Shine up Taillight Covers

theKnifeArtist

Fire on High!
Apr 6, 2006
2,332
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North Jersey
i tried wet sanding a little portion with 1000grit and it got hazy. i tried polishing it but it didnt help at all. how can i get my taillight covers to shine like new?
 

91T breezen'

ROMNEY/RYAN 2012
Apr 4, 2005
1,149
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NOYFB!
I used some cheap-ass metal polish, that is kinda' goopy, not abrasive, on my clear-coated rim lips. The clear coating is almost plastic-like. The polish worked pretty good. I would give something like that a try, or, go to a craft store and buy some plastic polish. That should work.:icon_bigg
 

Jspec7m88

New Member
Dec 3, 2005
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Nappy City
Biggest key to shining taillights!!! Trust me!!! Get some good wax and do it like that...If you want them to shine, that's the way to go...I do it everytime I clean up the car.:)
 

theKnifeArtist

Fire on High!
Apr 6, 2006
2,332
0
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North Jersey
i tried metal polish cuz i had some laying around for my wheels.didnt work
hellslegion: where did you get the taillight gaskets? can't i just use that gasket goo stuff to seal it up?..mine leak too.. it doesnt seem like a big deal..
back onto the shining..
i want to get it to good condition cuz i might be tinting em soon too(bought some of that vht spray and intended just to tint the front signals and markers). i thought i heard someone mention something with wetsanding before...
 

westonboege

New Member
May 25, 2005
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providence RI
you need to sand them with at least 1500 grit... wet... then get some 3m rubbing compound and a buffing pad on your drill... that will make them like glass
 

mrnickleye

Love My Daily Driver !
Jun 8, 2005
825
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Mojave Desert, Ca
westonboege said:
you need to sand them with at least 1500 grit... wet... then get some 3m rubbing compound and a buffing pad on your drill... that will make them like glass
This correct !!! And after that, wax and buff them.

But... I also was noticing on my '89 that the "RED" ness is fading out. It is a problem that happens as time and sunlight do their dirty work. I've seen some old cars that the lens hardly looked red anymore.

I wonder if the thread starter was also refering to this problem??
 

GrimJack

Administrator
Dec 31, 1969
12,377
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Richmond, BC, Canada
idriders.com
Maguires makes a plastic polish that works wonders. It's perfectly capable of polishing those fogged Mk4 headlight covers to where they look brand new again, and a very similar compound made all the plastic bits on mine look like they had just come out of the factory.
 
N

NDBoost

Guest
1000-2000 grit 3M automotive sandpaper. Wet sand through the grits.
Testors Model Window Tint
Wetsand again to get rid of orange peel if any (do it evenly)
More Tint
Duplicolor Clear High Temp Engine Enamel.
Wetsand again to get rid of orange peel if any
More Enamel.

Dry/Cure 24-48 hours and reinstall or buff if necessary.
 

xarewhyayen

276 whp - 324 tq @ 13psi
Oct 3, 2005
959
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38
Philly
Just use some rubbing compound then polishing compound then wax. Did this a few times to a few diff sets of lights. Works great
 

willfish

been here since 2003
Apr 23, 2005
648
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Pittsburgh, Pa.
i tried to rub out some stratches an buff it out last summer but all I ended up doing was rubbing the red off......

Will


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K Spec

New Member
May 14, 2006
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San Diego
HellsLegion said:
From what I heard sealant is a no-no. It makes it impossible to remove them once again. The gasket is cheap. I would do it right the first time.
Wow, I'm glad you posted that. I just got my seals and was thinking I should use some sort of sealant to make sure my lights, don't leak again.:eek:ffwall:
 
N

NDBoost

Guest
i used silicone RTV on mine and im hoping i dont have to take them off again :-x
 

xarewhyayen

276 whp - 324 tq @ 13psi
Oct 3, 2005
959
0
0
38
Philly
willfish said:
i tried to rub out some stratches an buff it out last summer but all I ended up doing was rubbing the red off......

Will


sm_photo_missing.jpg

Will=Begging for the attention of the police :biglaugh: Got bacon?