Restoring alloy car wheels: how to restore wheels yourself

Comments: no Published: 11/16/2019

Rating:

Seasonal wheel changes are a good time to renew and restore wheel rims. During the operation of the car, cracks and chips often appear around their seats, at the base of the spokes. Correcting defects in a timely manner can prevent the occurrence of more serious problems. Additionally, restoring these wheel bases enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the entire vehicle. This type of work is not particularly complex, and therefore does not require special knowledge and skills from the performer. The main thing is patience, accuracy, attention to detail.

For what reason can alloy wheels deteriorate?

Unforeseen situations on the roads can arise for any car enthusiast, regardless of the type of wheels.
Cast wheels, like others, can deteriorate. This is primarily due to bad roads or, for example, an unscheduled drive onto the curb. In this case, you will have to repair alloy wheels yourself or with the help of the company’s service station. This is the only way to return the disks to their original appearance,

We would like to make a disclaimer right away: alloy wheels cannot be fixed in all cases. For example, cast wheels with large cracks cannot be welded, but straightening is quite possible.

Here are the most common defects of alloy wheels: a dent, a chipped rim, a break in the edge of the circle.

Stages of straightening cast wheels after deformation

Editing alloy wheels includes several stages of work in a car service:

cleaning from dirt and paint residues to identify defects that are invisible at first glance;
in the presence of cracks - argon welding, which allows you to “fill” the place of deformation until a single structure is formed;
straightening the surface to a smooth and even state;
diagnostics using a computer to identify geometric irregularities and thoroughly correct them;
powder painting to create a durable protective layer;
disk balancing.

No responsible professional car service technician will undertake to repair a wheel if it has cracks at the base of the spokes or near the wheel mounting holes.

Why repair drives?

Severe operating conditions and the condition of Russian roads negatively affect the condition of wheel rims. Restoration work in relation to them can be divided into repair and restoration. In this case, the second option is more suitable for cast disc varieties.

Car maintenance becomes much more expensive, since you have to change tires and chassis parts more often. In addition, the vehicle's fuel consumption also increases due to increased rolling resistance.

Taking into account these factors, the feasibility of repair work becomes obvious.

What distinguishes alloy wheels from others?

First of all, it is worth briefly explaining what features alloy wheels have, since they directly affect reliability, the nature of damage from mechanical impact and the possibility of repair.

Manufacturers of disks strongly do not recommend repairing them, and service centers insist on using their services. It should be noted in advance that it is advisable to repair disks only if you need to save money and the damage is not serious.

The production of a cast disk is carried out using the hot casting method, that is, metal raw materials are heated to a temperature at which it becomes liquid, and then poured into special molds. Then it is hardened, processed and ground, after which the material takes on the appearance of a disk.

The disadvantages of this method of casting a disc are how and what kind of damage it can receive - if deformed from strong impacts, straightening them out and restoring wear resistance even in the conditions of a car service is quite problematic, and sometimes impossible.

The reason is that when casting disks from a liquid alloy, the product acquires very low ductility and, most likely, will crack if there is a strong external impact or an unsuccessful entry into the hole. In this case, it is often possible to completely repair a crack only on the outside, but not inside the rim or spokes.

Forged wheels have the advantage in this regard - greater maintainability. When hit or driven into a hole, they may simply bend, but not crack.

That is, the repair of alloy wheels is effective and necessary when it is of a cosmetic nature, and restoring the geometry and eliminating dents, if any have formed, is fraught with a decrease in their reliability, even with the high quality of the work of specialists.

Tire installation

Before work, check the technical condition of the wheel and tire. They must not have any damage. Also be sure to remove any old balancing weights from the wheel. Installation is carried out in reverse order. Before work, lubricate the edge of the rubber with soapy water.

The most difficult thing is to inflate the tire. With tube tires it is a little easier; just inflate the wheel with high pressure and the tire will fall into place. It is impossible to seal a tubeless tube in this way; services use a compressor for this. If it is not there, you can use another wheel; it is inflated to 3 atm

., after which they connect the hose to the newly assembled wheel, the excess pressure will be sharply released, and the tire will fall into place.

conclusions

. Despite the inexpensive tire fitting services, knowing how to remove and put on tires from a rim yourself can help you out in a variety of situations. Therefore, it is advisable for every car enthusiast to master this simple skill.

Why does rust appear on wheels?

The appearance of corrosion on any metal products is promoted by exposure to chemically active substances and moisture. While driving along the highway, car wheels come into contact with salt, water and various chemicals that are used to clear roads of ice in winter.

In addition, rust spreads very quickly over unprotected metal. On discs, such protection is provided by the paint coating and, if it is damaged, the appearance of corrosion processes is a matter of time. But it’s so easy to scratch your wheels in the same parking lot.

Types of discs and their susceptibility to corrosion

Different types of discs differ in material, configuration and processing technology, and therefore their resistance to corrosion is different. Discs are cast, stamped and forged.

Cast wheels are produced by pouring metal into a special mold, thermally hardening the finished part, and machining it. After which a paint layer and a protective coating are applied. The basis of such discs is aluminum and magnesium alloys, which resist corrosion quite well.

Stamped wheels are low cost and are most often installed on budget car brands. They are made from straight steel sheets. The disc itself consists of a rim and a circle connected to each other. They are most susceptible to corrosion, since the quality of painting on such discs is very low.

Forged wheels are very similar to their cast counterparts. They are manufactured by industrial stamping and hardening. They are expensive and quite resistant to rust.

What paint to paint the wheels

Modern car care products, including wheel rims, with constant use can maintain the color and integrity of the rim paint coating, but after a certain time, it is still better to repaint the rims completely, without spending additional costs on partial repairs of the coating.

For self-application of paintwork, conventional automotive paints and enamels and high-tech coatings are mainly used. Most often used for painting wheels:

Acrylic paints;
Nitro enamels;
Liquid rubber.
Powder paint.

Each type of coating is successfully used when painting wheel rims independently. However, when choosing the type of paint coating, it is necessary to take into account the properties of the paints and the features of the application technology.

