Aluminum Wheel Refurbishment: Do your wheels need them?

Posted by Mark on December 29th, 2016

Whole wheel refurbishment consists of a combination of wet spray and powder coating process that allows the wheel to attain the original finish or in some cases even allows a complete change of color depending on the powder coating technique. The refurbishment can range from pure cosmetic repair if the damage is just surface pitting or wear of the coating. The other end of the refurbishment can cover the entire wheel if the corrosion damage is extensive that involves complete stripping of the old coating, repair the wheel and refurbish.

Aluminum wheel refurbishment may also include removing micro sections of the metal to enhance the wheel finish to look like diamond facets. The process is similar to powder coated process used in refinishing aluminum wheels with the added difference of utilizing diamond cut lathe operations.

Partial refinishing includes cosmetic refinishing of aluminium wheels. This includes repairing small areas damaged by flying stones or nicks, which can be fixed in local repair shops. This process also allows color matching the repair into the original finish.

Powder coating processes are generally used in the aluminum-wheel restoration process to remove the layers of paint and lacquer that was applied to the original wheels. This stripping is done to expose the bare metal and achieve smooth surface ready for the next stage of the process. If the damage is severe such as corrosion, them the surface preparation process may include chemical stripping before the blasting process. Rim edges are prone to extensive damage due to nicks and dents (otherwise known as wear and tear of the rolling wheels against hostile terrain of small dust particles hitting the rim edges at high speed). Such damages are filled and if needed structural repairs undertaken. This stage requires extensive knowledge and professional service that is available with specialist shops.

VIS Polish system

These shops are equipped with automated aluminum wheel polishing systems such as the VIS Polish (from Vehicle Inspection Systems, Orlando, Florida). Demounted truck and bus wheels undergo refurbishment often as the automated polish systems by VIS reveals hidden damage  such as cracks around the bolt holes which are not  visible when the wheels are mounted and in operation. Such damage can be serious and detrimental to the safety of the wheels and the vehicle.

The automated wheel polishing system can sand either the whole face or just sections, as the system is equipped with sectional sanding software. The assessment is quick as the algorithm is programmed in consultation with experts who have years of research and hands-on experience of road weary truck and bus aluminum wheels. The system can easily handle the wheels of 19.5 inches, 22.5 inches and the supersized 24.5 inches. The wheels can be wide base steers or singles and the inclusion of special bead cleaning is cleverly built in the process.