How to Refurbish Alloy Wheels

Ellie Dyer-Brown, 2 months ago

5 min read

  • Wheels
  • How to
  • Repair
An alloy wheel refurbishment in progress.

WhoCanFixMyCar explains how to refurbish alloy wheels.

If your alloy wheels have seen better days, it might be worth refurbishing them. You can do this at home, but each wheel can take up to four hours to finish, and if you don’t have the right tools, the outcome will likely be poor. For a guaranteed high-quality result, the best option is to have the job done by a professional.

However, if you want to have a go at a DIY refurb, this guide is here to help.

Contents

How to refurbish alloy wheels at home

How to clean alloy wheels with WD40

Alloy wheel refurbishment and repair

What kind of damage can happen to an alloy wheel?

How much will a repair cost?

Alloy wheel FAQs


How to refurbish alloy wheels at home

To do this you will need:

  • Primer 

  • Sandpaper

  • Sanding mask

  • Gloves

  • Clear coat

  • Coloured paint

  • Car jack

  • Wheel removal tools

  • Alloy wheel filler

  • Cleaning materials

  • Masking tape

Follow these steps to refurbish your alloy wheels

Mechanic changing car wheels

The easiest way to do an alloy wheel refurb is to buy a repair kit. It should come with the materials you need and a set of instructions similar to the ones below.

  • Remove the wheels (this makes the job a lot easier), then clean and dry them.

  • Use masking tape on the tyre so that only the alloy is visible.

  • Sand the alloy.

  • Fill in any dents/gaps.

  • Once the filler is dry, sand it so that you have a smooth finish.

  • Wash and dry your wheels again before painting them with primer.

  • Paint the wheels using either a spray can or powder coating.

  • Once dry, finish with a protective clear coat.


How to find alloy wheel paint code

When you carry out an alloy wheel refurb at home, you'll need to determine what paint colour to use. Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't provide a paint code for their alloys, so you'll have to find as close a match as possible.

Many paint suppliers offer smaller sample pots or cans to test the colour before buying a larger quantity. Most alloys are silver and come in very similar shades, so finding a close match shouldn't be difficult.


How to clean alloy wheels with WD40

Cleaning an alloy

You can clean your alloy wheels using WD40 in just a few steps.

Firstly, spray plenty of WD40 onto a dry microfibre cloth. Wipe your alloys with the cloth, focusing on any particularly dirty or dusty areas. The grease from the WD40 should do an excellent job of lifting stubborn dirt patches.

During this process, avoid getting oil on your brake pads. The last step is to hose down your alloys to remove any remaining oil.


Alloy wheel refurbishment and repair

If all that sounds like too much effort, or you don’t want to spend money on equipment you’re unlikely to use very often, you should consider booking a professional alloy wheel refurbishment.

Screenshot 2021-09-17 103550

What kind of damage can happen to an alloy wheel?

Alloy wheels pick up cracks and damage around the outer rim, typically caused by a car hitting a curb or a speed bump too hard.

wheel-crack

If the impact is especially hard, an alloy wheel could split, meaning the entire part needs to be replaced and a spare fitted until you can get into a garage and have a new wheel fixed to your car.

cracked alloy wheel

Dust particles and small stones will also chip away the paint on alloy wheels over time, resulting in the degradation of the paint.

paint-damage-768x727

How much will a repair cost?

The cost of repairing an alloy wheel depends on the extent of the damage.


Alloy wheel crack repair

A mechanic can weld minor cracks, so you don't necessarily need a new alloy. However, you must buy a new one if there are numerous cracks because the part's structural integrity is compromised beyond repair.

The cost will vary depending on the length of the crack; the easiest way to get an accurate estimate is to request quotes from local garages on WhoCanFixMyCar. . The cost of a new alloy wheel also depends on the type of car you drive; the bigger the wheel, the more it costs.


Alloy wheel powder coating

If the damage is purely cosmetic, as shown in the third image at the top of the page, the repair is more straightforward and can be done using a process called powder coating, which restores the appearance of an alloy.

It works like this:

  • The wheel is blasted by hand or given a chemical strip to remove the top layer of lacquer and paint.

  • Next, it is dressed and filed to deal with potential damage to the edges of the wheel rim.

  • The wheel is gently heated to remove air from the alloy before applying the first powder coat layer.

  • The wet-in-wet procedure can then be used before further thermal treatment.


Alloy wheel repair cost

If you need a wheel repair or replacement, you can take your car to a garage after getting quotes, or you can have a mobile mechanic perform an alloy wheel repair by coming out to your home or place of work. 

Find out how much it costs for a mobile alloy wheel repair.

Please note, though, that a mobile mechanic will NOT be able to perform a powder coat or diamond cut as large machines are required to carry out the work.

Wheels RefurbishedCost
1 alloy wheel£93.52
2 alloy wheels£167.96
3 alloy wheels£239.97
4 alloy wheels£300.29

Alloy wheel FAQs

What are alloy wheels?

Alloy wheels are made from a mixture of metals, usually aluminium or magnesium, and are much lighter than traditional steel wheels.

What are diamond-cut alloy wheels?

Diamond-cut alloy wheels have a shiny, chrome-like finish created by removing a thin layer of alloy from the wheel using specialist equipment.

Can I buy an alloy wheel repair kit?

You can buy various alloy wheel repair kits online. These usually consist of masking tape, gloves, wheel paint, wheel repair putty or filler, sandpaper and files.

How can you remove baked on brake dust from alloy wheels?

Brake dust is notoriously hard to remove. The best things to try are WD40, oven cleaner and wheel cleaner (which can be acidic or non-acidic, as per your preference).


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