6 month old ASA AR1's destroyed

[cparker]

I'm pissed you guys. I just bought a set of ASA AR1 wheels last fall and the finish on the machined lip is already destroyed. Has anyone successfully refinished the machined lip?

I have this weird stuff (brake dust?) in large and small snowflake shaped stains all over the clearcoated surface. I scrubbed the hell out of them (to the point where I removed the clear coat in one spot), used wheel cleaner, polish, everything, and they won't come clean.

[zj96sc]

On my SSR GT3s the previous owner removed the clearcoat on the machined lip. Ton of effort but at that point they're just plain old polishable - kept a microfiber in the map pocket and wiped em down daily. every couple weeks hit them with the chrome polish and they'd buff up to mirror grade.

clearcoat and aggressive compound brake dust just aren't going to mix.

[cparker]

Well guys, here is what I did. I got some aircraft paint stripper and applied it to the clear coated lips. This softened the clear coat, then I used 400 grit wed/dry sandpaper to remove the clear coat down to bare metal and scrubbed out any minor pitting i found. Then I stepped from 600 to 800 to 1000 to 1500 until I had a nice shiny polished surface.

Honestly, not only did this solve the brake dust buildup issue but I think the natural polished aluminum look is a better match to my car. Plus when I sanded it down it took out the machine marks so it looks smoother.

[Nomar06]

Nice....any pics?

[Hornung418]

Yeah let's get some pics up here...a before and after would be plenty appropriate.

Good on you for fixing it yourself!! :thumbup

[cparker]

I snapped these with my crappy blackberry work phone. I don't have any other pics.

Before

3587

After

3588

[Hornung418]

Wow! Great Job!!

[cparker]

Thanks! My finger are killing me but it was worth it.

[Nomar06]

Great work!