2 and 3 piece wheel bolt restoration

[Beware]

Screw all these methods and do it right the first time:

Step one:
Soak all the bolts in a bowl of water with a generous helping of Barkeeper's Friend mixed in. The longer the soak time the less time with the toothbrush. I soaked mine for at least 15 minutes.

Step two:
Take the bolts out one at a time and go over them completely with the electric toothbrush. This is much easier than other methods because no elbow grease is involved and you aren't holding a heavy drill for 2 hours.

Step three:
Rinse in water and dry each bolt completely with a towel.

I agree with this....except I used vinegar in step one and soaked for 24hrs. Then I added a step 4 and 5 which was to stick them in the dish washer cutlery section for a wash and then used super super super fine steel wool to remove any left over crud and shiny them up at the end, perfect!

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Anyone have a solid solution to keeping them from rusting again? I have the OZ chrome bolts. Thinking of rattle can clear, but also debating having them sent out to be chromed again. Not really sure how to approach it. They look awesome, I'm just hoping there is a way to keep them that way.

I'm going to try and wax/seal mine. Otherwise I have to take em apart and re plate em bah.

[gen2_4door]

Well I used the 'bar keepers friend soak and scrub with an electric toothbrush with AMAZING results!! Touched them up with a bit of Mothers polish to finish them up. Absolutely floored with the results.

[penpen]

vinegar striped the plating and clear off my bolts after 3 days of soaking, just a couple coats of paint and done don't have to worry about rust

[Ryal.]

If they're actually rusting, you're through the chrome on them and they need to be replated. You can spray clear on bare bolts to keep them from rusting as rapidly, but they will rust under the clear eventually.

I've never had any real luck with rock tumblers for anything other than cleaning hardware up a bit. It's a good concept but isn't real effective in practice.

[staystetti]

Wax?

[Luca88]

Anyone have a solid solution to keeping them from rusting again? I have the OZ chrome bolts. Thinking of rattle can clear, but also debating having them sent out to be chromed again. Not really sure how to approach it. They look awesome, I'm just hoping there is a way to keep them that way.

[CT TDI]

Screw all these methods and do it right the first time:

Items needed:

Barkeepers Friend
Electric toothbrush
Bowl
Towel
Household cleaning gloves (wear these through the whole procedure)

Step one:
Soak all the bolts in a bowl of water with a generous helping of Barkeeper's Friend mixed in. The longer the soak time the less time with the toothbrush. I soaked mine for at least 15 minutes.

Step two:
Take the bolts out one at a time and go over them completely with the electric toothbrush. This is much easier than other methods because no elbow grease is involved and you aren't holding a heavy drill for 2 hours.

Step three:
Rinse in water and dry each bolt completely with a towel.

I used this method on all my plated OZ bolts and the results were amazing. The toothbrush will get in between the points on the head of the bolts well. I only have a couple of the points that were really bad so I just stuck them back in the bowl to soak some more and moved on to the next bolt. All my gold bolts went from looking tarnished and black to gleaming pure sparkling gold.

[SeeClass]

So what is "the works" consist of?

It's hydrochloric acid, it will eat through chrome. You can neutralize it with salt and then rinse the bolts with hot water. ALWAYS use gloves btw.

[lbarstad]

Hi!

How about electroplating the bolts? Anyone tried it? Should keep the rust away.

http://www.eastwood.com/specialty-coatings/electroplating.html

Regards Lars

[gen2_4door]

So what is "the works" consist of? I've now tried a tarnish remover just cause I had it sitting around and still nothing. I need to try a rock tumbler or find someone that does it. I have no idea where to start looking locally for someone that does it. hmm

[SeeClass]

This is my 5 step process

1. If bolts aren't chrome I dip them in "the works" ( blue bottle )
2. rinse in HOT water with salt
3. Dip them in Naval Jelly to remove extra rust
4. rinse them in HOT water again
5. Dry and clear them so they won't rust again

[Icana4dit]

just use a rock tumbler

[gen2_4door]

I may have to try the coke or vinegar soak. Cause I Damn near wore out my drill rubbing the hell out of them with the SOS pads and steel wool and only got 7 out of 160 to come out even this well. The soak is next....

[scaredofstance]

good thread.