GermanLook Forums  

Go Back   GermanLook Forums > Technical Section > Suspension

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 3rd 2006, 14:44
DORIGTT's Avatar
DORIGTT DORIGTT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
Posts: 697
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..
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old June 3rd 2006, 22:57
wrenchnride247's Avatar
wrenchnride247 wrenchnride247 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cleveland,TN
Posts: 1,272
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 .
__________________
1970 T1 W/MassIVe 2913cc RAT/?EFI? w/direct fire (very soon) and 915 trans

1962 SC 1776cc SP 944NA brakes, 993 wheels

VKG
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old June 4th 2006, 09:46
zen's Avatar
zen zen is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: atlanta, ga
Posts: 2,946
that's pretty much what i did. degreaser and some elbow grease. (no pun intended)
__________________
zen
'73 2316 TIV GL Standard Bug (quasi)


Company Branding, Graphic Design, and Web Services at DigiVinci Design
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old June 4th 2006, 23:24
Bullyboy Bullyboy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lethbridge,AB
Posts: 213
Sand or glass bead blasted they look new.
Before













After
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old June 5th 2006, 15:23
DORIGTT's Avatar
DORIGTT DORIGTT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
Posts: 697
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....
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old June 5th 2006, 15:45
Bullyboy Bullyboy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lethbridge,AB
Posts: 213
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.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old June 5th 2006, 20:21
DORIGTT's Avatar
DORIGTT DORIGTT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
Posts: 697
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)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old June 5th 2006, 20:56
boygenius's Avatar
boygenius boygenius is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Spring Hill. Florida
Posts: 1,663
I always used WD-40 to eliminate most of the grease.
__________________
I love my money pit, uhm, err, I mean my car.
1969 beetle in the works... 2.0 type 4 DTM...
2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 crashed
www.volksport.net Volksport Kfer Gruppe
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old June 5th 2006, 21:03
Bullyboy Bullyboy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lethbridge,AB
Posts: 213
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.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old June 5th 2006, 21:54
wrenchnride247's Avatar
wrenchnride247 wrenchnride247 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cleveland,TN
Posts: 1,272
If you don't want to bead blast them, and use wire wheels in drill they look like this.(just for comparison)
__________________
1970 T1 W/MassIVe 2913cc RAT/?EFI? w/direct fire (very soon) and 915 trans

1962 SC 1776cc SP 944NA brakes, 993 wheels

VKG
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old June 6th 2006, 08:35
Steve C's Avatar
Steve C Steve C is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,757
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
__________________
STI powered 1303 in the works.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old June 6th 2006, 12:06
wrenchnride247's Avatar
wrenchnride247 wrenchnride247 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cleveland,TN
Posts: 1,272
I replaced my bearings after cleaning too. Just as a personal rule, i replace all seals and bearings on any used stuff i get.
__________________
1970 T1 W/MassIVe 2913cc RAT/?EFI? w/direct fire (very soon) and 915 trans

1962 SC 1776cc SP 944NA brakes, 993 wheels

VKG
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old June 7th 2006, 15:15
Pillow's Avatar
Pillow Pillow is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Gainesville, VA USA
Posts: 639
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.
__________________
Adrian Pillow
'57 Oval Beetle - project
'66 VW Westfalia - GL
'96 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 6.5L Diesel
'99 GMC Suburban 6.5L Diesel
VolkSport Kafer Gruppe
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old June 7th 2006, 19:07
DORIGTT's Avatar
DORIGTT DORIGTT is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Forest Grove, Oregon
Posts: 697
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!

Last edited by DORIGTT; June 7th 2006 at 19:08. Reason: Using Adrian's real name vs screen name
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old June 8th 2006, 18:00
Pillow's Avatar
Pillow Pillow is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Gainesville, VA USA
Posts: 639
LOL
__________________
Adrian Pillow
'57 Oval Beetle - project
'66 VW Westfalia - GL
'96 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 6.5L Diesel
'99 GMC Suburban 6.5L Diesel
VolkSport Kafer Gruppe
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:51.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© www.GermanLook.net 2002-2017. All Rights Reserved