Little black "nubs" on chrome

[grampi]

Question for the gurus...I have a spot on one of my wheels where the chrome has these little black "nubs" on the surface...if you run your fingers over them, you can feel them. They look like some form of corrosion. I've tried removing them with chrome polish, but it won't touch them. Is there anything that will remove them without scratching the chrome? 00 steel wool maybe?

 

[SHOZ]

I had chrome rims and they use to get little spots of tar. Some naphthalene aka mineral spirits will take them off.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: SHOZ
I had chrome rims and they use to get little spots of tar. Some naphthalene aka mineral spirits will take them off.


These spots are definitely NOT tar...chrome polish will remove tar...they appear to be some form of corrosion, they seem to be as hard as the chrome itself...I can scrape on them with my fingernail and they would rip my nail if I scraped hard enough on them, that's how hard they are....

 

[SHOZ]

Then I doubt if anything will help. If it is corrosion, the chrome is gone and if remove it then the aluminum will corrode even faster. The chrome will start to flake off.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: SHOZ
Then I doubt if anything will help. If it is corrosion, the chrome is gone and if remove it then the aluminum will corrode even faster. The chrome will start to flake off.


These bumps are on top of the chrome, not underneath, so the chrome is still there...I have seen them on chrome before, just never had any experience in trying to remove them...don't know if it's even possible without damaging the chrome...I would be willing to try 00 steel wool as I have heard that will not damage, or scratch the chrome...

 

[SatinSilver]

Has it been close to any new mulch lately?

 

[grampi]

No

 

[Wheel]

When I was a kid, my Dad always used a ball of aluminum foil to shine up any spots on chromed metal. I used to use it on bike spokes before most were made of stainless.

 

[doitmyself]

Any chance that they could be grinding wheel spark debris that has welded itself to the chrome?

Or, did you ever let the brake pads wear down to metal on metal?

I have seen black nubs from both of these causes.