DIY curb rash repair

[uvbnbit]

How does that wheel balance now? Professional wheel repair businesses, at the ones I have dealt with, add material, then work it into the existing wheel, then remove to finish and polish.

Repaired this one for an owner in PA (I think)

[FrgMstr]

Repaired this one for an owner in PA (I think)

Good looking work there brother!

[My98RT10]

Just a comment based on my experience regarding reclearing our beloved Viper OEM wheels: I also thought about that as mine do have some scratches, especially around the center cap from prying the cap off....

I then went to check with a professional and very reputable wheel restoration shop in my area to see the differences between a stripped and just polished wheel and one that has been recleared after polishing. Compared to the OEM cleared wheel, the refurbished and recleared one was not that shiny anymore, it appeared to be kind of dull (to me). I think the key is in the type of paint or even powder they use which eats some of the shine of the polished aluminum.

This is the reason why I decided not to strip and clear coat the wheels. The option of only stripping the wheels I didn't fancy either due to the high maintenance efforts to keep them really shiny. However, this might produce the best visual results (in terms of shine).

So, for the time being, I carefully sanded out the scratches in the clear coat (as far as possible) and gave them a good (paint) polish afterwards. They are not as new but it helped a lot.

[Dajerseyviper]

Just a comment based on my experience regarding reclearing our beloved Viper OEM wheels: I also thought about that as mine do have some scratches, especially around the center cap from prying the cap off....

I then went to check with a professional and very reputable wheel restoration shop in my area to see the differences between a stripped and just polished wheel and one that has been recleared after polishing. Compared to the OEM cleared wheel, the refurbished and recleared one was not that shiny anymore, it appeared to be kind of dull (to me). I think the key is in the type of paint or even powder they use which eats some of the shine of the polished aluminum.

This is the reason why I decided not to strip and clear coat the wheels. The option of only stripping the wheels I didn't fancy either due to the high maintenance efforts to keep them really shiny. However, this might produce the best visual results (in terms of shine).

So, for the time being, I carefully sanded out the scratches in the clear coat (as far as possible) and gave them a good (paint) polish afterwards. They are not as new but it helped a lot.

Truest me, either option will look better than the rims when I got the car. The previous owner apparently used the curb as a guide when parking.....Amazing how some people should not own such cars..My car thanked me for rescuing her from him.She now lives a pampered life...

[Dajerseyviper]

Here is a picture of the professionally done front rims. They came out good, but like another person had said they tend to look not as shiny as the OEM clear, and dont quite match the rears if you look . I notice orange peel in the clear, I think a fine grit wet sand and buff would make them look better. or I could have the rears re polished and cleared professionally and one would be none the wiser. overall compared ot their beat up condition, Im happy with the end results.

[C5Longhorn]

Thanks, for the update. If you don't mind, how much were you charged to reclear the rims? I want to get a ballpark on price.

Rick

[Dajerseyviper]

Thanks, for the update. If you don't mind, how much were you charged to reclear the rims? I want to get a ballpark on price.

Rick

to fix some pretty good damage and refinish the 2 wheels with mounting and unmounting, it was around $370. Im not sure if Im thrilled with the finish to tell you the truth.

[Vprbite]

You really did a good DIY job. You should be proud. Now time to keep em nice. Mine are plasti-dipped deep gray/black (am going to have them professionally done in satin I think) but for shiny wheels when cleaning, don't forget LOTS of sudsy water. Lots and lots of soapy water is the best way to keep them scratch free. Just spraying them with some kind of cleaner and wiping them off will grind all that break dust in.

On my GTS I swapped out to EBC's that Jon at Partsrack recommended for less dust. That helped immensely. I think it was the Reds but ask Jon for a good low dust option. It was unbelievable the difference that made in keeping them clean. Also a good coat of wax/sealant made it so the dust didn't stick so badly.

[Dajerseyviper]

Also a good coat of wax/sealant made it so the dust didn't stick so badly.

Oh definitely..People look at me like Im nuts for waxing my wheels.

[Vprbite]

Oh definitely..People look at me like Im nuts for waxing my wheels.

Our wheels are clearcoated. Makes perfect sense at that point. Raw aluminum would be a different case in that sense but clear coat make a pretty simple choice in my mind.

[uvbnbit]

to fix some pretty good damage and refinish the 2 wheels with mounting and unmounting, it was around $370. Im not sure if Im thrilled with the finish to tell you the truth.

