polishing durabright wheels

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Toyman, Mar 17, 2010.

  1. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Interesting.

    That's what I was thinking, kinda sucks if it's that easy to ruin them. I've got one trailer with them and they look great (their the XBR versions which is brighter than the first generation). I'd buy them again (especially since I just got done polishing 14 wheels, 2 step boxes and 2 tanks. My back and shoulders hurt now, gotta go back to work to get a break)

    Taken directly from Alcoa's brochure
     
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  3. Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

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    kicked back in my lazyboy...
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    I've got a trailer you can polish next...:yes2557:
     
  4. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

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    Bring it down, I feel like a zombie now anyway. A few more isn't going to hurt!:biggrin_2554:
     
  5. gunner76

    gunner76 Medium Load Member

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    the durabright coating will come off. My trailer has them and after being on the road for almost three years the two rims on the curbside have all the coating off of the dished part, and the streetside rims still have a little shine left on the dished part. The face of the wheels where the holes are is still shiny on all four. I drive on alot of gravel, but limit speed to 15mph to reduce rock chips, but I think all the wear on the curbside wheels is from dust being kicked up off the shoulder of paved roads, otherwise all four wheels would be the same( I don't drop off the pavement very often). I said I'd never buy them again and stick to polished, but I'm getting ready to order another trailer and will probably put them on to save myself a little time on polishing.
     
  6. Toyman

    Toyman Light Load Member

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    These are chipped, blistered, and BURNED. I thought they were supposed to look like new for ever. Will have to try the paint remover. I talked to a guy who says he can get some for me. And then its shine time
     
  7. Loaderlou

    Loaderlou Medium Load Member

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    Has anybody tried to trade them into alcoa on a new set? I'm with jfaulk99 on getting them again to save polishing on every wheel, not to mention all the rest of the truck and trailer. If it's been done let me know, I'd do it.
     
  8. Largecar359

    Largecar359 Road Train Member

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    The newer dura brights are better then the 1st generation ones for sure. However, they don't shine like polished aluminum and I have not talked to anyone that has had them last longer then three years. Which would be ok if after 3 yrs you could get them refinished or stripped down and polished but after you strip them down they still don't polish like regular aluminum rims. Maybe in the next couple yrs they will improve but for now aluminum wheels and elbow grease is the only way to keep that rooster crusin' shine.
     
    Loaderlou Thanks this.
  9. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    There were a bad run of Durabrites a while back. Might have been still part of the 1st generation run when I ordered my 2013 truck with them on it, and the wide based drive wheel finish went south within a few months. I took hi res photos of them and contacted Alcoa. They sent me 4 new wide based Durabrite wheels to replace the originals, for free, based on the photos. This set, the finish has held up pretty good. i always tell the truck wash, no brightener on the wheels and make them cover them when they are doing the other aluminum.

    I have too many irons in the fire to spend time polishing aluminum. My fuel tanks are painted, the wheels are durabrites, and the bull guard on the front is polished stainless steel. Just too many other things to spend my downtime on and I am getting older.
     
    Loaderlou Thanks this.
  10. Loaderlou

    Loaderlou Medium Load Member

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    Actually I did send a set of four back once before. I had three days left on my warranty for the truck so they honored the wheels (Alcoa). My wheels are very scratched but still have a little shine left. I know they don't honor scratched wheels. I'll have to give it another try. Thanks for your responses. If not what can I remove the coating with?
     
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