Acrylic automotive enamels are the most common today and are widely used for painting body parts and rims. They are produced both in the form of ready-to-use compositions in aerosol cans, and in the form of separate color forms of paints that require further mixing to obtain the desired color. When dry, the paints form a durable film that is resistant to external influences. Painting with acrylic paints today is the most common and easiest type of work to master on your own. Acrylic-based paints are suitable for all types of discs.

Acrylic paint for car rims

The once popular nitro enamels are today used mainly in the form of aerosol cans. The popularity of this type of car paint lies in the ease and speed of work. The paints are sold ready-made, easy to apply to the surface, and dry quickly under normal conditions. This paint is usually used for express painting and is suitable for all types of rims. However, this paint holds up worse than others.

Nitro enamels for cars

Liquid rubber is a relatively new type of protective coating. The main form of release is ready-to-use paint in aerosol cans. It is easily applied to the surface, ensures reliable adhesion, and has excellent resistance to external influences. The downside of the paint is that it is difficult to select the required color, since it is sold in cans in a ready-made composition. Suitable for painting all types of discs.

Examples of liquid rubber colors

Powder paint is a new high-tech type of coating that provides reliable metal protection and at the same time excellent appearance. Powder paint makes it possible to create any color composition, including using several color transitions. The disadvantage of this dyeing technology is the need to use special equipment and great care when working. In addition, it is not recommended to use powder technology for application to light alloy cast wheels, especially from unknown manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom.

Powder paint

Wheel beading machine: how to make it yourself

You can make the machine equipment yourself. To create the frame part that will serve as the base, experts advise using metal profile pipes. There must be at least 700 mm between them.

Two tubes are arranged in parallel and welded with a steel angle. The profile of the smallest standard size is also suitable. As an additional component, you can build adjustable legs.

When the base is made, you need to attach the tube to the frame part. Its radius is sufficient within 10-15 mm. Before welding, the flange part must be welded in advance at 400-600 mm from the floor. Vertically you need to make fasteners, which are created in the form of a steel plate. It will be needed to mount the device as a lever. The main purpose of the lever is to remove rubber from the disc rim. The lever part is a pair of shoulder and paw elements, which acts on the rubber itself.

You can also dismantle the wheel in a garage with your own hands. The main thing is to do everything correctly and not to rush. Only by listening to the advice of experts can you guarantee the success of the tire removal event.

How to clean rims yourself

If you regularly care for your rims, you can clean them in a few steps:

spray the rims with a thin stream of water from a hose to remove dirt and dust
wear rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands from chemicals and dirt particles
thoroughly wipe the surface with a damp sponge to remove any remaining dust and dirt and prevent scratches during subsequent processing
use a special wheel cleaner: mix it with water according to the instructions, apply to a sponge, use an old toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas
thoroughly rinse the solution from the discs
dry them with a soft microfiber or suede cloth
Use wax to coat the discs with a protective layer. There is a special wax for alloy wheels on sale. This treatment should be repeated every 3 months.

If there are stubborn stains on the disks, use “heavy” artillery.

For example, folk “craftsmen” recommend cleaning rust and stains with lemon juice, vinegar, or even a piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

But these remedies are not universal and will not give the desired effect.

Only a specialized wheel cleaner is able to penetrate deeply into the metal surface, fill all cracks and chips - and at the same time gently clean them without damaging the varnish or paint on the surface of the wheels. So saving on automotive chemicals can easily result in expensive wheel restoration in the future.

In addition, there are cleaners on sale that you just need to spray onto the surface - which is quite convenient. True, the cheaper the disk cleaning product, the more dubious the effect will be.

Total

To carry out the wheel rim cleaning procedure, you will need:

Hose with spray nozzle
Sponge
Microfiber cloth
A pair of rubber gloves
Special product - cleaner
Bucket with water
Toothbrush
Wax to protect discs

And, of course, a platform for carrying out all the technology. You won't clean disks in the yard of your own house, will you?

With some skill, you can clean wheel rims in 40-60 minutes. Without removing the wheels themselves from the car.

Plus time and effort to find a cleaner and wax to care for discs that will suit you in terms of quality and cost.

Is it possible somehow easier?

Certainly. It is convenient to combine regular wheel cleaning with high-quality professional car washing.

Our gentle car wash provides a service such as wheel cleaning, separately or as part of comprehensive care.

As a result, you get an impeccable appearance of wheels and tires, save time and effort and do not risk facing corrosion or restoration of parts due to improper care.

We use only certified branded auto chemicals to achieve perfect results.

In the meantime, our professional cleaners will work their magic on the rims of your car, you can while away the time shopping or visit our cozy relaxation room.

We work around the clock - and provide discounts after 23.00.

Come to the GALLERIA shopping center in the very center of Minsk and see for yourself!

Nature of damage

Let's figure out whether alloy wheels can be repaired. Different compositions and production technologies give products an unequal degree of strength, and naturally, it will not be possible to restore them using one recipe.

The proposals of some workshops to repair castings by welding are, to put it mildly, unprofessional. For steel, welding is the ideal repair method, and simple stamping can be combined into one whole from even pieces.

However, it is of great importance what metal the cast disk is made of. It is easier to melt it and mold it again, because aluminum alloys do not tolerate local heating. They have completely different molecular bonds than steel, the structure of which is disrupted with increasing temperature and changes the technical characteristics of the product.

This type of repair is still carried out using argon welding, and sometimes a person is simply forced to make such a decision. But we note that the repaired disk actually loses its ability to resist loads, and therefore will remain the Achilles heel of the car.

That is, the casting cannot be completely restored. But car owners do this because, as a rule, it is almost impossible to replace one disc without replacing the entire set - especially if the model is rare, and even imported. And this is the cost of the disk multiplied by 4.

Even if you find the same one on sale, one disc is unlikely to be sold, so as not to break the set. After all, an odd number will then be impossible to sell, and the seller can also be understood. At best, they will offer to place an order that can take as long as you like.

If there is not a crack in the rim, but it is simply bent, they can offer a service such as disc rolling. You may not even know that there was such a deformation, but it turns out, for example, during a seasonal change of tires, when the wheel just doesn’t want to balance, and no amount of weights helps to stop the runout.

Is it possible to roll alloy wheels?

You can roll a stamped disc without any problems, but cast discs cannot be subjected to this procedure! The thing is that it will not be possible to straighten cold metal, and local heating, as we have already found out, reduces the strength of the alloy and worsens its performance characteristics.

When the deformation is not very severe, the cast disc can be straightened by very light tapping, and only then lightly rolled.

To be sure that the disk has not been subjected to heat, you must supervise the alignment procedure yourself. If you haven't seen the process, do a simple check.

The burner used for heating leaves characteristic stains. It is impossible to wash this off, so it is hidden under a layer of paint.

This stain can only be painted over

By the way, not every master undertakes the correct repair of alloy wheels. The services of a good specialist are very expensive, and if your disk does not have much aesthetic or material value, it will be much easier to buy a new one (if you can find it).

Tip: When buying a used car, perform a visual inspection of the rims. If they are deformed or have signs of repair, do not take risks - be prepared to either immediately purchase and install a new set, or already refuse the purchase.

Everything that has been said about casting repair is also valid for forging. Minor defects can be corrected, but cracks in the hub hole area, large chips and serious geometry violations cannot be repaired.

Important: Whatever disk you repair, even if it is well balanced after that, place it only on the rear axle!

Why do car owners most often choose alloy wheels?

Today you can find a huge number of types of products on the car market. It is worth noting that the durability, reliability and other properties of disks depend primarily on the material from which they are made. One name - alloy wheels - can say a lot about this product.

If funds allow, then it is recommended to buy alloy wheels. The manufacturing technology of this wonderful product is as follows: an easily flowing material is poured into the finished mold using the classical casting method. Thanks to this manufacturing technology, the boundary between the disc and the rim is practically absent - this fact significantly increases the durability and reliability of cast wheels.

The main material used is aluminum of high quality and strength, as well as magnesium or titanium. I would like to emphasize once again that the strength of these discs is much higher than, for example, stamped discs.

Surprisingly, such wheels are rarely damaged, since their deformation limit is much higher than that of other types of wheels. It will take at least five direct hits to the wheel for it to be damaged, but you must admit that, as a rule, no one has encountered such a situation.

If you are interested in knowing what the advantage of such wheels is, pay attention to these points:

Small mass. Suspension durability. With such discs, the ride becomes very comfortable, and the car runs smoothly. Economical. Alloy wheels are not subject to corrosion. The advantage of such wheels is also the precision of manufacturing.

This, by the way, is very important, since the quality of driving directly depends on this indicator.

Types of car wheel repairs

Modern equipment and the latest technologies allow our service specialists to perform the following types of repair and restoration of car rims:

Rolling of stamped discs. It is relevant only for steel products and involves leveling the disc circumference on a special machine.
Straightening of cast wheels. It is performed using professional equipment designed to correct the geometry of alloy wheels.
Argon welding of discs. It is capable of completely restoring the integrity of the cast wheel and strengthening its strength in places of damage, eliminating the resulting defects and giving the wheel a pleasant appearance.
Powder coating of wheels. It is very important for any disks after restoring their geometry as the final stage of repair. The paint can protect wheels from light mechanical damage and the adverse effects of precipitation and chemicals for a very long period.

How to wash wheels?

As a rule, the rims (especially if we use strong chemicals) should be cool; washing the rims (and the entire body) in the sun is not recommended!

Thus: spray the rim with a cleaner, wait a while (the warmer it is, the faster the process will go), scrub if necessary with a sponge (note: it's worth wearing rubber gloves!) and wash the wheels thoroughly under pressure.

Now we roll the car back half a turn of the wheel and repeat the procedure (without this - see for yourself - there will be unwashed fragments here and there) - that's all!

Instructions

Spray a cleaning agent, preferably with a neutral Ph, onto the cool wheel rim

Some drugs can oxidize the metal. If rust appears on the brake rotor, this is also a sign that it is time to wash the compound off the wheel.

Although it is not possible to avoid contact of tires with rim products, it is worth trying

We wash off the drug - the more aggressive the chemical, the better to do it carefully; if you don't have a washcloth, use a bucket

Methods for restoring and repairing alloy wheels

First of all, the rubber is removed from the disc and carefully inspected for damage, removing dirt and dust.
The inspection should be carried out regularly, regardless of whether repairs are suspected, since driving a vehicle with a damaged disc is extremely unsafe. If there are chips and small dents, repairing the disk with your own hands is possible, but only if the damage is not continuous or is not located in areas with increased load, for example, near bolt holes, where it is not possible to apply a weld seam with sufficient quality, especially with your own hands. As a rule, chips on the rim and side can be welded.
Cracks in the cast disk can be sealed using argon welding; after they are eliminated, it is necessary to grind the disk to eliminate the seam, since it can negatively affect driving characteristics by disturbing the weight balance - possibly causing the steering wheel to wobble.
Argon welding is used for alloy wheels because it increases the reliability of the repaired part by isolating the weld site from oxygen, which increases the strength of the weld joint. Also, with this type of welding, the likelihood of the formation of oxide films on the surface of the weld is low.
It is relatively simple to restore a disk whose integrity has not been compromised, that is, damage is limited to a slight bend, but not a crack or the absence of any part of it.
In this case, a special machine is used to straighten the wheel, which eliminates the axial displacement and performs centering. Of course, in this case it is necessary to contact specialists with special equipment - it is impossible to independently diagnose and repair such deformations. In any case, diagnostics of the geometry of a cast disk must be performed using special equipment; its cost is low.
After checking the disk for cracks and dents, diagnosing and straightening the geometry, you need to remove all roughness from the surface of the disk using a grinding machine and sandpaper. This prevents wheel wear and has a cosmetic effect.
If, during the inspection of the disc, minor damage was detected, then you can start priming and preparing the wheel for painting.
After sanding rough edges and chips, the disc must be coated with epoxy paste, preferably in the color of the coating or white. In most cases, pastes are equipped with instructions for use. Treatment with it consists of uniformly covering the disc and filling all scratches and microcracks with paste. It begins to dry relatively quickly - within 20-25 minutes, during which time it is important to have time to distribute it evenly over the surface. After application, allow the paste to dry completely for several hours (it is best to leave it overnight).
The final stage is preparation for applying primer and painting. Before doing this, you need to carefully clean the disc with fine sandpaper (for example, P600 or finer). If after this the defects of the disc or paste remain noticeable, then the errors must be eliminated by applying another small layer, otherwise all the work will ultimately be in vain - the paint will lie unevenly and will not last long. After this, the disc must be degreased in preparation for applying primer. Degreasing plays an important role, since without this stage the primer risks not fulfilling its function to hold the paint firmly enough.

