How to restore disks on a car

With roads like ours,
your car's brand new rims can turn into broken ones in just one season.
Restoring chips at a tire shop costs a lot of money, so I want to
tell you how you can return your car wheels to their former appearance with your own hands.
For this you will not need anything special, and the cost of materials will be simply meager.
Read the detailed instructions below.

What we need:
1) chips on the disks
2) 2-component epoxy paste, its color is not so important.
But keep in mind that if the paste is red/green/gray and will most likely
show through the paint, you will need a primer (aka primer).
I have white epoxy, I did it without primer.
3) sandpaper with a grain index of 300-400.
And it wouldn’t hurt to have a smaller one with an index of 600. 4) masking tape, this is provided that we do not remove the rubber from the disk.
5) actual spray paint and varnish.
Einszett Silber spray, the color is very close to the factory one. You can also use silver spray from Wurth.
In this case, I have a varnish from Wurth. But if there are any difficulties in choosing a color, then it is better to contact a colorist - they will select it.

Use sandpaper (300-400) to clean the scratches and remove the bumps.

Cover the rubber with tape

Take epoxy paste, mix A and B in equal proportions, apply to uneven areas,
carefully remove excess paste.

We leave to dry (the longer the better) I put the wheels under the lamps for several hours.
Firstly, the epoxy will dry faster this way, and secondly, it will set better.

I was carried away by the work and missed the next stage in photographing =)
In general, we sand the dried epoxy with fine sandpaper, level it, everything should be smooth,
including to the touch, without flaws.
Next we paint.
I already have some experience with spray painting. I used to do car modeling. Shake the can well, paint from a distance of 20-30cm, in thin, soft layers so that there are no overflows
and transitions are noticeable.
2-3 layers are enough. Dry for about 30 minutes between each layer. Before painting, it is advisable to humidify the room so that dust does not fall on the freshly painted surface.

Once the paint dries, we varnish it.
2 layers of varnish are enough, drying for half an hour. After this, you can also put the wheels under the lamps for a couple of hours.
After all the layers have completely dried, we take the finest sandpaper with water and gently go
over the areas that were varnished to smooth the surface.
You can also polish the disc so that everything is intact and beautiful :)
That’s all.

Do-it-yourself disk recovery.

It was about 1mm deep.
so it was easily erased with 80-grit sandpaper. If the “score” is very deep, then there are 2 options:
1) Weld this place with argon and sand it flush.
2) Clean off the maximum permissible layer and polish.

Both options have pros and cons.
In the first case, after welding the repair site will still be visible. So I would stick with the second one. Because against the backdrop of shine, it will be unnoticeable.

That's how much patience you need. I also love cars, but I don’t think I would have enough patience for such a process)

I decided to take up polishing. Let's see what comes out of this)))

The easiest and cheapest way
. The sink should not be covered with enamel. :

1) We buy sandpaper with a grit of 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 at the auto store - a sheet should cost about 30 rubles.
2) Polishing paste for metals - 300 rubles.
3) Felt attachment for a drill (screwdriver) - 150 rubles.
4) We wash the sink with a composition in the style of Cilit Bang.
5) We begin to clean the sink with sandpaper from 1000 to 1500.
6) Then we apply the paste to the area that we want to polish - and go through it with felt with medium pressure (with a drill or a screwdriver if it has a drill mode).
7) remove the remaining paste - enjoy the shine.

Important: When working with sandpaper, try to apply even pressure so that it doesn’t turn out that half the shell is rough and the other is soft)

How to restore alloy wheels - popular options

Beautiful and high-quality alloy wheels have long taken leading positions in sales around the world. Russia has not remained aloof from this trend, given all our people’s love for the beauty and sophistication of a car’s appearance. But the problem is that roads in the Russian Federation do not always meet the requirements for alloy wheels. Many products of this type require a smooth finish without pitting or stress during the trip. Unfortunately, roads in our country still cannot provide such conditions. This is why discs often deteriorate, break and crack. Another important factor of destruction is careless driving. For example, the owner may park poorly and rub the wheels on the curbs. This will cause extremely unpleasant consequences and ruin the appearance of a beautiful part of your car. Wear is also possible when hitting a hole if the metal surface of the wheel touches the sharp edge of this very hole.

