DIY Alloy Refurb

[Gman]

Was thinking about this before one of my wheels got scratched but now its more of a priority, has anyone done this?

Is there special paint? is it the case of sanding smooth, priming and spraying?

I have some MS01\'s so i was just going to repaint the spokes, can\'t decide what colour though.

[kev-yorks]

Any paint should do but use a etch prime not straight primer.
Kevin

[Jodypamplin]

you considered polishing them up?

just finished up mine after hours of hard labour  :p took out every bolt etc, am yet to post some decent pics but here is the start of the project ....

http://www.fduk.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3950

[Gman]

I think i need to do this anyway!  I will probably polish first then paint.

[Gman]

I think i will paint them the same silver that the car is, i was thinking of gold or very dark grey, but not sure.

[Gman]

May i ask how you took all the bolts out? i\'ve just done one and it took me about 5 mins! Is there a certain way or any special tools to use?

[Jodypamplin]

Alright Gman,

just a socket set - loosen the bolts on the inside, ensuring that the threads are held tight on the outside, and it should be done a lot quicker! for a rough idea it took me approx 2 hours per wheel, including bolts out, clean, polish and bolts in.

btw if you are going to paint them, you will need to form a suitable bond for the new paint, and polishing them def does not do this, it does the opposite. so polishing may be a waste of your time, just clean them and then go over the entire wheel with a very light sand paper which will suitably prepare the metal for the paint. also consider undercoat or primer application for a better finish!

good luck dude!  :Thumbs-up

[Gman]

Thanks, i intend to polish the outer part then paint the spokes.  Just trawling ebay to see if i can get some mazdaspeed viynls the correct size.

[Jodypamplin]

fair enough, post up some pics when you\'re done, should look good. I take it mine provided a reasonable idea of what they\'d look like, with the carbon wraps around the spokes .... def out of the ordinary  :cool

[Gman]

Yeah you have inspired me to do it sooner rather than later.  I guess i will need to clean and prep the insides too to make sure moisture doesn\'t get under the new paint.

[Jodypamplin]

hehe i feel privileged  :p

don\'t spend too long on the insides, just give it a good once over and let them sit preferably inside somehere over night and you\'ll be set. where you getting the paint from? I\'d go for the dark grey, but i\'m slightly biased!

[Gman]

When all the bolts are out do they sparate into two parts?

[Jodypamplin]

you have a bolt and a thread, and thats it. not sure what you mean two parts? there are inner brackets which half the bolts secure, which help to provide rigidity to the wheels, but thats it ....

[Gman]

I meant the wheel, i think they do.  I have done all but one bolt on my first wheel, the last one just won\'t come off.  How ever hard i grip it the nut wont budge  :Grrr