Repairing / Renovation of Scratched or Curbed Wheel

Aluminium corrosion

Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The highly reactive nature of aluminium metal is normally masked by the protective oxide film (White rust), which readily forms in moist air and renders the metal kinetically stable. Galvanic corrosion can occur when an aluminium alloy is placed in electrical contact with other metals with a more negative corrosion potential than aluminium.

· Thoroughly clean the affected surfaces of all soil and grease residues with a d-limonene (citrus) based solvent cleaner (P21S® Total Auto Wash) prior to processing.  

· Brush it down with a wire brush to get rid of all the powder.

· Clean the surface with PrepSol and then sand any scratched or damaged areas with Norton 3X Sandpaper (p-graded aluminium oxide grain,) 60, 80 or 100 grit sand paper, sand wet or dry with a rubber sanding block.

· Use a tack rag and wipe the area, using a light pressure

· Then treat with etch primer, maybe two or more coats.

· Follow with ordinary primer and top coat.

Repairing Scratched or Curbed Wheels

Damage to your wheels can come from: curb damage, wheel weight scratches, low acid spray, lug nut impact wrench, auto accident, and road salt, which leads to oxidation. These blemishes can ruin the appearance of your car; refurbishment can help retain its value.

Replacement  costs for allowing wheels can cost  hundreds of dollars, but the restoration of your scuffed alloys and scraped wheel rims makes your whole car look pristine again

• Wheel Collision Center –http//:www.wheelcollision.com/

• Wheels America  8004-Fix-Rim – Powder coat Finish -  http://www.wheelsamerica.com

• Mobile Wheel Repair (US, UK) - http://www.mobilewheelrepair.com/

• Wheel Repair UK - http://www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk/...ce_details.php.

Be cognizant that serious damage to a wheel may affect the vehicle’s alignment and subsequent steering, always check for structural damage (i.e. surface cracks) or deformed rims, which should always be replaced. Shop cosmetic/appearance wheel repair- approx. $150 –250 per wheel, usually 48 hours (dependent upon geographical area)

These procedures are for aesthetic and slight damage only

Taking the wheel(s) off makes it far easier to work on and much more comfortable than stooping down

Small Scuff Repairs (Alloy Wheels)

Time: 4 – 6 hours per wheel for a complete wheel-off repair and repaint renovation. Materials-2-17 oz. Wurth Clean-Solve, 2-10.2 oz. 1Z Einszett Spray Paint Primer "Haft-Grund", 2-13.5 oz. 1Z Einszett Silver Wheel Spray Paint, 2- 13.5 oz. Wurth High Gloss Clear Lacquer, 14 oz. Bondo®  (approx total 90 USD)

See also Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Remove the damaged wheel from vehicle.

• Deflate the tyre by unscrewing cap and pushing in valve, once the tyre is flat push the tyre wall down (gently) by standing on it, and then  tuck masking tape underneath the wheel rim, working your way around slowly

• Molecular Tech Coatings Inc., EFS-2500 aircraft paint stripper is environment-friendly. It can get easily decomposed and is also non-toxic as well. In terms of chemical composition, there is no methylene chloride, no carbonic acid, and no formic acid present in the paint stripper. Hence, it is perfectly safe to use.

• Clean the damaged area with PrepSol and then sand the scratched or damaged area with Norton 3X Sandpaper (p-graded aluminium oxide grain) 60, 80 or 100 grit sand paper, sand wet or dry with a rubber sanding block.

• Use a tack rag and wipe the area, using a light pressure

• Only use filler (Bondo Lightweight Filler 264 and Red Cream Hardener) if it’s essential to the e repair, if used incorrectly it will flake and significantly reduce the effective lifespan of the repair. Fill any minor indentations with Bondo, allowing approx 30 minutes before you shape/sand

• Sand the wheels until you've removed the scratches, `kerbing' marks and/or smoothed the Bondo filler flush with the wheel surface.

• Continue the sanding process using finer and finer grades of UniGrit paper, 220 or 320 grit and finally with 500-grit paper.

