I just installed a new hubcap to replace the one that was stolen last year.

Unfortunately, when I took the center cap off, I noticed that there was rust inside the area where the center cap sits on.

Is there anyway I can somehow clean that off with some sort of chemical?

Thanks.

What kind of finish does the hubcap have? I'm assuming its chrome id it came of the 96 merc.

I would use a little rubbing compound. It will surely take the rust off, dont go crazy... will also remove finish.

A picture would speak volumes here.

I would use whatever abrasive that seemed appropriate to remove any heavy rust, followed by perhaps fine steel wool, dipped in a solution containing Oxalic acid. "Barkeeper's friend" (used in the kitchen) contains oxalic acid which dissolves rust.

Another rust-eating product, a stronger one, is "Naval Jelly" which contains Phosphoric acid.

Hey folks,

Here are a few pictures.

[img]http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/watkd/media/WP_20140416_003_zps5253373e.jpg.html?[/img]

[img]http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/watkd/media/WP_20140416_002_zps95919f32.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1[/img]

[img]http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/watkd/media/WP_20140416_001_zpsbd25193e.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2[/img]

I think a wire cup brush chucked in a 3/8" drill would be a great beginning.

Put the center cap back on and you'll never notice it.

That's the mistake that was made when making this Ebay purchase. The person who had it for sale had the center cap on and I did not notice the issue.

I think its common that they rust, I had the same caps on my '92 MGM. Just a heads up there are two styles of this cap and they are different, though they looks the same. The early ones use a center cap with shorter clip and the center part where the bolt goes is shallower then the other style which is deeper and uses a center cap with longer clips. You can use the longer clip center caps on the earlier wheel covers but they will protrude out a little. It doesn't look bad if you have all 4 the same. I had the early wheel covers and most of the clips on my center caps broke. I found a set of center caps from the '98-'02 covers and used them. They had the long clips but they worked.

That's how I bought the wheel cover. If the center cap were taken off, and that were sold on Ebay in that condition, I wold not have purchased it.




Its common if the car had lived in the salt belt area. There is no rust on the other three covers that came with the car.