Ideas to clean oxidation barnacles from rims?

[Yelxo]

I have a 1998 4Runner Limited with some nasty stuff - almost like an oxidation barnacles (see pictures attached).

I have tried rim cleaner and scrubbing the rims with no improvement. Anyone have any ideas on what can take this stuff off?

 

[JeepKiller]

Sand blast them or get new wheels haha I've had to do it and that's the only thing I've ever tried before that's worked

 

[Yelxo]

Painting rims - still need to get rid of oxidation?

thanks for the idea that I need to paint the rims - will still need to get rid of oxidation - do you recommend doing a light spot sanding on the effected spots?

 

[TheDurk]

thanks for the idea that I need to paint the rims - will still need to get rid of oxidation - do you recommend doing a light spot sanding on the effected spots?

Red ScotchBrite works well. See this thread(mine at Post #6):

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/87633-official-wheel-paint-thread.html

and this one:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/165779-brians-duplicolor-3rd-gen-wheel-painting-how-story.html


Use the Scotch-Brite to clean off the oxidation and rough up the rest, then use Duplicolor Acid Etch Primer followed by Sandable Primer, then Wheel Paint, then Clear Coat. Mine are going on four years and still look great.

 

[Yelxo]

Thanks for the link to your thread - super helpful! Not sure I am up for all the labor for a complete repaint of the rims but the flat black looks super cool.

 

[NJT4R]

I had a similar issue on a 98. I used a paint stripper to remove the clear coat & lightly wire wheeled the rough spots.
Here is a before & after picture.

Go ahead & paint them. they are 17 years old.

 

[TheDurk]

Thanks for the link to your thread - super helpful! Not sure I am up for all the labor for a complete repaint of the rims but the flat black looks super cool.

You have four choices:
Like them as they are
Brand new wheels
Pay to powder coat
Paint them.

There is no easy fix.

 

[UnderFire]

Get a grinder and a wire wheel, should take like 15-30 minutes per wheel to get them ready for paint, won't look perfect, but that may not matter to you.