How To Maintain Your RAYS Wheels!
03-21-2009, 04:54 PM
#126
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I recenetly bought some volks for 1.4k with tires and two of the front wheels have stains like a blue-ish color, one has a small dent on the end of the lip rear 1. does it need to be re- anodized 2. could the lip be repaired ? was i jipped ?
Last edited by Z33_kid; 03-21-2009 at 05:02 PM.
04-21-2009, 09:23 AM
#128
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It's weird… way back in the day when I had my scion tC when it first came out, you'd never think to look for water spots on those cheap after market wheels. Well I had 5Zigen FN01R's on them but you know never looked at the finish. Seems like after I damaged my 5Zigen 5ZR 2pc wheels (polished lip) with a wheel cleaner I've been looking at every little spot since. After that, I switched to the Volk GTS for my Altima coupe and never had a problem. Granted I've become a maintenance freak.
Great thread. I hope it saves someone the heart ache of having to find out the hard way like so many of us.
One question. How do you guys feel about touch free car washes? I'm sure the soap may be more abrasive seeing how it has to break down the dirt without physically washing it. Has anyone had any bad experiences with them??? The majority of the time I wash my car by hand but sometimes I have to admit, I just want to run it through.
Thanks
Great thread. I hope it saves someone the heart ache of having to find out the hard way like so many of us.
One question. How do you guys feel about touch free car washes? I'm sure the soap may be more abrasive seeing how it has to break down the dirt without physically washing it. Has anyone had any bad experiences with them??? The majority of the time I wash my car by hand but sometimes I have to admit, I just want to run it through.
Thanks
05-06-2009, 10:13 AM
#129
I have a set of GT-7s (diamond black w/ polished lip). My car is kept outside and i throw the volks on from april - november (they don't see any snow or salt). My volks see rain all the time and i have no problem with water marks or any damage to the clear coat. Sometimes the wheels go 3-4 days without being cleaned from rain, and i don't have a problem. This is the 2nd spring/summer/fall for these wheels.
I am also looking for an answer to what type of wheel wax is good for the anodized clear coat on these volks, if anyone knows one...
I am also looking for an answer to what type of wheel wax is good for the anodized clear coat on these volks, if anyone knows one...
05-06-2009, 10:22 AM
#130
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after humping the wheels with a claybar for like 2 hours, ive tried: mothers carnaruba wax (non liquid), and mothers FX synwax. both worked GREAT... the non liquid wax melts off within a week tho. and i just spray some mothers showtime instant detailer on them whenever i want to do a quick cleaning.
05-06-2009, 11:04 AM
#131
after humping the wheels with a claybar for like 2 hours, ive tried: mothers carnaruba wax (non liquid), and mothers FX synwax. both worked GREAT... the non liquid wax melts off within a week tho. and i just spray some mothers showtime instant detailer on them whenever i want to do a quick cleaning.
The claybar did a good job too?
05-07-2009, 07:31 AM
#132
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Claybar first!!!!!!!!!!!! No point in waxing dirty wheels. I always claybar a panel/piece before waxing. Claybar works on headlights/taillights/windows and weatherstripping.
05-21-2009, 06:06 PM
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You guys will think I'm nuts but I've been using Bon Ami cleanser on my GT-7s lips for about 5 years. It's a cleanser made specifically for anodized pots and pans and as the lable says "guarenteed not to scratch" It was actually recommended to me by a chef buddy of mine that has his resturant's kitchen open to the public from his dinning room and has mirror polished anodized Aluminum pans. Since the customers can see everything he is very vigilant about cleaning off the carbon and keeping the mirror shine.
I had a detail shop use something harsh on them about 4 years ago and was going to trash them so I figured I had nothing to loose. They went from a crusty white back to new condition. It will not remove scratches however.
I had a detail shop use something harsh on them about 4 years ago and was going to trash them so I figured I had nothing to loose. They went from a crusty white back to new condition. It will not remove scratches however.
06-09-2009, 10:38 AM
#134
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Got PIAA Super Rozzas on my car (gloss black with polished lip)...I use soap and water to clean whenever i wash my car..which lasts about a day and doesn't really give it a lasting shine...I was wondering what else would be safe to use? I was thinking to try Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish is that even safe?
06-09-2009, 10:56 AM
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Your wheels are most likely not bare Aluminum and they are definitely not Magnesium. I would think your best bet would be to do a couple layers of any good wax (not polish) over the face and lip.
06-09-2009, 11:00 AM
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Hmmm...so after a wash with soap and water, is my best option to claybar it and then use something like that carnuba wax? I'm really clueless when it comes to detailing. 
06-09-2009, 11:17 AM
#138
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I could send you before and after but I keep my wheels pretty clean to begin with and the wax being clear, you don't really see a difference. It's a week later that you see the result.
07-11-2009, 08:42 AM
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Yeah, looks like I'm a victim of water stains on the outside barrel of my rear Volk GT-7s. I was told the stains can be polished out, but reading all of this has me thinking of going with the claybar first, then possibly trying that Bon Ami Cleanser to see what that does, then maybe rubbing some carnaruba on them. It's really hard to keep these wheels clean and I used to go to the local car wash, so all those chemicals and water just sat on the bottom of the barrel, bastards.
