The following text was scanned from a Cadillac service manual
but it applies to most types of aluminum wheels:


ALUMINUM WHEEL REFINISHING
	A protective clear or color coating is applied to
the surface of original equipment cast aluminum
wheels A surface degradation condition can begin to
develop if this clear coating is damaged or removed.
This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities
using agressive silicon carbide tipped tire brushes to
clean white walls and tires. Qnce the protective coating
is damaged, exposure to caustic cleaners and/or road
salt further causes surface degradation. The following
procedure details how to strip clean and recoat
aluminum wheels that are affected by these conditions.
	Required Materials:
	Amchem  Alumi  Prep #33  -  stock
		#DX533 or equivalent  cleaning and
		conditioning chemical for aluminum.
	Amchem Alodine #1001 - stock #DX50T
		coating chemical  for  aluminum.
	Ditzler Delclear Acrylic Urethane Clear
		- stock #DAU-75 or equiwilent.
	Ditzler Delthane Ultra-Urethane Additive
		- stock DXR-X0 or equivalent.

Service Procedure:
1. 	Mark wheel and wheel stud for position on car.
2.	Remove tire and wheel assembly from car.
3.	Mark location of outboard weights and remove.
4.	Wash wheel inside and out with water base all
	purpose cleaner. Remove grease and oil with
	solvent cleaner.
5.	Mask off tire prior to painting.
6.	Select  and  follow  the  correct  procedure,
	"Aluminum Damage on Wheel Surface" or
	"Clear Coat Damage on Unpainted Wheels".
7.	Replace wheel weights with nylon coated
	weights.
8.	Install tire and wheel assembly on car and tighten
	wheel nuts to proper torque.

Accent Color Preparation
1.	Sand over painted areas that will not require
	recoloring with 400 grit (wet or dry) to promote
	adhesion of clear coat.

Aluminum Damage on Wheel Surface
1.	Mount tire and wheel on brake lathe and spin
	slowly.
2.	Sand wheel with backing blok or pad by holding
	abrasive flat to surface of wheel and moving
	slowly back and forth from center to outer edge
	to remove damage. Use the following sandpaper
	grits in the order listed.
	A.	Sand with 80 grit
	B.	Sand with 150 grit
	C.	Sand with 240 grit
3.	Continue with "Recoating Procedure."

Clear Coat Damage on Unpainted Wheels
I.	Apply chemical stripper. Use small 1/4" detail
	brush dipped in stripper to apply material around
	perimeter and spoke-like areas.
2.	Remove  stripper  following  manufacturers
	recommendations
3.	Sand wheel with 240 grit while rotating wheel on
	a slow spinning brake lathe or by mounting on car
	and spinning by hand. This will restore the
	machined appearance and promote adhesion.
	CAUTION:	Do not use engine power to
	rotate wheel while sanding to avoid
	serious personal injury.
4.	Continue with "Recoating Procedure."

Recoating Procedure
1.	Clean surface of contaminants.
2.	Soak wheel with Amchem #33 or equivalent
	from 1 to 3 minutes, then rinse with water and
	blow dry.
3.	Soak wheel with Amchem #1001 or equivalent
	for 1 to 3 minutes, then rinse with water and blow
	dry.
4.	Finish with Ditzler Delclear Acrylic Urethane
	and  Ditzler  Ultra-Urethane  Additive  or
	equivalent using three coats.
		1st Coat - Light mist coat, let flash
		2nd Coat - Light, let flash
		3rd Coat -- Heavy double wet coat
	CAUTION:	To avoid serious personal
	injury when applying any two part
	component paint system, follow the
	specific precautions provided by the
	paint manufacturer. Failure to follow
	these precautions may cause lung
	irritation  and  allergic respiratory
	reaction.
5.	Let dry for 24 hours - (or flash for 30 minutes,
	force dry at 140 for 30 minutes and allow to cool
	for 30 minutes before mounting.