DETAILS: How to change the oil in a car engine with your own hands. We change the oil in the car ourselves. help novice car enthusiasts change the oil

straightening;
rolling;
primer/paint.

If the wheel is damaged in places of increased stress, in addition to dents and chips, cracks may appear. The use of welding in this case is not recommended for any type of wheel. Most often, parts with this type of damage will have to be discarded for safety reasons.

Do-it-yourself straightening is usually used after careless driving at high speed and possible collisions with obstacles on the road. The demand for surgery appears in the following situations:

hitting a speed bump at high speed;
hitting the curb while parking or turning around;
entering a hole with hard edges and deeper than 10-15 cm;
a manufacturing defect has appeared.

Such restoration of car wheels occurs after minor incidents on the road, which, by their characteristics, do not qualify as accidents.

Restoring the outer coating may be necessary for old wheels or those damaged after exposure to numerous chemicals used in winter. Aggressive environments negatively affect the outer layer of parts, as a result of which it is destroyed and foci of corrosion form. To eliminate them, it is necessary to apply a new protective paint coating.

The most erroneous tool that drivers are so accustomed to using during repairs is a sledgehammer. Undoubtedly, this method can visually hide many dents on the surface of the disk and bring it, it would seem, to proper condition. In fact, all this is only visual.

As for alloy wheels, this is a more important undertaking. Here it is prohibited to use not only a sledgehammer, but also the rolling method, since the cast disc may lose its properties and become unsuitable for use. It should be remembered that restoration of alloy wheels is unacceptable if it has cracks located at the bolt holes or near the base of the spokes. This is due to the fact that such places cannot be welded, since they bear most of the loads when driving.

Modern methods and painting capabilities make it possible to perform this procedure with such an effect that steel wheels will look much more attractive than cast ones. The most important point in this process is adherence to technology.

So, to paint the wheels, you need to go through the following steps:

First of all, any part being prepared for painting must be cleaned using sandpaper, a special metal brush or an electric tool with a similar property.
Now use a bucket of water to water the garage floor. This is necessary so that during painting or priming, dust does not rise and settle on the sticky surface of the freshly painted disc. After this, degrease the entire cleaned surface of the disk using white sprite.
Next, the discs need to be primed. The primer is applied using a special aerosol or with a conventional spray gun. The number of layers can be from 2 to 3 with a mandatory wait of 5 minutes between layers. After priming, you need to wait 24 hours and only then start painting the disc.
After priming, painting is done directly. It is applied in the same way as primer. After applying the very last layer of paint, a special protective layer is applied using the same technology, which prevents the loss of paintwork as a result of minor mechanical stress.

The painting process is complete. Now you need to wait 7 to 8 days and during this period it is better not to touch the disks at all. The varnish will gain its maximum strength and make them suitable for use.

severely deformed;
burst;
break into some particles;
scratched and lose their beauty.

It is important to eliminate all defects, with the exception of the last one, otherwise such disks cannot be used.

Important! A burst or deformed disc is a potential cause of an accident on the road, so it is unsafe to use it.

It is worth noting that over time, the auto community has become accustomed to repairing “problematic castings.” However, you need to understand that not every damaged disk can be repaired. In particular, the following defects cannot be corrected:

wide or oblong cracks;
violation of integrity in the hub area;
severe geometry defect;
very large chips.

In other cases, trying to revive the disk is quite possible if you approach this procedure correctly and have some tools. At the moment, it is, of course, possible to repair “castings” in a garage, but this procedure will be carried out at your own peril and risk.

In general, the “casting” is repaired in the following order:

The defective disc is thoroughly washed and problem areas are sanded.
Violations in the structure of the part are assessed and the option for correcting them is determined: if the integrity is damaged, welding is used, and for scratches and similar defects, cosmetic repairs are used.
After this, repair activities are carried out directly.
Next, the partially corrected disk is checked on special equipment for geometric parameters and, if necessary, they are corrected (if this is possible, of course).
At the final stage, the part is brought into proper form for use and installed on the car for use.

Let us repeat, it is advisable to repair the “casting” at a service station, since in a garage it is impossible to check the geometry of the disk, and a part with incorrect geometric parameters can provoke an accident. Do you need it? Probably not.

First of all, again, wash the disc thoroughly.
In areas with aesthetic defects, sand the surface until they disappear or become almost invisible.
Next, you need to thoroughly sand the area of the violation and degrease the surface.
After this, all that remains is to paint and varnish the prepared area.
When the paint and varnish are dry, the repaired disc can be installed on the car and begin to operate. The repairs to this have been completed.

DETAILS: DIY plastic bumper repair

In addition to standard flattening and painting over defects on disks, motorists often use restyling of them, that is, changes in their appearance. Vinyls, unusual paints, films and other types of images that can be applied to a part are excellent for these purposes.

What do you need for work?

Each motorist has his own requirements for the exterior of a car. Some will be satisfied with simply touching up the details with acrylic from a spray can, while others prefer the perfect treatment. Therefore, when preparing everything necessary for painting, you need to start from this factor.

What you need to paint wheels

Equipment

Different types of equipment can be used for painting, including:

construction hair dryer (helps speed up the drying process of the applied paint);
electric drill. Used to clean metal surfaces from corrosion. Along with the drill, you need to prepare special attachments;
spray gun. Required for those motorists who want to get a perfect painted surface;
wire pendant. It will be used for painting and drying of discs. You can easily make such a pendant yourself.

