DIY curb rash repair..

[Dajerseyviper]

I was asked to repost this over here..

My wheels had some pretty significant curb rash from the previous owner parallel parking in Bethesda Maryland where he lived. It drove me nuts. I dropped the front 2 off to be repaired professionally cause they needed metal added to the chunks missing out of them, but I decided to fix the rear on my own and you can too for a few bucks.

Stuff I used:
1) corded 1/2" drill
2) Pneumatic angle grinder
3) air compressor
4) wet sand paper 500,600,1200
5) polishing kit
6) polish


Ok so here is the rear rims Before:




As you can see the rash is fairly deep but no chunks taken out.

Here is what I used to take the rash down but if you do not have an air compressor you could use a flapper wheel or dremmel to sand down the rash.



Here are the two different grit pads I used, i started with the rougher RED pad and to get the rash down then used the GREEN pad to smooth it down. Go slow, you dont want to take off too much material, and do it evenly going around the whole lip of the rim flattening it down to match how much you took off where the rash was.



Here is a picture of the sanding process and the end result.





Now clean it up and begin wet sanding it the entire lip by hand starting with 500 grit working your way to 1200 grit. You will be able to run your finger around the lip and feel how smooth it is at this point.





Now comes the polishing, here is the cheap kit I picked up at Harbor Freight for $6.99. I utilized the white polish and mixed in some other metal polish I had at home. Apply pressure and go slow at first, start easing up on the pressure and pick up the speed to buff it up. try to stay on just the lip cause the rim is clear coated and if you eat the clear coat off on the surface, your gonna have to strip the whole clear off and polish the whole rim, so limit the polishing to the lip.





Now clean up the rims and hand buff a little and here is the end result...much better than the before and literally cost me $6.99 for the polishing kit..I already had everything else.






Enjoy people!!!!

[Todapwr]

Nice write up!

[Dajerseyviper]

Thanks man!!!

[Fatboy 18]

My Gen II, 5 spokes are clear lacquered, Were your wheels clear lacquered? If so are you going to spray new lacquer over the repaired area?

[Dajerseyviper]

My Gen II, 5 spokes are clear lacquered, Were your wheels clear lacquered? If so are you going to spray new lacquer over the repaired area?

I believe so, and no..I dont drive the car in weather conditions so a weekly buff is not an issue for me..Unless it really does not match the front when I get them back and it bothers me..

[Dajerseyviper]

This guy did a helluva job on his Gen 3 wheels http://driveviper.com/forums/threads...l=1#post112363
Very nice!!!!

[Sybil TF]

Good job . Had to have the same thing done on my CCW wheel on my Challenger except he used a big rubber wheel on the grinder instead. Had to have wheel re-balanced and now they are chromed so if he hits the curb again I'm sol...

[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.

[ViperPete]

You did an excellent job. I always wondered how to clean up some rims and I didn't know it was that easy. Nice job.

[Dajerseyviper]

You did an excellent job. I always wondered how to clean up some rims and I didn't know it was that easy. Nice job.

Thanks! Not a perfect job but way more presentable than before.

[ZeroCool]

Great post, thanks. I need to do this exact thing

[Matt Dillon]

Awesome, Thanks for Posting this DJV!