How to clean/polish oem bumper steel/chrome? surfaces.

**gsumzzz** · 12-26-2011, 03:24 PM

Guys, the old bumper's metal surfaces could look better. Any ideas to make them shine like new again? Many thanks to all.

**shauer** · 12-26-2011, 03:40 PM

It's not chrome on steel but polished aluminum. The clear anodized coating gets cloudy with age and flakes off leaving bare aluminum. You can polish it up with metal polish but it takes a lot of work. If the anodized coating is worn off you will need to polish it regularly to keep it up. Some have tried spraying clear coat over the aluminum but it does not last long.

- Steve

**Tom D** · 12-26-2011, 06:22 PM

^ like steve said. however, if you are talking about the chrome on steel euro bumpers then any chrome polish and elbow grease will work. even on rustily chrome (chrome does not rust, but the steel below it does)

**gsumzzz** · 12-26-2011, 07:25 PM

Guys, it is in fact the aluminum bumpers. They are getting kind of blotchy in appearance and I may consider stripping the clear coat. Thanks for the information.

**Abysalone** · 12-26-2011, 08:49 PM

Use a fine grade of steel wool to clean them up. I use 0000 fine "grit". It will remove the clear coat without a ton of scratches. I like jewlers rouge for the first pass since its a bit rougher, it blends out the swirls. A cloth wheel on a drill works good. Then I follow up with never dull or Mother's mag and aluminum polish. I have chemical etching on my front bumper, so I may have to strip, sand and re-polish mine.

**switlikbob** · 12-26-2011, 11:48 PM

I would try a paint stripper, leave it on for 24 hours. Then wipe off the gew and wipe clean with mineral spirits. Then polish with a ball (on a drill) and flitz polish.

**lightsmith** · 12-29-2011, 10:55 PM

I sanded mine down to aluminum with 80 grit then progressive sanding up to 1500 and then Mother's alum. polish. Came out very well, was a weekend of work and they do need to be repolished ad lib.