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 .
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that's pretty much what i did. degreaser and some elbow grease. (no pun intended)
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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)
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I always used WD-40 to eliminate most of the grease.
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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.
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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:
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