Equipment for painting wheels

It makes no sense to use a spray gun with a compressor for painting without having any experience working with it. With the right approach, you can get a good result using an aerosol can. The main thing is to choose quality paint.

Equipment for painting wheels with powder paint

Tools and materials

To paint your car's rims yourself, you need to take care of the following in advance:

respirator;
latex gloves;
clean rag;
solvent;
fine-grained sandpaper;
varnish;
degreaser;
primer for metal;
dye.

Tools and materials for painting wheels

How to paint wheels

To paint cast wheels (stamped ones can be painted in a similar way), you need to strictly adhere to the technological process. As for materials, you need:

wheel paint and primer;
varnish and sandpaper;
solvents and putty;

You should also prepare rags, gloves, a mask or respirator, etc. in advance. By the way, when choosing paints and varnishes, it is optimal to purchase varnish, paint and primer from one manufacturer.

As you can see, if the task is simply to tint the wheels, then it will be enough to clean the surface and paint it with a spray can. With the right approach, you can get a good result. If you have experience in painting work, then you should not limit yourself to surface treatment.

In other words, it is recommended to completely paint alloy wheels, since only in this case can we talk about the durability of the new coating. For high-quality paint application, it is better to use a compressor and a spray gun.

You also need a drill with attachments to remove the old coating and remove corrosion. Separately, you can sandblast the discs, which will save time and completely remove dirt, paint residues, rust, etc. from the discs.

To dry the discs faster, you need at least a household hair dryer, although it is better to immediately prepare a construction hair dryer or use a heat gun. You also need to make a special hanger for the disc in order to paint and dry it. This type of suspension is made of wire.

Having prepared the materials and equipment, you can proceed to the painting itself. The general process begins with preparing the wheels for painting. To do this, you need to remove the tires from the rims, then wash the rims (you can use car shampoo or active household detergents). Now you need to completely remove dirt, bitumen, and rust.
Next, you need to troubleshoot the disc, within which chips, scratches, blistering paint and other problem areas should be noted. If there are cracks, the discs need to be repaired (boiled) and rolled if necessary. This can be done in a professional workshop.
Then, in an accessible way, the old paintwork is mechanically removed, corrosion (including under-film corrosion) is removed. Afterwards you need to degrease the surface with a solvent. Severe defects (chips, scratches) must be removed using putty. When the material has dried, you need to sand it. If necessary, the putty is applied in several layers to obtain the desired result.
Next, the disc is degreased again and can be mounted on a suspension. Now you can proceed to applying the primer. The primer is applied in 2 or 3 layers (each layer is dried). To speed up drying, use a hair dryer or other devices.
Now you can apply paint, which is sprayed from 45-50 cm, you also need to apply at least a couple of layers (preferably 3). Each layer must dry well. When painting, you need to carefully paint hard-to-reach areas (corners, edges, etc.).
After waiting for the paint to dry, you can proceed to applying varnish. Varnish is applied to discs in the same way as paint. The only thing is that you can apply a couple of layers. This is quite enough for protection and shine. Now the varnish needs to be dried; it will completely cure in 48-72 hours. The disks are now ready for use.

How to clean rims from rust and plaque yourself

In order to restore a heavily soiled wheel rim, the car owner needs to purchase consumables, some cheap tools and perform a certain algorithm, after which his wheels will shine as if they had just been purchased, in particular:

For deep cleaning, the owner will need to dismantle all the wheels, because otherwise it will be impossible to achieve the desired result.
Take a sponge, moisten it in clean water and remove all surface dirt from the product.
All stubborn dirt can be removed using a toothbrush with stiff bristles or sandpaper pre-soaked in water with the finest abrasive.
After long-term use, dust from the friction material of the brake pads remains on the disc, which will require citric acid or a special cleaner to remove. Thus, such compositions, as a rule, have their own indicators and, in contact with dirt, acquire a pink tint under the influence of a chemical reaction.
An acid or vehicle rim cleaner is applied to the surface of the wheel and left in this form for 3-5 minutes for a successful reaction, after which it is washed off from its surface, and if the dirt is not completely removed, the procedure is repeated.
If greasy stains remain on the surface of the wheel, the owner will have to apply a small amount of apple cider vinegar, after which the dirt should be guaranteed to disappear.
After finishing treating the disc with various compounds, the wheel must be rinsed generously with water and wiped dry with a soft, clean cloth. Many craftsmen often advise doing this using rubber cloth or microfiber.
The last thing that is required to successfully complete the procedure is to apply a protective coating to the product in the form of liquid wax, polish, varnish and other substances available in car dealerships.

You may be interested in About the styles of wheel rims for BMW (BMW) - what they exist

Turtle Wax Cleaner

Important!

When working with acids, extreme caution should be exercised, diluting them until a concentration that is not dangerous for the paintwork is achieved. An acid that is too active can easily damage all pigments and varnishes, as it will simply dissolve them

Editing a disk yourself

If the damage to the disc is minor, then the car owner does not necessarily need to contact the technicians at the technical center, since the entire procedure can be done personally by the owner of the vehicle in his own garage.

To do this, a car enthusiast just needs to have an absolutely rigid steel base on hand, for example, a vice or just a block, a sledgehammer and a hair dryer or a gas torch, which can easily be replaced with a blowtorch. Next, all steps are done in the following order:

Similar to the previous method, you need to remove the wheel, wash it and inspect it for other defects other than the jammed edge.
The next important procedure is heating the damaged area, which is best done with a hair dryer, since the flame from the burner will hopelessly stain the surface of the product. As the temperature rises, the steel will become more pliable, but at the same time, in everyday conditions, the temperature is still not enough for the material to lose its structure or for any changes to occur in it.
Next, you need to carefully place it on the metal base with the straight deformed part, fix it or hold it securely with your hand. For these purposes, it is best to use the help of another person.
After the product is securely fastened to the steel backing, you need to take a sledgehammer and apply several precise blows to the bent area to straighten it.
The procedure for straightening alloy wheels is completed using a 1-kilogram hammer, which strikes and the remaining deformations are straightened until the wheel reaches the required shape.
Of course, in the process of straightening car rims, the paintwork can be damaged, especially when the product is heated over an open flame. If this is a stamped product, then the car enthusiast can restore it on his own, but in the case of casting, it is still worth contacting a service station where there is a paint booth, and specialists will do the work in compliance with the necessary technology.

