Refinishing/Restoring wheels - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Almosttt · 11-30-2014, 12:14 PM

Recently picked up a set of 350z wheels for pretty cheap but they've all got a bit of curb rash. I'm looking at refinishing/restoring them, I've found a couple DIY's but I wanted to see if anyone could share their personal experience with doing so before I get started and accidentally ruin a set of wheels.

Any tips/tricks..?

The DIY I found suggested using Bondo to fill in spots, but that seems kind of sketchy to me... should I use some type of aluminum filler?

Here is one of the DIY's I found...

http://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-t...storation.html

silviaks2nr · 11-30-2014, 12:52 PM

Grind it down and smooth it out. I've found that a paint remover 4 1/2" disk works well for smoothing aluminum after the initial grind. That filler stuff doesn't really work unless you have an acetylene torch. Once it's powdercoated you won't be able to tell where the repair was done if you do it well.

pancakes · 11-30-2014, 01:33 PM

bump. same scenario on my z wheels. and my fronts seem to have just a bit more "shine" than my rears?

Kingtal0n · 11-30-2014, 03:44 PM

On this subject, I have these,

I was wondering what kind of coating they have? is it a clear coat? And how to best "finish it" or "protect it"

KAT-PWR · 11-30-2014, 06:35 PM

JB weld, sand smooth
But if powder coating your only option is to sand the rash out, or weld and sand which would be a ridiculous amount of time.

shinhed · 11-30-2014, 07:07 PM

I've used JB weld before, and supposedly you can powder coat over it too.

DanielS14 · 11-30-2014, 10:18 PM

i repair wheels, do not add a a filler. just sand smooth and repaint, i do this on lexus, bmw, lambo, ferrari , you name it wheels all day.

Almosttt · 11-30-2014, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielS14

i repair wheels, do not add a a filler. just sand smooth and repaint, i do this on lexus, bmw, lambo, ferrari , you name it wheels all day.

Could you give an in depth description of your process please?

AzS13hatch · 12-01-2014, 04:34 AM

Use coarse grit to sand down worse areas and and fine grit to smooth to factory like finish. It might have a little dip in it when you are done in that area but if you blend everything well enough you will never be able to tell, especially if you powdercoat. If you want to spend some money have a profession do it and they can add to low spots and balance the wheel and make sure it is true for you.

Bushido · 12-01-2014, 08:37 AM

any tips for refinishing wheel bolts?

or know of a supplier to get black anodized hardware?

tiemouths · 12-01-2014, 08:51 AM

you want to spend some money have a profession do it and they can add to low spots and balance the wheel and make sure it is true for you.

Chicago_one · 12-03-2014, 09:56 PM

I've done the sand/filler/spray paint/clear coat route But I only payed $80 for the set of wheels, so it wasn't a big deal. So far so good. Been about a year.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1417668986.864168.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bmx240sx · 12-07-2014, 11:38 AM

Air craft remover, sand down as evenly as possibly if not use some body filler there's isn't a big deal if using it, sand it smooth and as straight as possible, paint and clear.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-30-2014, 12:14 PM	#1
Almosttt Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: GA Age: 33 Posts: 92 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Refinishing/Restoring wheels Recently picked up a set of 350z wheels for pretty cheap but they've all got a bit of curb rash. I'm looking at refinishing/restoring them, I've found a couple DIY's but I wanted to see if anyone could share their personal experience with doing so before I get started and accidentally ruin a set of wheels. Any tips/tricks..? The DIY I found suggested using Bondo to fill in spots, but that seems kind of sketchy to me... should I use some type of aluminum filler? Here is one of the DIY's I found... http://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-t...storation.html

11-30-2014, 01:33 PM	#3
pancakes Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: pnw Age: 35 Posts: 69 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	bump. same scenario on my z wheels. and my fronts seem to have just a bit more "shine" than my rears? __________________ WTB s14 abs 5 speed drive shaft and vlsd

11-30-2014, 06:35 PM	#5
KAT-PWR Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: US Posts: 2,040 Trader Rating: (11) Rides Gallery: KAT-PWR Feedback Score: 11 reviews	JB weld, sand smooth But if powder coating your only option is to sand the rash out, or weld and sand which would be a ridiculous amount of time. __________________ MRP Manufacturing

12-01-2014, 08:37 AM	#10
Bushido Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SFL Posts: 3,563 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	any tips for refinishing wheel bolts? or know of a supplier to get black anodized hardware? __________________

12-03-2014, 09:56 PM	#12
Chicago_one Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 37 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I've done the sand/filler/spray paint/clear coat route But I only payed $80 for the set of wheels, so it wasn't a big deal. So far so good. Been about a year. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1417668986.864168.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________

11-30-2014, 12:52 PM	#2
silviaks2nr Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,193 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Grind it down and smooth it out. I've found that a paint remover 4 1/2" disk works well for smoothing aluminum after the initial grind. That filler stuff doesn't really work unless you have an acetylene torch. Once it's powdercoated you won't be able to tell where the repair was done if you do it well.

11-30-2014, 03:44 PM	#4
Kingtal0n Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Florida Age: 42 Posts: 4,829 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	On this subject, I have these, I was wondering what kind of coating they have? is it a clear coat? And how to best "finish it" or "protect it"

11-30-2014, 07:07 PM	#6
shinhed Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 955 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	I've used JB weld before, and supposedly you can powder coat over it too.

11-30-2014, 10:18 PM	#7
DanielS14 Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: az! Posts: 297 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	i repair wheels, do not add a a filler. just sand smooth and repaint, i do this on lexus, bmw, lambo, ferrari , you name it wheels all day.

12-01-2014, 04:34 AM	#9
AzS13hatch Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: AZ/ South Korea Age: 36 Posts: 121 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Use coarse grit to sand down worse areas and and fine grit to smooth to factory like finish. It might have a little dip in it when you are done in that area but if you blend everything well enough you will never be able to tell, especially if you powdercoat. If you want to spend some money have a profession do it and they can add to low spots and balance the wheel and make sure it is true for you.

12-01-2014, 08:51 AM	#11
tiemouths Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: CA Age: 41 Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you want to spend some money have a profession do it and they can add to low spots and balance the wheel and make sure it is true for you.

12-07-2014, 11:38 AM	#13
Bmx240sx Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: N/a Posts: 323 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Air craft remover, sand down as evenly as possibly if not use some body filler there's isn't a big deal if using it, sand it smooth and as straight as possible, paint and clear. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk