Chrome wheel cover removal?

[NUKEMAN]

I have the stock 17" chrome clad steel wheels on my '03. I am thinking of going "black" with the wheels. My questions are:



How easy are the chrome covers to remove

How do you remove them

What is the finish behind the covers

Are the covers reusable after you remove them



Anyone with pics please post.



Thanks!

 

[Grizzly]

We may not be talking about the same thing, but I removed the chrome covers, or sometimes know as wheel skins off my DRW last spring. I'm liking it without the skins.

 

[AWay]

The wheel skins are just like hub caps. All you have to do is remove the lug nuts and pry them off. They are easy to put back on. The wheels underneath are a dark redish brown on mine.

 

[opjohnny]

You are getting drw and srw wheels mixed up. The srw chrome clad wheel has a face that is glued on. A member here did remove them but the glue left was hard to clean off the wheel. Maybe he will see this post and leave a message. You might want to try the 17x7. 5 steel wheels of a srw st truck. I have seen several sets on ebay. Cheap compared to the alloy wheels.

 

[JAlderman]

I have the stock 17" chrome clad steel wheels on my '03. I am thinking of going "black" with the wheels. My questions are:



How easy are the chrome covers to remove

How do you remove them

What is the finish behind the covers

Are the covers reusable after you remove them



Anyone with pics please post.



Thanks!

Pics in my readers rigs



Easy job Use a small screwdriver to pry up on it then grab with a pair of channel locks and have fun, just need some patience. Start from the center and work your way out. I used a razor blade to get the thick glue off and a brass wire wheel to remove the rest of the glue.

 

[Grizzly]

You are getting drw and srw wheels mixed up. The srw chrome clad wheel has a face that is glued on. A member here did remove them but the glue left was hard to clean off the wheel. Maybe he will see this post and leave a message. You might want to try the 17x7. 5 steel wheels of a srw st truck. I have seen several sets on ebay. Cheap compared to the alloy wheels.

My mistake.

 

[NUKEMAN]

JAlderman,



Looks good. Did you have to repaint the rims afterwards, or is the finish ok after the glue is removed? What did you use for center caps in the rear?



Thanks for the info.

 

[JAlderman]

If you look at the pic of the two side by side one is with the factory finish and the other I painted. The finish looks good if you don't get too aggressive with the brass wire wheel. A steel wire wheel will tear the finish up.

I didn't use any caps in the rear, just the factory lug nuts and the full floater hub sticking out. I love the look.

 

[Signal73]

is there a chemical that will remove the glue without the wire wheels? I have the shiny chrome caps over the brushed alloy and was wondering about pulling off the chrome bling skins to have the real alloys underneath. This is on a laramie.



anyone want to trade?

 

[NUKEMAN]

Well, I started the removal project today. They're pretty easy to remove, but I have to say that Dodge must use the same metal for these covers as they do for the body panels, because they look like used tinfoil once they are removed, very thin. Definitely not reusable. The glue holding them in place appears to be a rubber silicone. Now for the fun part of sanding and painting. Thinking I'm going to leave the centers chrome, but I'll see once everything is re-assembled.

 

[Signal73]

Well, I started the removal project today. They're pretty easy to remove, but I have to say that Dodge must use the same metal for these covers as they do for the body panels, because they look like used tinfoil once they are removed, very thin. Definitely not reusable. The glue holding them in place appears to be a rubber silicone. Now for the fun part of sanding and painting. Thinking I'm going to leave the centers chrome, but I'll see once everything is re-assembled.

hey nukeman if you have time to experiment with glue removal without scraping tools or brushes, it could be helpful to the guys that want to get to there alloys under there laramie tins.

I dont know if you can try goof off or the like if you have it maybe gasoline? dont blow yourself up on my account :-laf

Thanks

 

[NUKEMAN]

Looks like it's just clear silicone, nothing special. I did use some OOPS from Wal-Mart (kind of the same as Goof Off). It took it off with no problem. I would think on an aluminum wheel it would work just fine too, just test a small spot first. Since mine are steel and I was repainting them anyway, I used a wire wheel attachment on a drill. Took it all off a little quicker than the OOPS stuff. Keep in mind that that at least on mine, the silicone was covering about 90% of the wheel (must have been a good day in Mexico). So, you may have some serious peeling to do to get it all off. I haven't mounted them yet, but so far they look awesome with the 37" Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains.

 

[Signal73]

thanks Nukeman, any chance of pics with the skins removed but the glue still on? thanks, Jim

 

[Walker]

Nuke, I'd like a pic too of the 37's mounted (IYDM). This may just be the answer I was looking for without having to buy the new black wheels I've been looking at. I'm just wondering how much the 37's stick out of the wheel wells on factory rims. I'd like to run fender flares and have the wheels stick out enough to look right (not tucked in too far). Thanks.

 

[NUKEMAN]

thanks Nukeman, any chance of pics with the skins removed but the glue still on? thanks, Jim

I still have one left to do, so yes. Check out JAldermans readers rigs gallery. He has a good pic of the silicone on the rim before removal. As I said before, mine were really gooped with the stuff. Probably 90% of the rim was covered after I removed the skin. Takes patience.

 

[NUKEMAN]

Nuke, I'd like a pic too of the 37's mounted (IYDM). This may just be the answer I was looking for without having to buy the new black wheels I've been looking at. I'm just wondering how much the 37's stick out of the wheel wells on factory rims. I'd like to run fender flares and have the wheels stick out enough to look right (not tucked in too far). Thanks.

I have EGR flares on mine (unpainted) and they don't hang out too far to look goofy. Probably 3/4" further than the tire at the top. The lower sides of the flares are even with the sidewall. I would really recommend peeling the skins and repainting the OEM wheels. It takes some time, but I'm only out $8. 00 for the 2 cans of Rustoleum Semi-Flat and $4. 00 for some 120 grit paper. I have 2 more to go and as soon as I can wash the filthy animal I will get some pics up (I've been promising that for some time )

 

[Signal73]

I still have one left to do, so yes. Check out JAldermans readers rigs gallery. He has a good pic of the silicone on the rim before removal. As I said before, mine were really gooped with the stuff. Probably 90% of the rim was covered after I removed the skin. Takes patience.

ahhh ok I didnt see that one in there wi th the glue on. you say yours was more gooped up then that?

 

[NUKEMAN]

Yeah, must have been a good day in Mexico (or wherever they assemble them). Like I said, it is just silicone, so it comes off pretty easy.

 

[Signal73]

gotcha hopefully they got a bad batch of sofrito and it was a bad day in mehico when they did mine

 

[Walker]

How bout' them pics Nuke? I'm itchin for my 37's and want to de-skin my stockers.