How To DIY Alloy Wheel Repair Refurbishment! (pics)

[MadduckUK]

just shy of a month start to finish but at last....











whew. cheap motorworld wheel nuts for now, tyres need some tyre cleaner, and it was awful weather this morning so they are dirt already but JOB DONE

[finlay666]

looks like I will do this to mine if I get a free weekend soon

Will pick up all the stuff when I need when I go home, best to work on the spare first? (replacing the front tyres soon)

[joshwa]

Looking good madduck! Can you post a side on photo of your car? (I bet that would look cool)

finlay - yeah try your spare first, but it's probably best to do them all as a batch if possible, or make sure you have enough spraypaint for all of them so there's no chance of any mismatches.

[MadduckUK]

not from where its parked now but if i remember tomorrow ill snap one in the car park

[cadds]

nice job - i'm impressed!

no recomendations yet ???

I think i'm going to use smartcare as they are nearer - anyone used them before ?

[MadduckUK]

no recomendations yet ???

i just dont think anyone has used one sorry probably best looking in a car specific forum tbh



side on pic for joshwa

[fireoyster]

Hi all,

Found this link very inteteresting.

What do you reckon

Just bought some Alloys from ebay the rims are in good condition the tyres have got plenty of tred left.

I currently have 15" on my car the new one are 16" checked all the tire dimensions. to make sure it they wont mess up the speedo and gearing etc.

looking a the rims the have a shine to them however there is a plastic coating over them which i think is some kind of clear powder coating to protects them, I have spoke to a couple of companies the rekon it needs to Acid dipped to remove then refurbed then re powder coated
the initially quoted me £65.00 ea if it take the tyre to them will do for £50 each.

Dont really want to spend 200 quid if can do it myself however I woldn't be able to clear powder coat I assume this is the equivlilant to the laqureing

Given the work and the cost of Sprays etc. yes will be cheaper but will it be worth it.

does anyone know the best way to take the clear plastic powdre coating off or does it really need to be acid dipped

I would be interested in your comments

Fireoyster

[finlay666]

sandpaper + wet dry?

and IIRC unless your new tyres have a lower profile your speedo will be messed up as the radius/diameter will be larger

[$n0wD0613]

The pics are gr8.
My alloys arent badly marked or kerbed.
Theyre from an early model TT(so I've been told)and have lost their "look".
Is there another way of refurbishing them as I'm not keen on spray painting?

[joshwa]

The pics are gr8.
My alloys arent badly marked or kerbed.
Theyre from an early model TT(so I've been told)and have lost their "look".
Is there another way of refurbishing them as I'm not keen on spray painting?

You could try a gentle polishing compound such as Scratch X - perhaps using this will clean up the top layer, and then polish with some alloy wheel polish?

[MadduckUK]

and IIRC unless your new tyres have a lower profile your speedo will be messed up as the radius/diameter will be larger

i know this is old but im going to respond anyway, the variation in speedo -> actual speed because of my lower profile tyres has saved me on more than one occasion

[AgtX]

Hi, im having a go at wheel refurbing. Im following the guide on the first page.

Do i have to sand the whole wheel down to the primer underneath or just the damaged areas?

ive taken the paint of all over the outer face of the wheel & its down to grey primer stuff underneith, can i leave it at that & start filling the chips or do i need to go deeper?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[joshwa]

Should be okay as long as your surface is smooth, and the paint you are using doesn't re-act to the paint already on the wheel.

[MadduckUK]

Hi, im having a go at wheel refurbing. Im following the guide on the first page.

Do i have to sand the whole wheel down to the primer underneath or just the damaged areas?

ive taken the paint of all over the outer face of the wheel & its down to grey primer stuff underneith, can i leave it at that & start filling the chips or do i need to go deeper?

Thanks in advance for any help.

sod sanding, get some of that on it

[AgtX]

I hear you, my fingers are proper sore. Will use that if i do this again.

[joshwa]

I don't mean to bump this for no reason - but I've fixed the images! Yay!
And am following this guide while doing my mini alloys - finally gonna have some white alloys on a red car