Hello Friends,
I found YotaTech through a search for T100 forums. Thanks for a lot of useful information from other T100 owners. I recently purchased my Radiant Red '98 SR5 Xtracab and really like it. The previous owner left it in very good condition at 107,000 miles. The truck is still like new tight! However, and there's always a however in life, I need help with the original factory alloy wheels. I would like to make them look near new again. The finish has corrosion in different places and seems to be pitted. What is the best and easiest way to make these wheels look nice again? I will appreciate your suggestions.https://www.yotatech.com/forums/imag...lies/smile.gif
Thanks, DogBert.

 

Welcome. My factory alloys were severally corroded and pitted. I tried everythingto make them look better but nothing worked. Wheel acid helped some but minewereso bad that it didn't do much. depending on how bad yours are depends on what you have to do. it sounds like they aren't to bad so some wheel acid might help. mine had 13 years of corrosion so thats why they didn't clean up and I ended up getting new ones How bad are yours? A pic would be good to see. what have you tried already?

 

Thank Froggy for your input. I don't have a pic available. Each wheel has some pitting. The "plastic" insert (with the Toyota emblem has the paint worn off. The emblem is okay and I can repaint the plastic. I tried some Mothers wheel polish with no success because of course the wheel has a clear coat. Do I understand that the wheel acid that you mention will remove the clear coat so that I can then work out the pitted areas? Is wheel acid available from auto zone type stores? Thanks again for trying to help me. Your truck looks good with the topper and nice wheels! My photo is just a stock picture, but looks like mine. I really like the truck and of course the Toyota quality. DogBert

 

Thanks dogbert, I like it to. The wheel acid I used was mfrom the detail shop at work. I work at a dealer. I don't know where we get it from but im sure you can find it on the internet or from a detail supply shop. don't know if auto zone or advanced caries it. It will take off clear coat if you leave it on long enough. let me know if you can't find some and I can see what else might work.

 

I degreased them using simple green and they looked pretty dang good (I have the SR5 ones that most of the runners and trucks used of the era) I should have used some polishing compound and buffed them.

Mine are still abused a little, best way to really fix them is to go to home depot and get some fine grit sandpaper, and a wire wheel for your drill. Then wetsand/wirewheel the rim and clean it up really good. Then get some really good paint in a silverish kinda color to match the yotas...

I just bought ones that werent in a rust belt state and were very clean form another yotatecher..Plan on cleaning mine up and selling eventually.

 

Thanks fellas for the tips and encouragement. When Spring comes to Illinois I'll get busy and work on this needed project. Maybe some of all of these ideas will work to make my wheels look decent again. The T100's are fine trucks and highly under rated. A whole lot of bang for the buck. Keep your stick on the ice!