-strip is one hell of a strong paint/gloss/enamel/whatever remover. I think they use it with airplanes as well.

 

I'm actually thinking of leaving the clear coat off... it'll get filthy a lot faster, but it won't get pitted and flake (lose seal) like clear coat would.

 

hmm those do look alot better. to bad i had to start off with the ole dialers before i got rims. lol

 

Looks like a lot of work. I just painted mine black, put slicks on them, and I just use them for autoctrossing.

 

Looks nice, very nice. When you get the detail stuff knocked-out, you should post new photos (little higher res. if you can). I'm interested

 

That I can do and will do.


Btw, I swapped the rear wheels so now the rims are all spinning in the right direction. And now I have one 'clean' rim on each side of the car. I hope to sand at least one more tomorrow night...

 

It is mentioned at the link I posted, and I should have mentioned it in my initial post...


Do not sand your rims unless you are wearing a dust mask.


Aluminum dust is BAD for you. You do not want to breathe it!

 

hmm so how long did this take my grandpa is a rim cleaning expert and i have a drimmle style sander and i have the S5 gxl rims i want that crome look but they are mags so ill need to know if you would go about it differently..?