You can find many more destructive factors that have an unpleasant effect on the appearance and integrity of wheel elements. Therefore, many drivers prefer to leave the simplest stamped options. They do not crack or tear, they simply become deformed, which can be easily corrected by a good service. Today we will talk about how you can restore alloy wheels so that you can easily use these beautiful elements, which greatly change the appearance and perception of the car. Of course, it's worth asking yourself which wheels will last a long time and which ones are not worth buying at all. Therefore, we will consider all the factors affecting the integrity and safety of this element of the car. Then we’ll talk about possible methods for improving the appearance, as well as solving problems that have already arisen with wheel units.

How to choose good alloy wheels without problems?

To ensure long service life of this element of your car, you should choose the right wheels when purchasing. It is better to buy new options, since used wheels often have welding elements, are often painted with low-quality paint, and have also been restored after other unpleasant damage. When choosing used products, it is important to be very careful. The market for used accessories for your car can be overwhelming. In particular, the choice should be based on the following criteria:

integrity - for this it is necessary to visually inspect the product for damage and hidden welds; this can only be done when removing the rubber from the wheel;
painting - if the parts are painted, it is worth checking the quality and integrity of the paintwork, otherwise within a couple of days after purchase you will begin to observe a deterioration in the appearance of your car;
production - do not choose Chinese options, especially if you buy used ones, give preference to wheels from Italy, Germany, France, as well as other Western European countries;
decorative elements - various lids and secrets must be in perfect condition; most likely, you will not find any replacements or accessories, since the models may be rare;
year of manufacture - if the parts were produced ten years ago, there may be many unpleasant incidents in their history; each such incident reduces the quality and durability of the part.

But these are not all the requirements when purchasing these add-ons for your car. Also pay attention to the size and weight of the wheels. If the elements are too heavy, the car's suspension will have a hard time. Excessively large and wide options will rub on the fender liners. Incorrect wheel offset will not allow you to install the disk correctly and enjoy the beautiful appearance of the result. Technical parameters are no less important than the place of manufacture, age and general condition of the purchased add-on for the car.

How to paint alloy wheels if they are damaged?

Painting is the most common method of restoring alloy wheels. Problems with appearance are most often associated with the fact that the surface is scratched, there are chips and scratched areas. Many owners choose to polish using sandblasting or shot blasting machines. The disc looks just great after such procedures; there is no need to paint it. But the cost of such a procedure is quite high. It is quite difficult to paint a wheel efficiently; this is done as follows:

It is imperative to remove the rubber so as not to accidentally paint it, then the metal surface is washed down to bare metal parts or to factory primer, which adheres well;
you need to purchase a good special primer in advance, it can be Motip material in a can or any other good primer for wheels for a spray gun;
you will also need good special paint; wheels are often painted with powder paint, but for this you need to contact large industrial enterprises that have the necessary equipment;
after applying the primer, you need to lightly wash the surface again, sand the primer, then you can start painting, but first it is important to degrease the surface with a solvent;
after this, paint is applied, you can use Motip spray cans or other well-known manufacturers, apply the material according to the instructions, but at least 5-6 layers in total.

DIY painting can often be challenging. You need to accurately glue all elements of a different color, select good materials, and learn how to apply them correctly. When purchasing paint for all 4 wheels, make sure you buy at least 0.5 liters of material. This is the minimum amount required to paint the front surfaces. If you decide to paint the entire disc, you will have to buy more paintwork, since a lot of dust is lost when applied to a raised surface.

What to do if the alloy wheel is cracked?