You may be interested in this About alloy wheels R13

Installing the disk before editing

Important!

Despite the straightening of the disk, after manual straightening it will not regain its former geometry, and this will almost certainly cause runout when driving a car at high speed. This means that after such an operation the driver needs to go to a tire shop, where his wheel will be installed on a balancing machine, and if there is no balance, the master will attach additional weights to the appropriate places on the disk.

What you will need

If you are interested in how to disassemble a wheel yourself, remember that you don’t need special professional equipment, but not every available tool will do. For example, using a hammer and pry bar can damage the tire and wheel.

A simple set for disassembling wheels

To remove a tubeless tire, you need to prepare:

solvent - after applying it, the stuck tire will be much easier to remove from the rim;
jack;
wrench;
steel corner;
hammer;
blades for installation.

After dismantling the tire, it is important to wipe the disc dry so that this does not interfere with the beading process in the future.

What role do car rims play?

Since discs are directly related to the chassis and are their main part, their failure can lead to the following consequences:

Any displacement of the discs affects the position of the suspension relative to the body and road surface. Most often, the very first to suffer are: steering, shock absorbers and independent suspension arms, which shift and disrupt the wheel alignment angles to an even greater extent.
Economical. A damaged wheel affects the position of the tire relative to the road surface. As a result of this, increased soil resistance to the wheel is created, which means that the car will need more fuel to overcome this barrier. Thus, faulty discs increase the vehicle's fuel consumption.
Traffic safety. Ultimately, a faulty disc that has certain misalignments affects the safety of movement. The fact is that when performing any maneuvers, the disc can tear the wheel bolts out of the threads, tear off the wheel nuts or studs, and also lead to a sudden skid. All these problems never end in pleasant consequences.

Useful tool for car tire repair

Rasp from the set

If you can simply repair ordinary cameras with your own hands and without various kinds of devices, then for tubeless cameras you will need a special set of tools. To repair, you will need a rasp, an installation tool, harnesses, an awl, and a knife.

Do-it-yourself repairs should be done very carefully. Thanks to the listed set of tools, you will be able to restore the tire with high quality. The first thing you need to do is identify the puncture. Usually items such as nails or screws remain in the wheel and are obvious to the eye, but if not visible, then you need to use tips to detect damage. Blisters will appear at the puncture site.

Once the puncture is identified, the damaged area must be cleaned and a tourniquet placed there.

If the hole is very large, you need to buy a special repair fungus. It is better to buy it in advance, replenishing the repair kit in the car.

After the puncture is processed and expanded, the tourniquet is placed in a special tool and lubricated with an adhesive composition, which is usually present in the kit. Next, you need to carefully remove the tool so that the tourniquet does not stretch out. After the manipulations, the wheel must stand still so that the adhesive composition sets and the harness is properly fixed in the puncture.

A repair kit, which includes a set of tools and accessories, is sold in car dealerships at a reasonable price. It allows you to repair your car's tires yourself without calling a tow truck.

Even a beginner can do the repair, the main thing is to follow the recommendations and work carefully. Don't forget to equip your car with a tire repair kit.

*Prices are current as of February 2022.

Cleaning alloy wheels

Once we have armed ourselves with the necessary knowledge and stocked up on all the materials that may be needed, we can begin to work. The step-by-step procedure is as follows:

As mentioned above, in order to better wash off dirt in all hard-to-reach places, it is better to remove the wheels.
Next, wash them thoroughly with water from a hose and sprayer. This way we get rid of dust and those types of pollution that are relatively easy to remove.
Now it’s time to clean it with a sponge - you need to give it a good run over all surfaces.
After sponging, treat all surfaces with a toothbrush and sandpaper. Be extremely careful not to scratch the surface. To do this, be sure to moisten it with water.
Remove solid particles of brake dust with weak citric acid. A strong solution will make the wheels shine, but will destroy the varnish coating, so it must be soft. Apply to stains, leave for a few minutes, then rinse.
Oil stains can be removed with apple cider vinegar.
Wipe the surface dry with a microfiber cloth.
Coating the disc with special wheel wax will help to better protect the surface.

Wheels look like new after deep cleaning

What is restoration of alloy wheels on a car?

Restoration of alloy wheels is a procedure during which old wheels that have been used on a car for a long time regain their original appearance. This operation is a full replacement for purchasing new wheels, but it costs much less, and it consists of the following types of work.

Restoring alloy wheels, before and after

How to restore wheels on a car and what needs to be done for this?

Cleaning discs from all types of road dirt, oil stains, deposits of friction components of brake pads, etc. This procedure is performed in several stages:
To begin with, the wheel is washed using a high-pressure apparatus and a sponge, as a result of which almost all road deposits come off.
Next, special chemicals are used to clean the wheels from oil stains, bitumen deposits and other dirt that cannot be washed off with plain water and shampoo.
If there is stuck scale on the surface of the wheel from the rubbing elements of the brake system, then the master uses a sandblasting machine, which effectively removes all remaining contaminants.
Restoring the paint layer if it is damaged, with a possible change in the shade of the product. It is applied using a special technology after preparing the disc for this operation - it must be cleaned of old paint and degreased so that not a single speck of dust remains on it that can get under the new layer of paintwork.
Rolling on a special machine to give the original even shape and straighten jams caused by careless driving. This service is not provided at every tire repair shop; every master will not undertake to restore them in this way, because the equipment, which is a press with a force of 5 tons and above, is quite expensive. However, after processing on it, the wheels become ideally shaped and can be used for many more years.

Removing old coating from disks

Do-it-yourself restoration of cast wheels is often accompanied by the elimination of cracks and fractures using special argon welding for light alloy products. This operation, of course, is a restoration, but the presence of cracks immediately indicates a violation of the integrity of the structure, and it will never be possible to completely eliminate the defects, which is why the master will not be able to give a guarantee for a safe and comfortable ride when exposed to argon on the wheel.

