How do I clean my dirty arms?
 

Hello all!

I just purchased a set of aluminum semi-trailing arms for my Ghia and they are DIRTY! What is the best method of cleaning them up so they look new...not polished?

Thanks Pillow for the arms..

A can of oven cleaner, or engine degreaser, wire brush, and the local car wash is the first step I took. If you have someone with a parts washer then that can do the same thing. Once all the "bulk dirt" is off you can use different types of wire wheels in a hand held drill to clean them up to the finish you want. If you want them to stay clean get some "rattle can" clear coat , and spray a coat or two on them (eastwood company makes a good clear called diamond clear that won't yellow). That way dirt can't stick as easy, and you can hose them off easier:D .

that's pretty much what i did. degreaser and some elbow grease. (no pun intended)

Sand or glass bead blasted they look new.
Before

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/eeaa65b0.jpg











After
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/eeaa6592.jpg

DAMN! Mine are definately the before shot.

Are you concerned about grit infiltrating the bearings during the blasting process? I noticed your hubs were still installed....

If I wasn't disassembling them all the way down to the bare bones, I would have taped off the gap.
I am going to replace the bearings later, but I was tired of trying to fit things up and get dirty every time I handled them. I had to try out my recycled junk blast cabinet anyways.:rolleyes:

How big of a cabinet did you make for yourself? I've been thinking of just disassembling them once everything works/fits and sending out all of my components which are too big for my bench-mounted blaster to my favorite male-stripper (that's the message the guy leaves me here at work...bastard)

I always used WD-40 to eliminate most of the grease.

The cabinet is 36Lx25Wx40H. I just used the scrap MDF I had in the garage and thats what the sizes ended up. I lined the inside with white conveyor belting we had at work (headed for the dumpster). I had to buy the blast gun ,gloves, silicone, clamps.
You can expand your table top blaster like I did with mine years ago. We couldn't fit some parts into the cabinet so I built an extension box that just sits on top of the bench mounted cabinet. I removed the glass lid and put a fixed glass into the top box. It has worked good for years like that.

If you don't want to bead blast them, and use wire wheels in drill they look like this.(just for comparison);)
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...2.jpg~original

Hi

I used the wire brush method as well, they came up pretty good. I also used some evil stuff from a chemical company that was a bit like oven cleaner. While washing chemical stuff off, it ran into the bearings, I was going to change them anyway.

Steve

I replaced my bearings after cleaning too. Just as a personal rule, i replace all seals and bearings on any used stuff i get.

Just keeping the rust off for ya ;)

I would just go for Simple Green and wire wheel. It should go quickly.

The bearings are good so I would try and keep them in good shape to reuse.

Hey Adrian,

I'm putting in a new dishwasher so I should freak my wife out and toss one in with her some dishes!

Anyone need a roomate? I'll need a place to stay after that one...

Kinda like putting her on Punk'd!

LOL :eek: