Loading...
Remove Text Formatting

Likes Likes:  11
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Suggestions on fixing partial cosmetic issue on alloy wheels

  1. #1
    Member fast Ed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Caledon
    Posts
    1,888

    Suggestions on fixing partial cosmetic issue on alloy wheels

    Hey guys


    Any suggestions on what might work for cleaning up the areas corroded from where the weights have been? These are a used set of OEM wheels I got last fall for my F-150, they were made for Ford by Alcoa. Lightweight wheels with a nice finish, I believe they were forged. Overall the finish is still in decent shape so I'm trying to avoid the cost of having them professionally redone ... got quotes from a few places, and for less than what I'd spend on that I could get a new set of American Racing wheels in a similar style. Of course they would just be cast made in China wheels, so I'd rather use these if I can. Comments / ideas appreciated.


    thanks,
    Ed

    Alcoa wheel.jpg
    12 GT500 coupe
    81 VW Scirocco S
    Instagram: ed._nicholson
    Your Ford dealer in the west GTA - Kennedy Ford Sales
    www.kennedyford.ca - please use the Kennedy Ford SVT TMC account for parts inquiries

  2. #2
    Admin ZR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Toronto, On
    Posts
    36,213
    Assume clear coat over polished.
    If so, could try water sanding n blending the damaged area out then shooting clear yourself.

  3. #3
    Club Supporter FABMAN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Woodbridge
    Posts
    1,225
    Pretty much what Rick said. Just need time and patience. Polishing helps if you have things like a powerball mini and a cordless drill. Then you can finish by hand.

    That said, union tire will likely charge about $150 to do a complete refinish and clear. I had a wheel from my X5 done there and they did excellent work.
    FABMAN

  4. #4
    Club Supporter hammerhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Melancthon,Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,725
    if you like a brushed look - you could strip the coating (usually there's a coating on the wheels) with pint stripper - then use 400 grit to give a brushed look - if you continue to wet sand down to 2000 and 3000 grit the wheels will become closer to a high gloss - if you want full gloss you can them buff out with a compound - I personally would use 3m compound it's a bit pricey at around 100 $'s but works good - if you wet sand smooth enough you should be able to buff out by hand with the 3m compound and some elbow grease or use a polisher...

    edit: may need to use 100 up to 280 grit on the rough areas...400 may no be aggressive enough in the tough spots at first and use 3m wet/dry paper all others don't compare
    Last edited by hammerhead; 03-16-2021 at 09:56 AM.
    1979 Pace Car 302 4spd
    1981 Cobra t-top option - power to be determined, in the works

  5. #5
    Member reggies's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    london
    Posts
    50
    There are an abundance of videos on the internet regarding refinishing wheels in various states of corrosion and curb rash. Depends on how much you think your own time is worth compared to professionals who charge approximately $150 per wheel for really good results.

  6. #6
    Member fast Ed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Caledon
    Posts
    1,888
    Thanks for the input guys. With them being polished vs. a standard painted or machine finish, the quotes I've been getting are in the $200-300 per wheel range. That's why I'm hoping it might be possible to make the corroded areas look 80-90% better than they do now with equipment at home.
    12 GT500 coupe
    81 VW Scirocco S
    Instagram: ed._nicholson
    Your Ford dealer in the west GTA - Kennedy Ford Sales
    www.kennedyford.ca - please use the Kennedy Ford SVT TMC account for parts inquiries

  7. #7
    Club Supporter hammerhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Melancthon,Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,725
    Quote Originally Posted by fast Ed View Post
    Thanks for the input guys. With them being polished vs. a standard painted or machine finish, the quotes I've been getting are in the $200-300 per wheel range. That's why I'm hoping it might be possible to make the corroded areas look 80-90% better than they do now with equipment at home.
    I wouldnt do it for 150...lol
    1979 Pace Car 302 4spd
    1981 Cobra t-top option - power to be determined, in the works

  8. #8
    Club Supporter hammerhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Melancthon,Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,725
    Quote Originally Posted by fast Ed View Post
    Thanks for the input guys. With them being polished vs. a standard painted or machine finish, the quotes I've been getting are in the $200-300 per wheel range. That's why I'm hoping it might be possible to make the corroded areas look 80-90% better than they do now with equipment at home.
    I wouldnt do it for 150...lol
    1979 Pace Car 302 4spd
    1981 Cobra t-top option - power to be determined, in the works

  9. #9
    Member fast Ed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Caledon
    Posts
    1,888
    How about $100? LOL

  10. #10
    Club Supporter Mustang4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Burlington, Ont
    Posts
    1,499
    I hand polished a set of 10 holes for one of my Foxes. Stripped off the clear, then started wet sanding with low grits and worked up to 2000 grit on each wheel, must of been 5 different grades for each wheel. Then clear coated them.
    Took a while but, it was cool sitting in the garage listening to music while doing it. Sometimes one of my sons and a friend would pull up a seat and each take a wheel.

    1991 Mustang 5.0L LX - Titanium Frost CC Metallic, MM Suspension, Bilstein shocks, Cobra brakes, Edelbrock heads, polished GT-40 intake, new interior
    2018 Mustang GT - Performance Pack, Magneride, Auto, Forged wheels, Active exhaust, Lightning Blue

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

SiteUptime Web Site Monitoring Service