Important! Before starting the restoration process, an experienced master always conducts a detailed examination of the wheel using a visual method or using a special x-ray, which allows you to determine whether the metal structure is damaged. Next, a detailed action plan is drawn up, and the necessary equipment and materials for this process are prepared. It must be said that restoration of car wheels, if they are cast, is practically impossible in everyday conditions

This is primarily due to the fact that they cannot be heated, since elevated temperatures greatly affect the chemical composition of the alloy, and it begins to collapse. Also, it is impossible to apply a multi-layer paint coating with your own hands without a special professional spray gun outside the paint booth

It must be said that restoration of car wheels, if they are cast, is practically impossible in everyday conditions. This is primarily due to the fact that they cannot be heated, since elevated temperatures greatly affect the chemical composition of the alloy, and it begins to collapse. Also, it is impossible to apply a multi-layer paint coating with your own hands without a special professional spray gun outside the paint booth.

Wheel polishing

Practical advice for the summer: clean the wheels clean (and they won’t get dirty)

Since the rims of car wheels, being close to the ground, are constantly washed by dirt and dust from the road and, in addition, have constant contact with hot highly dispersed tiny abrasive particles flying from the brake pads, as well as hot metal “sawdust”, which also sticks perfectly to disc varnish, cleaning them with a high degree of contamination becomes problematic.

And if you no longer have to choose and rub the disc harshly, this, in turn, will lead to even greater damage to the disc’s paintwork and make it even less attractive. So what should we do?

Remember that: Aggressive rim cleaners remove the protective coating, cause corrosion (oxidation of aluminum if we are talking about the alloy) and damage the tires. If you wash your rims often and carefully, just use water with car shampoo. The rims can be protected from dirt sticking and other sources of pollution. For this purpose, various cosmetic preparations are sold on the market that make the surface of the discs slippery so that a layer of dirt sticks to them. You can also choose brake pads that produce a minimum amount of dust

The vast majority of rims (99.9 percent) are lacquered rims. Even simple stampings have a layer of transparent protective coating. And the varnish on the rims should be treated...

as with any other varnish - that is, carefully

Although the factory powder coating on good wheels is a priori more durable than the coating on the same body elements, the varnish on cheaper rims is sometimes “not great”, and the paint coating (or powder coating), to put it mildly, is overrated.

An important principle: to avoid the need to “fight” brake dust embedded in the discs, they should be washed frequently - twice every week. This is ideal. And remember that taking your car to an automatic car wash is not the same as thoroughly washing your wheels—the brushes don’t reach the nooks and crannies of your car’s wheels. By the way, the same applies to conventional sinks. Do you think Karcher washers will be corrosive in cleaning the wheels on your car? No matter how it is!

What are alloy car wheels?

Initially, all car wheels without exception were equipped with stamped discs, the reliability of which was questioned. They were of low quality and could not be used for a significant period of time.

Stamped car wheels were replaced by cast wheels, which caused an unprecedented stir among drivers. Alloy cars were selling out like hot cakes in a hungry year. This is especially true for used, well-worn cars. Even the cost of cars with alloy wheels was higher than similar cars with stamping.

Modern cast wheels are produced using the hot casting method. Metal raw materials are melted at high temperatures to a liquid state and poured into special molds. Undoubtedly, their reliability is higher than stamped metal disks, but they have their own peculiarities of use and operation.

Due to production technology, alloy wheels have one weak side. With sufficiently strong impacts and collisions, their surface is deformed and its integrity is damaged. Damage leads to disruption of the disk geometry and the appearance of a characteristic beat that reverberates through the steering wheel when the car is moving.

Modern cars are equipped with an improved version of casting forged wheels, production technology, which has undergone improvements. This was done specifically to increase the reliability and durability of the material. When creating a forged disk, the prepared light alloy material is slightly heated to increase the ductility of the base and is stamped.

The structure of the material becomes fibrous, which significantly increases its strength and reliability. Forged wheels are resistant to various types of damage and can be used for a significant period of time.

Every car enthusiast should remember that using a deformed alloy wheel reduces the safety of driving a vehicle several times. It may turn out to be a weak link and thereby provoke an accident. It is necessary to periodically inspect the surface of alloy wheels, and if damage is detected, take immediate measures to eliminate them.

The following main damage to alloy wheels can be identified:

damage to paintwork;
chips and scratches;
axial displacement;
cracks;
radial displacement;
disk integrity violation.

How do motorists clean rims?

No special equipment is needed
“All my life I have been using solvent to clean rims. I just pour it into a bottle and put a fine sprinkler on top. I apply the product, wait until it drips, then gently wipe it with a cloth, without pressing. The surface is perfectly clean, the paintwork is intact. I guarantee you this 100%, I’ve done this more than once.”
“Sapphire” suited me
“it produces a product for cleaning wheel rims and brakes. You should use it like this: apply it for 5 minutes, then rinse with water, preferably under high pressure in a car wash. That’s it, the rims are like new.”
646th solvent is ok.
I bought it at Auchan
“The bottle is gray, comes complete with a sprayer, the liquid itself is pinkish in color. I purchased a French-made cleaner from Auchan. How to use: apply to the surface, wait 2-3 minutes, then wipe with a sponge, and the rims are perfectly clean. Moreover, it was possible to remove even the dirt that was deeply ingrained, as well as the residue from the reagents that are used to sprinkle roads in winter. In exactly the same way, I washed the aluminum on the running boards, which had rusted, and the steel protective pipe.”
Details on how to remove paint from wheel rims
“I’ll tell you my experience of how I managed to clean the rims. You buy paint remover at the construction department. To clean a set of wheels, 2 cans will be enough. Then you cover the surface with the composition and wait for the paint and varnish to come off. Then you wash it all off with water under high pressure. You put a wire attachment on the drill and, if there is rust, remove it.
It is best to purchase several nozzles with different sizes, because a large one will not reach everywhere. And if there are several small ones, then you can even clean hard-to-reach places. They are always sold as a set. After cleaning, you can paint the wheels; I recommend buying heat-resistant paint, because in the summer the wheels overheat very much. Although, maybe standard paint will do.”
It's simple
“To clean the rims of bitumen, take gasoline. I tested it from my own experience - it works. But in order to remove brake dust, you will need a special cleaner, with the help of which even such contaminants can be easily wiped off.”
A short list from me
“I was at the detailing center not long ago, the guys recommended the following compounds to clean rims: Nerta ATC - 100, Profoam 1000 from the manufacturer Kangaroo, Profoam 2000 from the same company. Can be purchased to order. They also recommended Koch FELGENREINIGER EXTREM, the product contains highly active acids, there is also QUATTRO-ACID-STAR XL, a super powerful product, it contains 4 acids.”

