mjrstar Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I have a leaky rack, brought a second hand replacement which has less marks on it but still some markings that look like water etching on the chrome.. Does anyone have first hand experience on what to polish the rack rod with? Cheers Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poo Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I've heard of people using a mix of baking soda and superglue. Well that was on motorcycle forks. It's sets rock hard. After that, file and polish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazy Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I've heard of nail polish for mountain bike forks with scratches in the staunchions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Whatever you do..don't let sandpaper near it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 ^^ not even 1200 grit? Â I was thinking i might have a hit with some silvo and a rag, if that's too weak move onto something stronger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Polish with autosol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 ^^ Gave it a hoon with the autosol, still looks less than acceptable to me, and given it's over 1/2 a day to get apart i don't want to put it in and find it leaks a day/week/month later..  Think I might see if i can get it re-chromed and polished. then rebuild the rest of the rack. (seems like a bit of a PITA though for a 20 Year old shitter/semi shitter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4AGEMAD Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Oil sand with 1200grit, smash it with brake clean then polish is what I would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 Yeah im thinking ill strip it down and chuck it in the lathe to polish it up, if it still looks like shit I'll dream up a plan B. Sounds like chroming is not that cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 What's the car? Is getting a brand new one impossible/super expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I have never seen an item like this be successfully polished, have seen heaps made way worse haha. Guess it depends on how deep it is and only you can make that call.. If ur smart then might get away with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 yeah it's so hard to get back to chrome finish with abrasives. i guess chrome's like a-million-grit and your scratches will be closer to 5-grit. from work i've learnt you're up a creek polishing away any scratch bigger/deeper than that made by your emery. the quickest way is to start from a grit rough enough to disguise /camouflage the scratch, then take every step you can up to the finest available. expensive and mega time consuming. have also had experiences 'polishing' piston rods in a lathe, seals dont like scratches going around the shaft circumference if they're doing some sort of linear thing. Â maybe go for a hone pattern, heh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 What's the car? Is getting a brand new one impossible/super expensive? im hearing you guys and i'm not trying to be a cheaparse, i now have 2 racks with varying degrees if rust... Its off my 96 CN9A Lancer, i am still on the lookout for a mint second hand unit with no joy so far, Not sure new is an option? Also given the rust perhaps it just polished not chrome? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock-Lee Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I have definitely been instructed by someone that should have known what they are doing to use a light stone w/ oil to knock off the small high spots of a number of hydraulic rams. Also fork stanchions in the bike shop. As long as it's not chopping out the seal you'll be sweet? And just keep looking for a nice one. Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 The old rack was seriously leaking, so i'm a bit gun shy about slamming the replacement one in as is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpr Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 you sure its actually chrome?  the ones ive messed with were just steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemi Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Ive had steering rams rust and pit the hardening/chrome off. ive sent them to be rekitted only to be told they cant repair/ rbuild the ram and have smoothed it up as much as the can. i have never had an issue after that. i spose so long as the chrome has be smoothed nicely and not cutting the shit out of the seal it should be ok? But yeah if it s ajob you dont want to do again might aswell do it properly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 you sure its actually chrome?  the ones ive messed with were just steel Its not chrome just hardened.. hooned it up on the lathe from 100 to 1200 grade sandpaper came up ok except for the really deep defects, going to keep my eyes peeled for a mint replacement still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eke_zetec_RWD Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 How big is it? Tigging up the holes with STAINLESS wire then filing it with a fine file then polish can work. Must use stainless wire though so it doesn't harden and can still be filed. Not sure I endorse this for a steering rack but it deffently works for hydraulic Rams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 In my experience with motorcycle forks. If you dont have any sharp edges or very deep scratcges you will be fine. Some look bad, but seal yp fine after they bed in tye new seals id probavpy not bother with any sandpaper, just a qyick hand shandy with some polishing compound/jewlers rouge then bung it back it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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