• For small hard to reach places use a Dremel Rotary Tool and a suitable sanding bit

(For painting / refinishing wheel surface see “Refinishing”)

Repairing a Damaged Polished Aluminium Lip

Dremel 3000 Variable Speed Rotary Tool, plus accessories-  kit # 697-- #952 CONE shaped Aluminum Oxide Grinding Stone and - #413 Sanding Discs 240 GRIT

1. Using the Dremel on its lowest setting with the (#952) Cone shaped stone and grind down the burrs to as near smooth as you can.

2. Change attachments to the (#413) Sanding discs and smooth the surfaces

3. Start by using 800 grit finishing paper and then work through 1000, 1500 and finally 2500.

4. Using #0000 synthetic steel wool to bring back the shine

5. Finally, finish polishing with OPT Optimum Metal Polish

6. Use a clear polymer  protection (OPT Optimum Opti-Coat)

Removing Surface Scratches:

The clear coat on wheel surfaces is usually thicker than that of the main paint surfaces but check with a PTG before you start to polish.

Use a 6-inch wool pad and a polishing compound (polish selected is dependent upon the extent of damage) it may take a few passes; follow with a foam pad and a finishing polish.

Felt Polishing Cones - if you're faced with polishing tight places, try some versatile polishing wheels. They come in various sizes and shapes to complete just about every polishing project-wheel, intake manifolds. Fitted to an electric drill they will quickly restore an ‘as-new’ OEM finish.

Surface Preparation

· Ensure wheels and rotors are cool before applying cold water as this may cause them to warp.

· Hose off as much initial grime as you can.

· Rinse up into the wheel well to wash away road kill, mud and other debris.

· Use detailing clay and lubrication to remove any embedded contaminants

· Use a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner to remove any road tar or oil. Apply P21S® Total Auto Wash  to wheel surfaces and let soak in, agitate with a long-handled boar’s haired brush before rinsing

· Spray P21S® Wheel Cleaner (Gel or Liquid) this cleaner is 100% acid-free and will not damage any type of wheel finish. (Gel for badly soiled and regular for normal soil) onto wheel rims and let soak in (for badly soiled surfaces us P21S®-Red (422) or Sonax Wheel Cleaner both are formulated with neutralised acid salt

· Used the P21S® Polishing Soap on the clean wheel to polish the lips, inner wheel, and face of the wheel. (agitate lightly on the clear coated parts)

· Before finally removing cleaner, agitate with a soft brush and then rinse off

Refinishing

See also Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Be cognizant that most European OEM wheels are powder coated so paint won’t be an exact match. Place the can in a bucket of hot water for ten minutes prior to spraying. This lowers its viscosity and it will spread more evenly without ‘runs’, it also raises the temperature of the air inside, which in turn  increases the pressure, enabling a much better spray ‘pattern’ resulting in a better finish.

• Remove the damaged wheel from vehicle.

• Deflate the tyre by unscrewing cap and pushing in valve, once the tyre is flat push the tyre wall down (gently) by standing on it, and then  tuck masking tape underneath the wheel rim, working your way around slowly

• Molecular Tech Coatings Inc., EFS-2500 aircraft paint stripper is environment-friendly. It can get easily decomposed and is also non-toxic as well. In terms of chemical composition, there is no methylene chloride, no carbonic acid, and no formic acid present in the paint stripper. Hence, it is perfectly safe to use.

• Clean the damaged area with PrepSol and then sand the scratched or damaged area with Norton 3X Sandpaper (p-graded aluminium oxide grain) 60, 80 and finishing with 100 grit sand paper, sand wet or dry with a rubber sanding block.

• Tack clothes help control dust by picking it up off the surface and also helps eliminate static that attracts dust. Use a tack rag and wipe the area, using a light pressure

• Only use filler (Bondo Lightweight Filler 264 and Red Cream Hardener) if it’s essential to the repair, if used incorrectly it will flake and significantly reduce the effective lifespan of the repair. Fill any minor indentations with Bondo, allowing approx 30 minutes before you shape/sand

• Sand the wheels until you've removed the scratches, `kerbing' marks and/or smoothed the Bondo filler flush with the wheel surface.

