Wheel Suprise!

[NCRedLine]

I was washing my RedLine yesterday and normally when I clean the inside of the wheels, I use a long brush with soapy water. But, these brown and black stains were not coming off so I sprayed some Armor All Wheel Cleaner on the inside, let it sit a minute and then I started scrubbing with the brush. The paint started coming off!! I was freaking out at first and then noticed that it was chrome under the gray paint. So right now my wheels, on the inside, are blotchy gray and chrome. So my next project is to take the wheels off and totally remove the gray paint. Any suggestions to doing this or should I just use that same wheel cleaner to get the rest of the gray paint off?

[RMFNSKY]

Originally Posted by NCRedLine

I was washing my RedLine yesterday and normally when I clean the inside of the wheels, I use a long brush with soapy water. But, these brown and black stains were not coming off so I sprayed some Armor All Wheel Cleaner on the inside, let it sit a minute and then I started scrubbing with the brush. The paint started coming off!! I was freaking out at first and then noticed that it was chrome under the gray paint. So right now my wheels, on the inside, are blotchy gray and chrome. So my next project is to take the wheels off and totally remove the gray paint. Any suggestions to doing this or should I just use that same wheel cleaner to get the rest of the gray paint off?

What type of wheel do you have Chrome, Polished, or Painted. IF you can post apic of the wheel

[skyfan]

I do not believe a manufacture would paint over chrome plated wheels which costs a lot more and sell them for a lot less. I think only the U S government does stuff like that. What you may have done is gotten down to the bare steel which looks shiny until it rusts. They may be aluminum. Try putting a magnet on them. I hope for your sake that is not the case. I hope you got the chrome wheels. Good luck.

[Devoking]

It is true, this was discovered on the Solstice wheels quite some time ago.
I believe that some folks did remove the paint to expose the chrome but ended up finding out that the chrome under the paint is not of the same quality as on the outside of the wheels and started to flake off. I would address this with your dealer and see if they will replace the paint since it should have not come off this easy in the first place.

[YellowSky]

im pretty sure what your seeing is the alum in its raw form under the paint.. you could take all the paint off and have the bare alum BUT it will start to oxidize and dull very quick if you dont clear coat them.. or polish them with a compound always.. if your goin to strip the paint i wouldnt use any kind of acid based chemical because that is just goin to turn the alum a milky white color and you just make alot more work for yourself!

[Devoking]

Trust me people, they chromed the entire rim and then sprayed the insides.
I just don't think they prepared the insides as well as they did the outside. That is why they covered it with paint.

Here are a couple of threads from the Solstice Forum.
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/s...chromed+inside
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/s...chromed+inside

[TexSon]

They probably chromed the inside to make it is more resistant to the brake dust. Brake dust will eat away at the paint and aluminum unless it is regularly cleaned. Face it, you always clean the outside, but how often do you clean the inside? My wife has a 2002 Jaguar XType and the wheels on it are fairly pitted. While she was still active Navy we were separated for over 3 years during which time she went to car washes/detailers who obviously didn't do that good a job.