Recovering disks and partitions

Restoring a disk or partition from an image can be launched both from the Backup and Restore tab and from the Acronis Backup Explorer. To start a restore, from the Backup and Restore tab, select the checkbox next to the backup that contains the image of the partition you want to restore. Click the Restore button (or the Restore icon if the Backup panel is collapsed). The Disk Recovery window will open.

If you want to restore the partition to a date in the past, click the gear icon in the Actions menu and select View and Restore. The Backup Browser opens, allowing you to select the version of the image that was created at the appropriate time. After selecting the version you want, click the Restore button to open the Disk Recovery window.

Check the box next to the partition you want to restore.
If you backed up your entire disk, you can choose to restore the entire disk at once by clicking Switch to disk mode. To regain the ability to select partitions, click Switch to Partition Mode.
In the recovery path field under the partition name, select the target partition.
The partitions on which the partition to be restored is to be placed are marked in black letters. Inappropriate sections are marked in red letters. All data on the target partition will be lost as it will be replaced by the recovered data and file system. To restore an image to the original partition without resizing, you must have at least 5% free space on that partition. Otherwise, the Restore Now button will not be available.
Once you've completed your selection, click the Restore Now button to begin the recovery.

Sometimes you have to restore the master boot record (MBR). For example, this may be required if Windows does not boot after recovery. To restore the MBR (along with the partition or separately), click Show MBR and select the "MBR" checkbox.

If you restore the entire disk, the Restore disk signature check box will appear. The disk signature is part of the hard drive's Master Boot Record. It is used to uniquely identify the disk media.

It is recommended that you select the Recover disk signature check box for the following reasons.

Acronis True Image Home 2012 creates scheduled backups using the signature of the source hard drive. If the previous disk signature is restored, there is no need to create backup copies again or edit existing ones.
Some installed applications use disk signing for licensing and other purposes.

It is recommended to clear the Recover disk signature check box if:

The image is not used for disaster recovery, but to clone a Windows hard drive to another drive.

In this case, Acronis True Image Home 2012 creates a new disk signature for the recovered hard disk, even if the recovery is to the same disk.

Disk recovery options—Select to set additional options for the disk recovery process.

Use Acronis Universal Restore—select to use Acronis Universal Restore technology for recovery.

The Acronis Universal Restore component (included in the separately purchased Acronis True Image Home 2012 Plus Pack) allows you to restore a bootable copy of the system to different hardware (for more information, see Acronis Universal Restore).

Select this option if you are restoring the system disk to a computer with a different processor, motherboard, or storage device than the system from which the backup was made.

How to paint alloy wheels correctly?

After the repair of alloy wheels with your own hands in its main phase is completed, you can move on to the finishing part of the work on restoring the surface of the disk. It is no less important and responsible than previous types of work. Careless actions can ruin the appearance of the disc, and all efforts will go down the drain.

Painting alloy wheels will not only highlight the individuality of the car, but will also provide effective protection from external adverse factors.

Applying primer.

A special automotive primer is used to protect the material from corrosive destructive processes. It is applied in two or three layers depending on the degree and depth of damage. Before applying each coat of primer, you must wait until the previous one has dried. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.

Applying paint to the surface of a cast disc.

The prepared surface of the cast disc can be painted. A spray can or spray gun is used. If it is not possible to rent a spray gun, you need to use cans of paint. The quality of work in this case will be lower than when using equipment.

For high-quality painting of a cast wheel, it is enough to apply two layers. After applying the first layer of paint, you need to wait until it dries completely. Once the paint is completely dry, the alloy wheels can be used again.

Do not forget that you need to wear a respirator, safety glasses and rubber gloves when working with paint.

Otherwise, you may experience damage to your eyesight and respiratory system if you handle the materials carelessly. At this point, the repair of the car's alloy wheels can be considered completely completed.

How is disk editing done?

Wheel rims can be straightened for absolutely all types of wheels, regardless of the material they are made of. Subject to editing:

stamped steel wheels;
alloy wheels;
forged wheels.

However, depending on the metal used to make the disks, the method for straightening them is also selected. So, for example, if using a machine equipped with rollers it is possible to return stamped disks to their ideal geometric shape, then this method is absolutely not suitable for cast and forged disks.

Wheel straightening is carried out only after a thorough diagnosis of the disks on special stands using equipment with software. Preliminary diagnostics makes it possible to identify the slightest damage, because, for example, having complained about radial bends, the driver may not even be aware of other complex problems, such as microcracks or axial displacement of the wheel.

When is it necessary to flange wheels?

There are several reasons when you need to replace any component or disassemble tires on wheels:

deflates the wheel between the disc base and the rubber part;
severe wear of tire treads;
camera punctured;
The disk is damaged.

Wheel disassembly methods

To trim wheels yourself, you can use the following methods:

Impact method. This method is the oldest. To disassemble a tubeless wheel yourself, you will need a small set of tools and physical strength.
Impactless method: using a second car. This is a safer way. It will require a second vehicle and a wide board.
Impactless method: using a vehicle lifting mechanism and some necessary tools.

Experienced car enthusiasts know how to disassemble a tubeless wheel at home using homemade tire mounting equipment.

Alloy wheels, what is the advantage of using alloy wheels

In addition to the above-mentioned practicality, lightness and attractive appearance, such products make it possible to significantly reduce the load on the wheel axles, which saves fuel, increases engine life and, as a result, reduces the financial costs of the car owner.

Among the positive aspects of using alloy wheels, it is also worth noting the increased service life of the brake system, since aluminum is deservedly considered one of the best heat conductors.