refinishing dying clear coat on wheel rims

[red90tsi]

I have these motegi rims that have an aluminum lip on them. They have some kind of clear coat covering the lip. The clear coat is starting to chip and dull. Does anybody know how to remove the clear coat without damaging the aluminum underneath.

 

[interex]

You can buy "clear coat removers". Just contact a paint shop, or check places like AutoZone, or Advanced Auto Parts. Some "Paint Strippers" will do the job also. And all should be very gentle to the aluminum and leave NO effects at all.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Yeah, airplane stripper. You'll probably need to apply it, let it soak, rinse it off and then use a plastic scraper or some other gentle instrument to get whatever is left off. Just be sure not to get any on the tires. It's very corrosive to any petrochemical based material.

 

[PRJTstealth]

you can repolish the lip if you want by jacking the car up off all fours and putting the car in 1st gear and letiing the clutch out. then take 600 grit sand paper and lay it on it till all the lft over clear comes off. then take 1000 grit and do the same. after the whole lip is nice and smooth. apply 2 new coats of clear coat and let dry for 24hrs. once done you should have a lip thats nice and clean shiney luster.

to make smoother try and do a third sand with 2000 grit if you can get your hands on it.

 

[turboking15]

to ad to what pjrt said, after you sand them get a rag and some rubbing compound to polish them in the same manner then clear them.

 

[Defiant]

you can repolish the lip if you want by jacking the car up off all fours and putting the car in 1st gear and letiing the clutch out.

Just for information, NO ONE recommends this. It's dangerous as all hell.

No, we don't want to hear the "Worked fine for me!" replies.

 

[Daaan]

sounds like it would work great, but yes its dangerous.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Worked fine for me!

Actually, it doesn't necessarily work that well. If you have open diffs the friction of pressing/rubbing may be enough to stop whatever wheel you're working on. If you only have a read LSD you get stuck switching wheels from front to back to polish all four.

Oh...and it's dangerous. If you drive through your garage and kill the neighbor kid it's not my fault.

 

[ToughTalon]

Whatever method you use be well prepared to spend three times as long as you expected. I have refinished wheels before and i can honestly say I will never do it again ( i hope)

Dont raise your car and polish the wheels, I know it sounds good, but dont do it. The risk far ourweighs the benefit.

Look up a company like Trans wheel, or call a body shop and ask who they use to refinish wheels. It will probley cost $100 a wheel but they look brand new when you get them.

From my experience it is difficult to get a consistent, durable finish on all the wheels.

Post some final pics with your decision!