How To DIY Alloy Wheel Repair Refurbishment! (pics)

[kch1888]

Hi there - this is my first post so hello to all regulars!

I found this site because I have just scraped one of the alloys on my 2 day old car and was looking for a way to lessen the damage! Without going into the full refursbishment i.e filling, painting, finishing... is there a quick way to improve the appearance of the wheel e.g by rubbing down or smoothing the scratch? A mate told me to approach the wheel with steel wool but I am unsure of this!! Although highly annoying the damage isn't major so it wouldn't be worth my while having the wheel completely repainted/refinished.

Thanks!

[ҳ̸Ҳ̸ҳ ŚĭmǿŊ ҳ̸Ҳ]

hi guys, i've just started refurbing my alloys and have chosen to sand right down to bare metal, hoping to get a better finish, do you think i will benefit from this, it takes a hell of alot of work. Thanks!!

[SilentDeath]

Hi there - this is my first post so hello to all regulars!

I found this site because I have just scraped one of the alloys on my 2 day old car and was looking for a way to lessen the damage! Without going into the full refursbishment i.e filling, painting, finishing... is there a quick way to improve the appearance of the wheel e.g by rubbing down or smoothing the scratch? A mate told me to approach the wheel with steel wool but I am unsure of this!! Although highly annoying the damage isn't major so it wouldn't be worth my while having the wheel completely repainted/refinished.

Thanks!

Was the car new straight of the forecourt new? If so the minium you should clean it thoroughly and then once 100% dry, give the scratched area a light coat/spray of acrylic based lacquer. This is clear stuff, and shouldnt be noticable. only do a tiny bit just to cover the scrached area. It will stop it from getting worse due to water and corrosion.
Also a good idea on old alloys I think, ill do it to mine before I get the new tyres put on. Mine have kerbing around the outer rim from previous owner.. which is going to turn horrible if I leave it.

[jansko]

Hi Joshwa, how did you like the color match of the CARPLAN silver spray compared to the original color?
I find the SIMONIZ stuff to be too dark.

[joshwa]

Hi Joshwa, how did you like the color match of the CARPLAN silver spray compared to the original color?
I find the SIMONIZ stuff to be too dark.

The match wasn't great - which is why I'm having to refurb all the wheels - I think the original wheels have also faded over time into a white-ish silver - whereas new audi alloys are sort of a slightly yellowy silver. I didn't look into it much so don't know what's best, but there's probably a guide or official information somewhere out there?

[jansko]

Ok, i did one wheel and i plan to overspray it with HOLTZ Duplicolor silver. It may not be the best match but is certainly brighter and thats what I want. :/
Thanks for info.
How many wheels do you have ready by now anyway?

[joshwa]

I've started again with mine - as I put some of them on - and then they got a bit scuffed - and decided to do them all at the same time (and have sanded them all ready for spraying). But in the meantime I've got some different wheels on.

[MadduckUK]

bump

im going to be doing this, to a set of these old things

nowww.. black or white?

edit: or gunmetal? or bronze?

[joshwa]

What colours the car?

[MadduckUK]

red

see the trouble? they all go!





while you are here Mr. Joshwa - how many cans of primer/paint/lacquer would you say you would use for a set of 4?

[joshwa]

I've always wanted white wheels on a red car, and gold wheels on a blue car

As to how many cans - I'm really sorry - I can't remember at all - plus it probably depends how big the wheels are and how much surface area they have - and also whether you're doing them as a batch (eg all 4 at the same time).

It's also recommended that you don't use the very beginning and end of the can on the wheels as this is where you get drops / splatters etc.

[MadduckUK]

im actually leaning towards white myself..

im going to be production lining them so to speak, not putting them on till there all the same colour come on, rough guesstimate. there 15"ers

[joshwa]

I think I was getting 1 and a half wheels done with 1 can - this was with 17" wheels - so at a guess you may be able to do 2 wheels with one can - but if you're going from black to white you might need more?

[MadduckUK]

going to hopefully sand most of the black off, but that's perfect.. 3 cans of each to make sure it is then

[finlay666]

Methinks I will do this to my car next time I get a reasonable amount of time off, looks pretty time consuming but worth it

Is it worth taking the tyre off the alloy first? I'm guessing so

[MadduckUK]

iv seen guides that leave it on and just use masking tape and newspaper.. i have no idea how to remove the tyre from anything but a mountain bike so my options are limited there