That seems a "bit" steep. Clearing polished wheels is not that simple. Laying down adhesive promoter, the surfance MUST be cleaner than clean for it to adhere, plus use of quality promoter. THEN, quality clear coat. Any coating (clear) is going to dull the shine some. I leave my polished ones uncleared, especially if not a DD. It's not that hard to maintain and shine is much better. If customer insists on clear, cost is typically an extra $50-75. Clear powder is also an option.

[C5Longhorn]

I'm going to start with no clear on my wheels and see how bad the maintenance is. It is not a daily driver. I'll probably buy a chemical stripper to remove the old clearcoat and do one rim at a time since I know the first polishing effort will be a bitch.

[Dajerseyviper]

That seems a "bit" steep. Clearing polished wheels is not that simple. Laying down adhesive promoter, the surfance MUST be cleaner than clean for it to adhere, plus use of quality promoter. THEN, quality clear coat. Any coating (clear) is going to dull the shine some. I leave my polished ones uncleared, especially if not a DD. It's not that hard to maintain and shine is much better. If customer insists on clear, cost is typically an extra $50-75. Clear powder is also an option.

Yeah, well thats effin NJ for ya... They did repair some nasty galling around the lips and one lug nut. The clear on my wheels looks dull and it looks as if they did not do a proper polishing job cause their are swirls that appear to be under the clear. The clear also has tons of orange peel.. Im not happy and going back there today to complain.

[Granger73]

Did you get the other two rims back yet? Curious to see how it worked out.

[C5Longhorn]

Did you get the other two rims back yet? Curious to see how it worked out.

He did. See post #30.

[Dajerseyviper]

Did you get the other two rims back yet? Curious to see how it worked out.

Yes, and the rims I did myself with 13 years of road grime look better :-( I brought the wheels back and they will have the manager call me, the clear coat is unacceptable IMO. It has tons of orange peel and there are swirls in the metal under the clear. Looks like a step in polishing was skipped, and they just sprayed the clear on them and left them at that. Not happy, not acceptable..

[viper_eddie]

Great job, I'll use this is a diy if I ever have to fix them on mine.

[uvbnbit]

I'm going to start with no clear on my wheels and see how bad the maintenance is. It is not a daily driver. I'll probably buy a chemical stripper to remove the old clearcoat and do one rim at a time since I know the first polishing effort will be a bitch.

Airplane stripper. Wear goggles, rubber gloves, most important respirator. That stuff'll knock ya out. Burn bad too.

[Dajerseyviper]

Airplane stripper. Wear goggles, rubber gloves, most important respirator. That stuff'll knock ya out. Burn bad too.

DO you have to scrub it or just rinse it off? How easy does it strip the clear??

[C5Longhorn]

I don't have first hand experience but from what I've read, it only requires light scrubbing and takes the clear off fairly well.

I may try it first on my gas cap.

Rick

[Dajerseyviper]

I don't have first hand experience but from what I've read, it only requires light scrubbing and takes the clear off fairly well.

I may try it first on my gas cap.

Rick

Let me know before I do it..LOL

[uvbnbit]

It can help to scuff it first, but once you brush it on, you'll see it start to work. Some of the Viper wheels i've done have pretty tough clear. It'll take 2 applications probably and maybe a 3rd on stubborn areas. I recommend a hose or mild pressure washer. The more you scrub, you may be creating more scuffs to polish out.

[Dajerseyviper]

It can help to scuff it first, but once you brush it on, you'll see it start to work. Some of the Viper wheels i've done have pretty tough clear. It'll take 2 applications probably and maybe a 3rd on stubborn areas. I recommend a hose or mild pressure washer. The more you scrub, you may be creating more scuffs to polish out.

I have a power washer..What would you recommend to clean the inner barrels of the wheels? Also I think Im gonna wetsand the rims with 800-1200-2000 before I begin to polish..I want them to look like a mirror finish. The wheels I got back from being "professionally" done , had swirl marks from polishing under the clear as if they gave them a rush "good enough" polish. The results were not good enough for me, I brought them back and demanded they remove the clear which looks hazy and orange peel, and leave them bare with no clear, cause their clear looks like shit. At least the polished uncleared rims could be polished repeatedly.

[ACR_Matt]

Take them to Espo's Powder Coating in Staten Island. Tom will treat you right. He has one of the top 5 best wheel repair/custom powder coating shops on the East Coast.

[Dajerseyviper]

Take them to Espo's Powder Coating in Staten Island. Tom will treat you right. He has one of the top 5 best wheel repair/custom powder coating shops on the East Coast.

But I dont want them poweder coated...And I already paid for the job to be done..I just want it right.