MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
What is the best way to clean up the wheels (NOT wire but the other kind)? There are spots of rust and I assume the wheels are steel or aluminum. Is it just wire brush and solvent time or is there a better way?
Thanks
Don
how deeply pitted are the rust areas, and also how large...?
what i used on some things is the SOS scrubbing pads, NON mettalic.... it helps cut the rust.. also, you can use a fine grade of steel wool...i would also , if possible , use a brass brush to remove the rust. when done, make sure that you use some sort of cover over the rust areas, ( paint, etc.. ) to prevent the rust from re occuring..
one last option, if the wheels are decent, and the cost is not too bad, is to take the tires off the rims, and then have the rims powder-coated...
hope this tid bit may help.. good luck.
If you want to paint the wheels without taking the tires off, spread some vaseline on the tire close to the rim before spraying.
I've had great success with sandblasting and paint. We live in a fairly wet area here, and they do use salt on the roads in the winter, but mine have always stood up really good. Like everything else preparation is the key, that is why sandblasting is so good. It removes all the rust and gives something for the primer to really adhere to.
I did mine with good old elbow grease (with a little power assist). Mine were light-moderate surface rust.
I chucked a wire brush in a drill and got into all the cracks. For the flatter surfaces I tried the 3-M non-metallic paint strippers. Clean 'em good afterwards, use some good quality wheel paint and they should look good for years.