Surface deformation can be combated using straightening methods. But many materials, especially cheap disks, do not lend themselves to any leveling procedures. In addition, such wheels often crack rather than deform. Unscrupulous owners often cover these cracks with putty or other elastic mixtures, paint them over, and then sell the wheels on ad sites. Putty and alloy wheels are incompatible things. If you find a crack, there are few options:

it is worth cleaning the paintwork materials at the site of damage and assessing how seriously this crack affected the structure and load-bearing capabilities of the entire element of the car;
then take several photos from different angles and find specialists who professionally engage in argon welding and other methods of restoring cast wheels;
send photos to different contractors and find out the cost they will charge for eliminating such troubles, so you can find out the average price of the work in your case;
compare the price with options for buying a new or other used wheel, sometimes the cost of restoration is higher than buying another disk in a car store or on the website;
if the price is reasonable, send the wheel for welding, remember that only argon welding can more or less ensure normal service of the damaged wheel in the future.

It is not recommended to cook wheel elements. However, this is often the only way to restore the product and continue to use it. Chinese cheap options not only do not weld, there is no point in sending them for expensive argon welding. It is better to completely abandon the use of such products made from unknown materials. But you can tinker with expensive exclusive discs, bringing them to excellent condition. It is important to think about operational safety when restoring a wheel.

Operating alloy wheels - what are the features of the trip?

It is best not to repair the damage, but to prevent it from occurring. For example, it is worth clarifying the features of operating a car with such wheels. Most often, drivers continue to drive after installing beautiful new wheels with old habits, and this causes rapid wear of expensive parts. Considering the complexity of repairing and restoring the appearance of these products, you should be more careful when using them. Here are some important recommendations for owners of beautiful wheel parts:

It is best to adhere to the speed limit - you should not drive more than 160 km/h on such wheels, especially if the design of your car provides for other types and sizes of wheels;
it is important to avoid hitting serious uneven roads at high speed - it is better to slow down if you see that the road is not of the best quality, this way you will maintain the integrity of the discs;
when parking, make sure that your car is at least 5 cm from the curb, since when turning the wheel, otherwise you can easily catch the concrete surface with the metal part;
during each seasonal installation of tires, carefully examine the condition of the wheels, avoid the presence of cracks and other problems, irregularities and serious damage to the paintwork of the wheel;
buy high-quality tires - soft sidewalls and a good tread will help to overcome unevenness on the road and reduce the load directly on the metal part.

If trouble has already occurred, you should not drive with a damaged wheel. It is best to perform a quality restoration at a good station. It is possible that decorative renovations will not be a big problem for your finances. If any cracks are detected, use of the vehicle should be stopped immediately. It is better to put on a spare tire and get to the nearest service center to receive high-quality repair services and diagnostics of all disk problems.

We invite you to watch a video on the topic of restoring alloy wheels for cars:

Let's sum it up

Modern cars should be beautiful; such value is inherent in our mentality. At least, car owners in Russia are always worried about the visual qualities of their vehicles. That is why alloy wheels in our latitudes turned out to be quite a popular product. People are ready to give up some additions to the interior, but they will always buy high-quality wheels for themselves. This is important, since such accessories greatly influence the design of the car and create additional opportunities for visual tuning. But it is important to pay attention to changes in the operation of a car with such wheels.

When purchasing such add-ons, be sure to take into account their quality and potential resource, and look at the weakest points. Perhaps the discs are being sold due to low quality or performance problems. Perhaps they were restored and welded poorly. If you encounter cracks or defects in the paintwork on the wheels of your car, you can always restore the parts. To do this, it is enough to use professional methods and get the optimal result. Have you ever encountered the problem of repairing alloy wheels for your car?

Do-it-yourself restoration and repair of alloy wheels

Alloy wheels are deservedly popular among motorists. But along with the advantages of casting, they have one significant drawback. With strong impacts, the discs are damaged, creating a danger on the road. Repairing alloy wheels can eliminate some problems and extend their life.

