I have used white vinegar with excellent results. Bare steel or pitted chrome left for 24 hours in this safe, common and extremely cheap stuff can be rubbed down with a rag and the rust will come right off. Vinegar hasn't affected the paint or decals of anything I've tried. It can also be reused a number of times. Of course, pitted chrome will still be pitted, it just won't be rusty. Rinsing thoroughly with water, then blowing the parts dry with compressed air is all you need to do to neutralize the acid & get rid of the smell.
Testing it on an unimportant surface would be a good idea.
Michael Shiffer
EuroMeccanica, Inc.
114 Pearl Street
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 668-1300
euromeccanicany.com