Sorry about the necroposting, but this thread is what my question is based on.

Getting ready to paint my WRX's wheels, and am following the guidlines leatherface started. I'm in the cleaning stage, how clean is clean? Best way to remove the grease in the lug holes. And do I need to remove the balancing weights?

 

Just use a detailing brush to get in those holes.

You don't need to go absolutely crazy on the wheel overall, but you def want to clean up the lug nut holes better than that.

 

Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to get those holes. I hadn't done that wheel yet, the one I did do still had a little gunk in it even though I was using a detail brush and dawn soap. I guess I'm wondering if I can use something harsher, like brake cleaner, in there.

The picture with the back side of the wheel showing the weights has been scrubbed, is that clean enough?

 

Anyone ever restored a set of BBS RA's? I've got a set sitting in my garage, I've got the color scheme all planned out (Mild gold interior with polished lip) but they are dirty as **** and a BITCH to clean, as you can imagine would be the result of having bunches of tiny little holes.

How effective is that paint stripper? This dirt is melded on, I had to take a dremel to it to get it off of just one part. Would it be powerful enough to get off after a couple of coats and whippings/sprayings?

 

Tire and wheel guys.

The weights are in a visible area. If I paint them and they are removed it will look like crap. If I remove them to paint, how will new weights attach to a painted finish? Am I overthinking this? It's my first time (obviously) and I don't want to have to redo it.

 

Unless you're the type of guy that washes the insides of the wheels I wouldn't worry about it. If you don't wash the inside then brake dust will cover up what you may not have painted

 

Ok, I cleaned up the wheels pretty good, followed leatherface's instructions and all was going really well.That is until like an idiot I kept spraying when the spray can started to splatter on the color coat. I didn't notice at first, but it left a light spatter on parts of the wheel. It looks good from 5' but when you get down on it you can see the crappy job.

It's been 4 days now and I'm ready to fix it, do I
1) just put another coat or two on, then clear coat, and call it good?
2) sand a bit off and follow step 1?
3) strip and start over?

I'm in the garage ready to work so quick reply is appreciated.

 

So you're saying the clear is what spattered? If so just sand it smooth with some 600grit at the roughest till it's smooth. Then scuff the rest of the area with a grey scotch brite pad and reclear

 

Also be careful not to sand through the clear into the color. Might want to wet sand it to keep build up to a minimum. Good luck

 

How well do all of these paints hold up to brake dust? My 6ULs look like **** thanks to brake dust washing neglect and I don't want to take the time to paint them if they will **** up right quick again.

 

it was the color that splattered.

 

K then just wetsand with 600-800 grit till it's smooth and scuff the rest lightly with a grey scotch brite and you're ready to spray

 

Thanks

 

Be sure to post finished pics

 

Thanks for making this thread Jarrod. I followed the procedure you outlined and the results were pretty good.

Here's what I required:
Aircraft Stripper x 3 cans (home depot)
Duplicolor Adhesion Promoter x 1 can (o'reily's)
Rustoleium Fast Dry Sandable Primer x 1 can (home depot)
Duplicolor High Performance Wheel Paint x 3 cans (o'reily's)
Duplicolor High Performance Wheel Clear x 2 cans (o'reily's)
400 grit sand paper x 1 sheet (home depot)
scotch brite pads x 2 pads (home depot)
spray paint can sprayer holder thingie (home depot)
note cards, small x 2 packs of 100 (walmart)
note cards, large x 1 pack of 100 (walmart)
masking tape (walmart)

Total Cost: Appx $75 (plus I'll need to get them rebalanced)

Labor: All day

Result:


Hard to get a good picture since they're metallic and the sun is up high, so it washes out. I'm sure the camera can take a better picture if the operator were competent enough to take it out of automatic. What looks like overspray on the tire isn't.

Overall, this is not something I'd do to a set of new looking wheels to simply change color, as laying paint down out of cans in the driveway leaves something to be desired, however it's a very good procedure to clean up wheels that are getting long in the tooth.

I have them "baking" in the driveway now. I'll give them a few days then take them for a balance before putting them on the car. But they'll look pretty good.

 

Those came out really good Ben! They look new

 

I think you're gonna need some hella-long lug studs!

 

Looked for this thread and I'm already discouraged at the work involved to revive old wheels. I've got 3 scuffed and scratched up Pro Race 1's and 1 brand new Pro Race 1...trying to decide if I want to refinish the used wheels to match the new one, refinish all four in a matching (possibly new) color, or just say "screw it" and let the brake dust cover up the scuffs and scratches over time.

 

Paint them to match, it will bother you forever if you don't

 

its alot easier then you think dude. be a man, take a few hours and do it!