I got some FX4 wheels over the weekend. Not a bad deal for $250, wheels and tires so its worth the effort. Anyway, they have some really fine scratches on them that seem to be visible only when dirty. I have yet to wash them and what not, but wanted to ask the group what some of you have done to your wheels to help repair/hide scratches on these wheels.

The scratches are on the "spokes" of the wheel, not the painted/machined areas.

I figure I'll use a clear coat safe wheel cleaner, such as megs hot wheel cleaner, the one in the purple bottle, and then following that up with some gold class, but after that, I don't know.

Any ideas? I'll try to post some pics tomorrow if that will help.

 

use a buffer with some type of polish

 

I just added more scratches so you couldn't see the the original scratch.

 

If it's clearcoated, treat it like paint. If not (and if it's not painted/chromed where the scratches are), try a metal polish (NXT, the new megs one coming soon, etc. The new one is really good IMO.

 

well, i tried some #7 on them with the buffer and no luck. I #26'd them too after the 7 and yeah the shiny parts look great, but the scratched areas still stand out.

I think I am just going to try and dump them for close to what I have in them and try again another time.

 

#7 is a pure polish and #26 is a wax. Neither of those products will remove scratches. If the scratches are very light as you said, give ScratchX a try. You will need to put some elbow grease into it and really work it in. You also may need to do more than one application, but ScratchX should give you better results. It may not remove them completely, but it should lessen them if the scratches are not too deep.

 

x2. If S-x doesn't touch it, try a rubbing compound (which will leave micro scratches), then S-x. (Which will remove those). G'luck!

 

I know they won't remove them....i've been around in the forum enough to know that.

The concept was more for concealing instead of removing. I used the scratch-x on them last night, it did okay but will take more applications etc... than I can handle. I broke my hand earlier this year and it still hasn't returned to full strength yet so I can't muscle down on it like I need to. There is a local guy here that does restorative work on wheels etc... that does a good job. I think I may try taking them to him before I make a final decision.

 

Okay....here's the deal. With my hand still being all weak and everything, I decided to go against the forum concensus and used Scratch-X with a buffer that I had picked up at Wal-Mart. I used the microfiber bonnet to apply with and a terry bonnet to remove, and a wool bonnet for final buff.

After that, I have started to see some results. You have to really catch the wheel in the right light to see some of the scratches. I think with maybe one or two more applications, I'll have it pretty much done. Now to just order some new center caps. I'll get some pics up soon. It rained all day yesterday here and I rolled through some nasty stuff. Once I get them washed off again I'll put some pics up.