Yellowed Tails

[slvrs10]

Just bought some of the "All Clear Tails". Got them today, and they're yellowed/greyed/stained past my liking. The reverse light area is fine though. The truck is pewter, and they don't look so great. Tried using chrome polish, and Scratch X. Did nothing. I've read rubbing compound, or toothpaste work, and I'll try them tomorrow.

Anyways, figured I'd throw em up here and see if anyone had some tips to clean them. I'm assuming it the outside of the lens (hopefully not the inside) that's colored. They look worse in person. Kind of tricky taking a pic with the reflection of the inside making it look better.

[lucky-13]

wet sand with 400-800-1000 grit sandpaper and buff out with plasic buffing compound, should do the trick

[Big_Bake]

^what he said. i would start around 1000 though, if it's taking too long to get them clean, then go down to a lower grit. i started at 1000 on my volvo headlights to clean them, then 2000, then buffed them with compound and they look a lot better, no more yellow.

[slvrs10]

Thanks guys. Looks like wetsanding is what I'll explore tomorrow.

Is wetsanding something I should attempt? I've seen it done on TV with a spray bottle and some sandpaper, but with my luck...well...it wouldn't go well. lol

[Moosy]

atleast you dont have my luck, dont let me touch them, you'll get rear ended.

[slvrs10]

Found some pics of what they should look like. I assume even though mine don't have the black trim, they'd be that clear.

[layinlow88]

wetsanding with such a fine grit of paper will be ok for you man...just be sure to not apply a ton of force....just some light pressure, water, and time....thats all you'll need

[S15vortecpwr]

when you wet sand make sure your paper and light stay wet, do no let wither get dry or it will make the light look worse.

I have heard of people using a drop or two of dishwash detergent just to help keep a smooth sanding pattern

[Big_Bake]

Quote: Originally Posted by S15vortecpwr

when you wet sand make sure your paper and light stay wet, do no let wither get dry or it will make the light look worse.

I have heard of people using a drop or two of dishwash detergent just to help keep a smooth sanding pattern

yep. we did that when i worked at the shop. filled a bucket with water and put some soap in it. helps suspend the grit and grime so when you rinse it comes off.

[slvrs10]

Thanks again guys.

But, the more I look at the light, the more I wonder if it's actually yellowed, or that's just how they were made. I wish I could find someone else with them to confirm that, but the way the reverse stayed clear makes me wonder.

[s10cyncrvr]

I do believe they are yellowed. I've heard a lot of stories about how they turn yellow fairly quickly if exposed to a lot of sunlight. I put a little SPF 30 on mine whenever I leave the garage.

[slvrs10]

After an hour or so of wetsanding, I think there's an ever so small difference for the good. But if in fact there was 2 styles (one with black trim and one w/o) it might be that the plastic of mine were manufactured like this, and all I've done was removed a layer of filth.

[Big_Bake]

ehh it was worth a shot. you could always hit it with some candy apple. mask off the reverse light, and they will look stock, but better. i think people use that duplicolor metalcast stuff. here's a link to a similar thread of what i'm talking about. http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f3/can...nd-gen-356104/

[slvrs10]

Quote: Originally Posted by Big_Bake

ehh it was worth a shot. you could always hit it with some candy apple. mask off the reverse light, and they will look stock, but better. i think people use that duplicolor metalcast stuff. here's a link to a similar thread of what i'm talking about. http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f3/can...nd-gen-356104/

I might look into getting them tinted pewter, so very similar to that. I'd like to get rid of all color but pewter/gray/white, so tinting them with pewter would hide them well.

[Big_Bake]

i'm sure they make some kind of pewter candy that you can use. if not maybe tinting clear. i know they do that with black tint to smoke tail lights.

[BTE]

The way it was explained to me is, that the yellow comes from the when the plastic is manufactured with too little of whatever protects it from UV light. So sanding won't do anything because it's yellow all the way through.

[327]

Man who makes thos clear tails?

[neo71665]

Quote: Originally Posted by 327

Man who makes thos clear tails?

Nobody anymore