Chevrolet cars and trucks come from the factory with stock wheels, also called rims, made of lightweight cast or billeted aluminum. When properly cleaned and polished, stock Chevrolet aluminum wheels take on the shiny luster of chrome wheels. Aluminum is a softer metal than chrome, magnesium alloy or steel, so special care must be taken while cleaning to prevent unsightly scratches. Clean wheels complete the sparkly look of a freshly washed and waxed vehicle.
Remove the stock aluminum wheels to thoroughly clean them. Take off the center caps if the wheels have them. Use an adjustable nozzle and a thick garden hose to spray off loosely attached and superficial surface grit and dirt. Hose off all the brake dust and carbon fibers from the brake pads and the tiny metal shavings from the rotors.
Wash off the remaining dirt and grime with regular car soap or shampoo. Soak the wheels with water and apply the soap. Work it into a lather and gently scrub with a lambskin cleaning mitt to take off grime and road dirt. Scrub the front and backside of each wheel.
Spray the wheels with nonacidic, water-based clear coat-wheel cleaner to prevent damage to the acrylic or polyester clear coat applied to all stock Chevy aluminum wheels. Read the cleaning product's label to make sure it is designed for clear-coat wheels. Loosen stubborn dirt with the cleaner and a flexible-handled, soft-bristled wheel brush. Scrub the spoke edges and the concave nooks and crannies of the wheels.
Clean around the lug nuts and the recessed lug-nut holes with a lug-nut brush to remove residual dirt and brake dust. Turn the hose nozzle down to a gentle spray, and rinse the wheel thoroughly to remove all traces of the cleaner.
Dry the wheels with a clean terry cloth, chamois cloth or microfiber towel to prevent water spots. Avoid dropping the drying cloth and contaminating it with grit that will scratch the wheels' finish. Polish the wheels with a clear-coat-safe polish to make them shine.
