Polishing Stock Rims - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cadyshac · 01-22-2018, 06:59 PM

I am thinking about stripping and polishing my stock 5 spoke rims. They are the polished rims from Chevy, 2011 model year, but the factory polish job leaves much to be desired. Have any of you done this? Can I get them to a really high gloss polish before I clear them again? I don't want to waste my time but I don't see why they won't polish up to a mirror finish. If anyone has pics, especially before and after that would be very helpful.

Tenring · 01-22-2018, 09:26 PM

Subscribed like to get some info on this also, I kept mine clean and waxed but they could use a polish for sure.

TheFlyingBananaSS · 01-22-2018, 10:17 PM

If you have the time to invest go for it. But you are looking at many, many man hours to get the results you are looking for. Just get chrome if you want that sort of shine.

cadyshac · 01-24-2018, 08:40 AM

Hmmm, crickets......no one has done anything like this?

Reichler · 01-24-2018, 09:45 AM

Trying to polish a stock 20" cast aluminum wheel to a mirror finish is going to be a very arduous job as cast wheels aren't as easy to polish as forged wheels due to the manufacturing process.

Also, keep in mind that in order for a clearcoat to adhere well, the finish needs to have some bite to it, and thus polishing to a perfect mirror finish is not possible.

For example, I have raw fully polished CCW wheels on my GTO. You can opt for a clearcoat, but they must brush the finish first to ensure the clearcoat will bond to the wheel. Clearing a mirror finish won't last long before the clear begins to chip/fail.

jonesaustin71.aj · 01-24-2018, 12:23 PM

I recently got a set of mrr228 professionally stripped and polished. Not sure if it helps lol. They are cleared aswell.

2011 2SS A6

cadyshac · 01-25-2018, 06:38 PM

Thanks guys.

I knew clearing over a high gloss polish might be a problem. Might be time to rethink this.

Tenring · 01-25-2018, 07:28 PM

There are some company's that will Chrome them, I had a company in Texas do my Harley wheels and they have held up great.

chuckie669 · 01-25-2018, 08:06 PM

I had a set of speedlines on my 4th gen that I stripped the clear off using aircraft paint stripper. I then polished them up to a mirror shine. Without clear coat, polished wheels take maintenance to keep immaculate

01-22-2018, 06:59 PM	#1
cadyshac It's in the hole! Drives: '11 2SS L99 SGM, '18 2SS, M6, HWSE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,401	Polishing Stock Rims I am thinking about stripping and polishing my stock 5 spoke rims. They are the polished rims from Chevy, 2011 model year, but the factory polish job leaves much to be desired. Have any of you done this? Can I get them to a really high gloss polish before I clear them again? I don't want to waste my time but I don't see why they won't polish up to a mirror finish. If anyone has pics, especially before and after that would be very helpful.

01-22-2018, 10:17 PM	#3
TheFlyingBananaSS Evil Genius of Chevrolet Drives: 2017 Z06, 2019 XTS, 2013 SS Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: New York Posts: 3,262	If you have the time to invest go for it. But you are looking at many, many man hours to get the results you are looking for. Just get chrome if you want that sort of shine. __________________ GPI SS2 VVT cam, ECS Novi 1500 supercharger, Corsa Extreme, Detroit Speed and BMR suspension, Circle D triple disc, Melling oil pump, LS2 chain tensioner, ATI 10% UD, DSX E85 kit, High Energy coils, BTR springs, LS2 Lifter trays, Titanium retainers, hardened push rods, FIC 1000 injectors, ZL1 pump, Mighty Mouse catch can, AEM gauges, Tial BOV, Richmond 3.91 gears, Custom gauge bezels, Speed Engineering headers, Stainless Works HF cats, DSX Aux pump, 710rwhp on E85.

01-22-2018, 09:26 PM	#2
Tenring Drives: 2015 SS/RS M6 Commemorative Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,269	Subscribed like to get some info on this also, I kept mine clean and waxed but they could use a polish for sure.

01-24-2018, 08:40 AM	#4
cadyshac It's in the hole! Drives: '11 2SS L99 SGM, '18 2SS, M6, HWSE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,401	Hmmm, crickets......no one has done anything like this?

01-24-2018, 09:45 AM	#5
Reichler Drives: 2004 GTO & 2005 GTO Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 303	Trying to polish a stock 20" cast aluminum wheel to a mirror finish is going to be a very arduous job as cast wheels aren't as easy to polish as forged wheels due to the manufacturing process. Also, keep in mind that in order for a clearcoat to adhere well, the finish needs to have some bite to it, and thus polishing to a perfect mirror finish is not possible. For example, I have raw fully polished CCW wheels on my GTO. You can opt for a clearcoat, but they must brush the finish first to ensure the clearcoat will bond to the wheel. Clearing a mirror finish won't last long before the clear begins to chip/fail.

01-24-2018, 12:23 PM	#6
jonesaustin71.aj Drives: 2011 Black 2SS 6A Join Date: May 2017 Location: Mansfield, Texas Posts: 45	I recently got a set of mrr228 professionally stripped and polished. Not sure if it helps lol. They are cleared aswell. 2011 2SS A6

01-25-2018, 06:38 PM	#7
cadyshac It's in the hole! Drives: '11 2SS L99 SGM, '18 2SS, M6, HWSE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,401	Thanks guys. I knew clearing over a high gloss polish might be a problem. Might be time to rethink this.

01-25-2018, 07:28 PM	#8
Tenring Drives: 2015 SS/RS M6 Commemorative Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,269	There are some company's that will Chrome them, I had a company in Texas do my Harley wheels and they have held up great.

01-25-2018, 08:06 PM	#9
chuckie669 Drives: 2011 ss Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: E-TX Posts: 764	I had a set of speedlines on my 4th gen that I stripped the clear off using aircraft paint stripper. I then polished them up to a mirror shine. Without clear coat, polished wheels take maintenance to keep immaculate