I don't know if this has been discussed here before, but I'll be the first to admit Mothers isn't the first place to turn for your wheels. I picked up a can when I got my vehicle, and was doing it by hand thinking there's gotta be a better way to do this. My uncle let me borrow his Turtle Wax Chrome Polish w/Rust Remover. I wouldn't ever go back to Mothers except for maybe a maintenance polish. It took the amount of crud off Mothers would get in ~20~ minutes in about 10 or less. You wouldn't expect this from a cheaper product, but hey, hopefully this saves someone some time. I'm not trying to knock Mothers as it is great for a variety of other things, like plain aluminum wheels on my friends Volvo, however just some advice.

I use the exact same stuff to polich my chrome wheels, comes in a small green plastic jug. Stuff really does work great, i just bought a oem set of chrome aurora wheels that looked like hell, but they look brand new after some time with that stuff.

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Mother's polish is for Aluminum. Turtle Wax is for Chrome. Two very different finishes, that need 2 very different polishes.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Hopefully this thread helps other newcomers not fall into the improper polish trap I did. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Turtle Wax's Scratch and Swirl remover.

I'll say it, Mothers suck!
I have been polishing aluminum wheels for over 35 years and used ALOT of different products, and Mothers is just NOT that great.
The biggest thing they have going for them is the Chip Foose advertising, and I'm not impressed.

I have used Simichrome paste for the last several years and just can't find anything that can do the same level of quality that I'm getting with Simichrome.

I'd be glad to post some pictures of my work if you'd like.
I have polished wheels with Mothers and it always left a haze on the surface of the metal. It would then take an application of Simichrome to bring out the show quality luster we are all looking for in polished aluminum.
So in my experience, Mothers is just a waste of time.

I know a lot of people are in love with Mothers (and not just this forum), and that's OK by me, but my honest opinion is that there are better products out there to be tried.
Don't get caught up in the advertising hype. Try the comparison test yourself, like I have, you might be surprised.
Leon

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2006 GTO
2005 GXP Bonneville (his) (SOLD)
2004 SLE Bonneville (hers)
2004 SLE Bonneville (sons)
2006 GXP Grand Prix (sons)
1998 SLE GMC Sierra
1991 Yamaha FJ1200
1983 Trans Am (SOLD)
1979 Trans Am

1tinindian, is it better than the turtle wax product I mentioned? Obviously my friend who's dad owns a tractor store and I have an advantage with access to Miric Acid (not sure if that's spelled right). That stuff is amazing.

Muriatic IIRC is the proper spelling. Also called Hydrochloric acid. Be careful with that, it will do a lot of damage if improperly used.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

That's an understatement in my opinion. - BC

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In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321

It'll eat through the pump system of a spray bottle rather quickly, we found that out.

Yeah. It will also eat through Chrome if not properly diluted. It will eat galvanizing off of steel. If you need to weld galvanized steel, you need to strip the galvanizing off with it, or you can get potentially fatally sick.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

If we are talking about cleaning up chrome wheels, I like to go over them with OOOO steel wool then polish them up with Simichrome.
The steel wool acts the same as using a clay bar on your paint and it doesn't scratch the chrome.
My son did this to his chrome bend 5s on his 04 SLE and the looked great.

Leon

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2006 GTO
2005 GXP Bonneville (his) (SOLD)
2004 SLE Bonneville (hers)
2004 SLE Bonneville (sons)
2006 GXP Grand Prix (sons)
1998 SLE GMC Sierra
1991 Yamaha FJ1200
1983 Trans Am (SOLD)
1979 Trans Am

Once spring rolls around, I'll have to try that. I'm always looking for that awesome shine for my wheels.

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- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project

I have some pictures of how mine came out, absolutely majestic, like pretty much everybody else's on this forum. I think these are some of the best looking factory wheels.

It'll also eat the nail beds off your fingers, ask me how I know. That stuff is pretty awesome when used right, but pretty unforgiving... took the "black" off a set of black chrome wheels one time lol

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*Chris*

15 Nissan Altima 2.5SL/2004 Honda Shadow 750 Aero
Previous, 07 GP SE, 06 GP GXP, 97 SSE 40th, 96 LeSabre Custom, 93 SLE, 90 LeSabre Custom

We were very careful. For winter maintenance since it has been too cold for the car wash up here lately I will just rub them down with some snow. It works decently to keep the salt at bay. Just remember to clean the snow off the inside of the wheel or you'll be hopping like crazy going down the highway haha.. imagine that.

I use al Adam Polishes and love their whole line of detail supplies. Look them up.