OK, my right front rim's coating is flaking off like paint being removed from old furniture. In the last three weeks, two things have happened:

1.) I cleaned it with comet and a plastic scrubber. It's the only rim I cleaned like that, so I can't check the others for similar damage.

2.) The brake fluid is leaking at this wheel. I'm guessing this is what's to blame, but I didn't know that brake fluid would have any effect on the rims. I know it acts as a paint solvent, but rims? Whose idea was it to coat rims in a substance that brake fluid can harm??!!

Anyway, it's coming off at a couple of the spoke-to-rim connections. It looks like complete garbage.

Can anyone verify that brake fluid can damage a wheel?

Yes, brake fluid can definitely eat through the clearcoat on a wheel. Brake fluid is killer to paint in general. In fact, if you look on a bottle of brake fluid, it says keep away from painted surfaces. How did brake brake fluid get on your wheels?

I have a leak, and it dripped onto the rim and was thrown around the wheel well and inside the rim.

Why are they coated at all? It's 2001. Don't we have a lightweight, rustproof, inexpensive alloy we can use for rims yet?

The clearcoat is there to prevent minor scratches from penetrating the coat of paint.

RE: Wheel Killas...
 

Its definitely the brake fluid. They RUINED my Volk Racing TE-37s. I had to buy a new set of rims (2 of mine were ruined) - but I am happy with these rims (they are much nicer and more expensive than the Volks). The brake fluid also started corroding my wheelwells, and I got 2 panels replaced just for the safety of it. Its definitely the brake fluid. It sucks, but there's nothing you can do. Just trying to help.

still got the volks?
 

pb