We have already written about the differences between stamped and cast wheels, as well as about painting cast wheels yourself. This article will be a good addition to the previous ones.

Types of alloy wheels

All light alloy wheels are divided into two main groups.

Alloy wheels are light alloy wheels that are made by hot casting, where molten metal is poured into molds. Therefore, cast wheels turn out to be quite fragile and do not have the proper elasticity. During impacts and collisions, impressive cracks and chips form on them, the geometry is disrupted and beating appears.
Forged wheels are made differently. The light alloy blank is heated and stamped. As a result of metal drawing, the structure of the product becomes fibrous, which significantly increases the strength and reliability of the forged disk. Such wheels are less likely to crack and deform.

Types of damage to alloy wheels

Car enthusiasts should be aware that it is unsafe to operate “problematic” alloy wheels. Currently, most problems are successfully resolved. Depending on the nature of the damage to the alloy wheel, the appropriate repair technology is selected.

The main types of damage to alloy wheels are:

cracks,
radial displacement,
axial displacement,
chips,
damage to the paintwork.

Causes of damage to alloy wheels

In what driving situations do these problems appear?

The cause of cracks on the casting surface is most often a strong impact when falling into a deep hole or pothole on the road. Wheels suffer especially badly when using low-profile tires.
Radial runout (displacement) is formed when a wheel hits a high curb, as well as when it falls into a hole. In this case, a dent appears on the disk. This problem most often happens with “casting”.
During axial runout, a “figure eight” appears, which is the result of a lateral impact of the cast disk on the curb. Similar damage occurs in a side collision with another vehicle.
Chips and damage to the protective coating do not immediately destroy the alloy wheel. The effect of aggressive salt will appear in a couple of years, but then it will be too late to repair the disk.

What kind of damage to alloy wheels cannot be repaired?

Before contacting a specialized workshop that repairs alloy wheels, a motorist needs to know which casting problems become fatal. Not all car service workers will honestly and directly refuse to work in the event of serious breakdowns. Some will take advantage of the owner's naivety to gain profit. Therefore, in the absence of a reliable repairman, you should independently assess the condition of the disk.

Even the most experienced craftsmen, equipped with the latest equipment and devices, will not undertake to repair the following damage:

wide and long cracks,
cracks in the hub area,
severe violation of geometric parameters,
large chips.

Methods for restoring and repairing alloy wheels

To solve problems associated with the repair of alloy wheels, the help of qualified specialists is required. You can only correct the protective coating with your own hands. Often, high-quality casting repairs require expensive equipment and tools, as well as the knowledge and skills of personnel.

Any wheel rim undergoes a thorough inspection before repair. To do this, the inner and outer surface of the disk is cleaned of dirt. After this, you can detect even defects that are invisible at first glance.
If cracks are detected, the cast disk is sent for argon welding. Cracks are sealed with a special electrode in an inert gas (argon) environment. For light alloy wheels based on aluminum, AG electrodes are used, and for repairing magnesium alloys, AMG electrodes are required.
After welding, the disk is cleaned of sagging and splashes of molten metal.
Now it is necessary to check the geometric characteristics of the casting, and, if necessary, correct them on a special machine. The disc is centered and mounted in a rotating chuck. Using a hydraulic cylinder with a set of attachments, the surface of the disk is straightened. As a result, the disk geometry is restored and radial and axial displacements are eliminated.
Next, the surface of the cast disc is sanded, degreased, and a layer of acrylic or powder paint is applied. Parts coated with powder (paint) are sent to a polymerization chamber, where a durable protective layer is formed at high temperatures.
All that remains is to check the balancing of the restored disk and make a final verdict. After repair, experts recommend installing some alloy wheels only on the rear axle.

