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We'll see how this goes.

Never tried the cleaner degreaser only the aerosol heavy duty oven cleaner.

mikea96 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:36 pm Never tried the cleaner degreaser only the aerosol heavy duty oven cleaner.

Same.

I usually get the cheap stuff at Dollar Tree. It isn't quite as strong as the more expensive ones but still works.

GreenBar0n wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:34 pm We'll see how this goes.

I’m thinking that’s probably just a degreaser…..

MarkyDents wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:51 pm I’m thinking that’s probably just a degreaser…..IMG_1550.jpeg

It has the same Sodium Hydroxide (lye) in it, that the aerosol does.

Here's the proof



I did want the inside of the shocks left orange.

What's everybody using to polish these back to a shine again? Mother's?

GreenBar0n wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:33 pm

MarkyDents wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:51 pm I’m thinking that’s probably just a degreaser…..IMG_1550.jpeg

It has the same Sodium Hydroxide (lye) in it, that the aerosol does.

Here's the proof



I did want the inside of the shocks left orange.

What's everybody using to polish these back to a shine again? Mother's?

Nice! I had the same thoughts/concerns about removing the anodizing from the bores/interior.

I myself really like working with a cream polish like these…

I start with white polishing compound from Harbor Freight, with a polishing wheel on a Dremel.

Instead of the screw on mandrel, I use the ones made for a cutoff wheel.

Then I use Mothers wheel polish with a buffing wheel on the Dremel.

I went ahead and ordered some Mother's and a Dremel buffing bit kit. Should all be here tomorrow.

I was worried I may have left the shocks in too long when I was doing this. I did (4) soakings, (3) at 5 minutes, followed with a complete rinse each time, and then a ten minute soak to finish things off.


Used toothpicks with electrical tape wrapped around them to seal the hole, to agitate them in the foam, and to check the parts during the process. No damage that I can see. Will begin the polishing tomorrow.

For a final hand polish I like Eagle One wadding polish, it's like a polish infused cotton. Brasso also works good on aluminum.

First time polishing aluminum that isn't auto trim, and is this small.


Curious to see how these will turn out. Starting on this now.

Nice looking polishing kit you picked up.
Been meaning to ask you, how do you post your pictures that they cannot be clicked on and opened up in another page so as to see them more clearly when zooming in ?

MarkyDents wrote: ↑Sat Jan 18, 2025 5:50 pm Nice looking polishing kit you picked up.
Been meaning to ask you, how do you post your pictures that they cannot be clicked on and opened up in another page so as to see them more clearly when zooming in ?

Thanks! I use imgur.com, not sure what's the deal with their zoom feature, but you can download the full res pics.

Spent about an hour learning how to not ruin anything. A bit of a mess.


Should get faster from here on out, now that I have the method down, and am not worried about ruining anything.

Was polishing the first shock, as a proof of concept, to see what could be done, or the level of luster that could be acheived. I wasn't thinking that if I take two hours of polishing, and make it look like this:




- now I have to make the other (3) match. If my time is worth anything, these are going to be some expensive shocks after all

Getting started on the other rear shock, will get as far as I can on these today.