• Continue the sanding process using finer and finer grades of UniGrit paper, 220 or 320 grit and finally with 500-grit paper.

• For small hard to reach places use a Dremel Tool and a suitable sanding bit

Note- If the above cleaning method don’t finish to wheels to your liking have them bead blasted

Repainting (cast aluminium ) Wheel Surface

See also Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

OEM Factory wheel finishes are either an acrylic polymer or a polyester powder coat process, which is the most durable finish you can use. The following will result in a durable re-finished repaint colour match

· Molecular Tech Coatings Inc., EFS-2500 aircraft paint stripper is environment-friendly. It can get easily decomposed and is also non-toxic as well. In terms of chemical composition, there is no methylene chloride, no carbonic acid, and no formic acid present in the paint stripper. Hence, it is perfectly safe to use.

· Prepare the surface by removing all sandpaper residues with a tack rag, wash the surface and then dry thoroughly.

· Use 3M Painters Masking Tape between the tyre and the wheel rim (or use Vaseline to mask the tyre from paint overspray)

· Wipe-down the wheels with DuPont Prep Sol and allow to air dry.

· Apply a thin coat of 1z 'Haft-Grund' Self-etching Primer to stabilize and provide an etched surface.

· Use at temperatures between 70 – 90.^oF (.Do not use this paint in damp conditions)

· Shake the can well for at least a full minute

· Push the spray nozzle as you sweep across and release at the end.  

· Spray on, spray off.  Spray on, spray off; apply as a very fine/thin coat.   

· Paint the wheels with two thin coats of silver alloy paint (Wurth German Alloy Silver Wheel) to ensure complete coverage

· Apply your first coat of clear then allow it to dry to the touch before applying your next coats. This ‘tack coat will help stop the paint from sliding into ‘run’ formation.

· Allow air-drying; 1-2 hours on final coat and then lightly sand finish, then leave to cure overnight.

· Finish with a clear lacquer paint (Wurth European Blend Lacquers) apply two or three thin coats of clear with about 20-30 minutes of drying time between coats to seal the silver metallic paint and add depth and gloss

· A allow clear coat to air-dry and then cure for 4-6 hours

· Apply a sealant for protection

· If your axle/ wheel centres (hats) are cast iron, you may want to consider painting the hat area with some hi-temp black engine paint

Product details

Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, VW, and most other European OEMs use a cast aluminium alloy wheels. They're usually painted (Titanium) silver and have a clear coated finish or have a silver powder coated finish

1. 1z 'Haft-Grund' Self-etching Primer - bare metal (steel or aluminium) wheels should be primed first with a self' -etching primer and is lead and cadmium-free Applied under a topcoat of urethane paint provides a secondary method of protecting the steel from corrosion. This primer bonds to bare metal and forms a base suitable for synthetic resin, acrylic lacquer and nitro combination paints. A single can will prime two wheels

Warning - Do not use this primer on painted or clear-coated wheels where you are touching-up scuffs and scrapes. A self-etching Primer is for use only on wheels that have been taken down to bare metal.

2. Wurth German Alloy Silver Wheel Paint (Aerosol) can be used as a spot touch-up or whole wheel repaints, one can is enough to coat two complete wheels. This paint is unusually user-friendly, it’s a fast-drying lacquer that matches the standard wheel paint or powder coated finish used by Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi and most other European OEMs. One aerosol restores two complete wheels. to match the OEM gloss of new vehicles

3. Wurth European Blend Lacquers (Aerosol) - used for all German (silver) painted wheels, to match the OEM gloss of new vehicles. This paint is unusually user-friendly, it’s a fast-drying lacquer that matches the standard allow wheel paint use by Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi and most other European OEMs. Wurth German Alloy Silver Wheel Lacquer can be effectively used for spot repairs or full wheel restoration. One can is enough to coat two complete wheels. For the best results, use at temperatures between 70 and 90.⁰F

Prevention is better than cure

Protect Your Alloy Wheels from Kerb Damage - RimPro-Tec