When you first get your racing alloys installed on your vehicle, they look brand new and shiny. But as time passes, they can get scratched, dingy and just look terrible. Fortunately, there are some refurbishing and refinishing techniques that you can use to help bring back their natural luster. The following is a brief guide to the process.
Take the Wheels Off the Car
The first step to refinishing your racing alloys is to take them off the car. This will give you a better angle for working on them so you don’t have to bend over to do the job. If you have access to a nearby tyre shop, you can also have the tires removed while you are working on the wheels. That’s optional, but it will help you get to every inch of the wheel.
Scrub with a Soft Cloth and Dish Soap
Despite all of the products on the market for cleaning your alloy wheels, something as simple as dish soap will do the job just as well. Be sure to use a soft cloth, though. Using an abrasive sponge or something similar could result in more scratches on your wheels.
Fill in the Scratches
After you have thoroughly cleaned your alloy wheels, the next step is to look for scratches. If you see scratches on your wheels, you can easily fill them in with spot putty. There are products on the market specifically designed for filling in scratches like this so it’s best to use those products. If you see a scratch that is fairly deep, you might want to use a product like Bondo to make sure you fill it in correctly.
Wait and Sand
Once the Bondo and the putty has dried, it’s time to sand the wheels. Use a 240-grit sandpaper for this step and gently “feather” the putty in to the surrounding surface around the scratch. This will help give the wheels a uniform look and it will hide the scratches much better. Next, sand the surfaces where the putty is with a 400 grit sandpaper. This will help smooth the area and give your alloy wheels a finished look.
Spray Primer
Finally, give your wheels a coat of primer. Spray the primer lightly, barely dusting the surface of the wheels. This will help the putty adhere to the scratches so it will stay. Once the first coat is dry, give it another coat and then sand it with 600 grit wet sandpaper for a shiny and smooth finish.
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