Thanks to modern restoration technologies, many damage to alloy wheels can be successfully repaired. Important components of the complete restoration of casting performance will be the professionalism of service station workers and the availability of high-tech equipment.

Repair of alloy wheels in a car service center

Do-it-yourself repair and restoration of car wheels

When reading advertisements or announcements about cars for sale: color, leather interior, all the options, etc., you never thought about one feature. Namely, why are wheel rims either not mentioned at all or mentioned at the end, alloy wheels or castings are mentioned in passing? No, but in vain.

The role of rims

Wheel rims deserve more attention, and not the generally accepted attitude, according to the principle: “they go and go.” Why? Because the condition of the car’s rims affects many aspects of the condition of the car’s systems, cost savings and traffic safety.

Being an integral element of the chassis and suspension of a car, faulty rims affect the following parameters:

Serviceability of suspension elements. Radial or axial displacement of a damaged disk leads to failure of the steering mechanism, shock absorbers, and suspension elements.
Savings and safety. A faulty wheel rim means tire failure, which means the cost of replacing it, increased fuel consumption and decreased safety while driving.

How to repair rims

The condition of domestic roads makes us increasingly pay attention to such an event as repairing car rims. Repair of car wheels, depending on their type, can be divided into two types: repair and restoration. Moreover, the second type of repair relates more to the restoration of alloy wheels.

repair stamped and steel wheels ourselves, using a sledgehammer. But the external appearance of a repaired dent is very, very deceptive. A simple recommendation for repairing standard wheel rims, which are steel and stamped, is that if you get a dent on the rim, you should contact a tire shop. The equipment will allow you to roll the disc or roll it out.

With regard to alloy wheels, everything is a little more serious. Experts do not recommend repairing light alloy wheels using the rolling method. The structure of the metal is damaged and the cast disc loses its quality.

Repairing alloy wheels is a more serious matter due to the characteristics of the disk material. You should know that a real master will never undertake repairs to alloy wheels, as a rule, in two cases: if there is a crack at the base of the spokes or a crack near the mounting holes. He won’t take it, even if he is a “magician and wizard of argon welding.”

Repairing wheel rims with your own hands is a completely doable undertaking. But, under one condition: if the damage to the disk does not affect its parameters. As a rule, repairing and painting discs with your own hands is carried out in the case of small cracks on standard discs, which can be welded by conventional welding. This is the so-called disk restoration.

Restoration of alloy wheels can be done with your own hands if you are proficient in argon welding. If not, then the way out is service.

Technology for painting car rims

As usual, repairing and painting wheels are complementary concepts. The technology for repairing and painting alloy wheels is practically no different from painting conventional stamped wheels. In addition to external aesthetics, painting wheels is also protective. Steel wheels really need protection from corrosion, and accordingly, painting provides such protection.

Modern auto chemical products make it possible to paint steel wheels in such a way that, in terms of aesthetic perception, they will look much more attractive than casting. The main thing is to follow the technology for painting wheels.

By and large, the technology for painting cast and steel wheels is no different from the technology for painting a body or painting plastic car parts. All operations are required.

Preparing the disc for painting: if possible, the disc should be sandblasted. If not, clean it using sandpaper, a metal brush or an electric drill or grinder with a special attachment (in this case, strictly observing safety precautions).
Degrease the disc surface with white spirit. It is advisable to wet the floors in the garage so that dust does not settle on the disc during painting.
Primer. Both priming and painting of the disc can be done either from an aerosol can or using a paint “gun”. Naturally, the quality of painting with a spray gun is much higher. We apply the primer 2-3 times with breaks after a layer of five minutes. Then we leave the discs alone for 24 hours. The primer must dry.
Painting discs is similar to priming. An hour or two after applying the last layer of paint, we apply a protective coating with autovarnish. Also in two or three layers.

If there is such a possibility, then the rims after painting should stand for 7-8 days. During this time, the autovarnish will gain its full strength.

Good luck with your wheel repair and painting.