Aluminum rims have a transparent coating layer for protection and extra shine. The clear coating can sometimes become dull or even develop yellow film making the wheel look old and dirty. If your wheels have this issue, don’t worry anymore. It’s so easy to repair the peeling clear coat on rims and make your wheel look new and shiny again. The process requires sand using wet paper and then repaint the coat.
How to Fix Peeling Clear Coat on Alloy Wheels
What You Need
- Sandpaper
- Microfiber towel
- Wax and grease remover
- Masking tape
- Clearcoat paint
- Dust mask
- Kneeling pad
- Safety goggles
What to Do
- To fix the peeling clear coat, smoothen the rim with 600-grit sandpaper. Sand gently in an x pattern, moving the paper in one direction and across the first one to ensure you don’t make grooves into the wheels. Ensure the sandpaper is wet to prevent making scratches on the wheels using the dust. Later rinse your wheels to clean the dirt and leave them to air dry completely.
- Wipe your wheels with wax and grease remover using a microfiber towel. The solutions get rid of all grease and waxy residue left. As you apply, cover the tires and air valve stem with masking tape to prevent spreading the wax and grease.
- Spray 3 to 4 thin clear coat paint onto the rim. Hold the paint can 6 to 8 inches away from the wheel and use light even strokes. Spray in a side-to-side manner rather than up and down. Let the layer so that the paint doesn’t run. Rest for 10 minutes between coats and 24 hours for the wheels.
How to Remove Peeling Clear Coat from Rims
To remove the peeling clear coat from rims, following this procedure to the latter. It may sound like too much work, but it works out.
What You Need
- paint stripper
- plastic scraper/ metal putty knife
- brass wire brush
- wheels
- rubber gloves
- paint stripper
- wheel cleaner
- brush
- safety glasses
- respirator
- water hose
What to Do
- Wash the wheels with the appropriate wheel cleaner to eliminate brake dust, road scraps, etc. Scrub the wheels rigorously using a brush and dry as you will use a paint remover.
- Blend the paint stripper appropriately in an exposed area. Ensure you wear rubber gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator.
- Spray on the paint stripper and apply the coat you need, either thick or thin. The paint peels within 10 minutes; you will spot the coating fizz /lift during this period.
- Once done, take a metal putty blade to remove the coating, though a plastic scraper is the best to reduce the risk of scratching the aluminum finish. For more challenging to reach areas, use a brass wire brush that won’t damage the aluminum.
- Dispose of the old paint properly, and then wash the wheel down to neutralize the stripper.
Why Are Your Alloy Wheels Flaking?
Most of the time, peeling paint is due to previous lousy refurbishment work or from corrosion. The wearing builds up due to bad weather, acid rain, and wheel cleaners containing acid. The best way of dealing with lacquer peeling on alloys is to acid dip the wheels and sandblast them so that you resurface them to their original metal. Some of the causes of flaking alloy wheels include;
- Extreme weather- exposure to bad weather like an extreme cold in winter is the leading cause. The cold makes the coats brittle, and some abrasive debris acts on the coating. Also, corrosion affects the wheel’s surface, especially on salty roads. Some forms of precipitation like sleet, hale may also adhere to the surface and cause corrosion.
- Use of harsh chemicals- using harsh chemicals and ordinary house cleaners on the alloy wheels can cause flaking. These solutions may contain high pH levels and alkaline-rich chemicals that cause the damage.
- Use of fix-a-flat tire product – the chemical acts on the paint and causes the flaking.
How to Protect Your Alloy Wheels from Flaking
The best way to your alloy wheels from flaking is through the following tips;
- Use automotive-specific shampoos for your wheels instead of other unknown detergents.
- Before the onset of winter, you can consider buying a set of wheels and tires meant for winter use. You can leave the other wheels in the garage and ensure they are clean.
- After using the fix-flat tire product, it’s best to replace your tire as soon as possible and
clean your wheel thoroughly to get rid of the chemical.
- Apply 9H-rated nano-ceramic coating to your wheels- it provides an ultra-thin layer strong for protection from any damage.
- You can consider doing some wheel clear coat touch upon damaged areas to save on the cost.
Conclusion
Sometimes the peeling of clear coat from your wheels may be inevitable if caused by natural factors. But there are ways you can overcome, as previously mentioned. The most important is ensuring you maintain your wheels and using the right products. Ensure your wheels are always clean even before applying the ceramic coating to give the best results.