Aluminum Wheel Refinishing

GENERAL PROCEDURE
A protective clear or color coating is applied to the surface of original equipment cast aluminum wheels. A surface degradation condition can begin to develop if this clear coating is damaged or removed. This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities using aggressive silicon carbide tipped tire brushes to clean white walls and tires. Once the protective coating is damaged, exposure to caustic cleaners and/or road salt further causes surface degradation. The following procedure details how to strip, clean and coat aluminum wheels that are affected by these conditions.

^ Required Materials:
- Amchem Alumi Prep number 33 - stock number DX533 or equivalent - cleaning and conditioning chemical for aluminum.
- Amchem Alodine number 1001 - stock number DXSOT or equivalent - coating chemical for aluminum.
- Ditzler Delclear Acrylic Urethane Clear - stock number DAU-75 or equivalent.
- Ditzler Delthane Ultra-Urethane Additive - stock DXR-80 or equivalent.

INITIAL PREPARATION
Remove Or Disconnect
1. Wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
^ Match mark tire for reinstallation of outboard wheel weights after re-coating of wheel.
2. Outboard wheel weights.
^ Clean wheel inside and out with a water base all purpose cleaner. Remove grease or oil with a solvent cleaner.

ACCENT COLOR PREPARATION
Sand over painted areas that do not require recoloring with number 400 grit (wet or dry) to promote adhesion of clear coat.

SURFACE DAMAGE

CAUTION: Do not use vehicle power to rotate the wheel while sanding or personal injury may result.

1. Mount tire and wheel on brake lathe and spin slowly.

NOTICE: Do not use abrasive coarser than 80 grit or wheel may be damaged.

2. Sand wheel with backing block or pad by holding abrasive flat to surface of wheel and moving slowly back and forth from center to outer edge to remove damage. Use the following sandpaper grits in the order listed.
A. Sand with number 80 grit sandpaper.
B. Sand with number 150 grit sandpaper.
C. Sand with number 240 grit sandpaper.
3. Continue with "Re-coating Procedure."

CLEAR COAT DAMAGE ON UNPAINTED WHEELS

CAUTION: Use of rubber gloves and eye protection is necessary to prevent personal Injury.

1. Apply chemical stripper.
^ Allow stripper to penetrate coating.
^ Use small 1/4 inch detail brush dipped in stripper to apply material around perimeter and spoke-like areas.
2. Remove stripper following manufacturers recommendations.

CAUTION: Do not use vehicle power to rotate the wheel while sanding or personal injury may result.

3. Sand wheel with 240 grit while rotating wheel on a slow spinning brake lathe or by mounting on vehicle and spinning by hand. This will restore the machined appearance and promote adhesion.
4. Continue with "Re-coating Procedure."

RE-COATING PROCEDURE

CAUTION: Use of rubber gloves and eye protection is necessary to prevent personal Injury.

1. Clean surface of contaminants by washing with soap and water.
2. Spray the wheel with Amchem number 33 or equivalent.
^ Let the wheel soak for 1 to 3 minutes.
^ Rinse the wheel with water and blow dry.
3. Soak wheel with Amchem #1001 or equivalent.
^ Let the wheel soak for 1 to 3 minutes.
^ Rinse the wheel with water and blow dry.
4. Mask off the tire.

CAUTION: To avoid serious personal injury when applying any two part component paint system, follow the specific precautions provided by the paint manufacturer. Failure to follow these precautions may cause lung irritation and allergic respiratory reaction.

5. Finish the wheel with Ditzler Delclear Acrylic Urethane and Ditzler Ultra-Urethane Additive or equivalent using three coats. Refer to labels for specific directions.
^ First Coat - Light mist coat, let flash.
^ Second Coat Light, let flash.
^ -Third Coat - Heavy double wet coat.
6. Let the wheel dry for 24 hours - (or flash for 30 minutes, force dry at 60° C (140° F) for 30 minutes, and allow to cool for 30 minutes before mounting.

INSTALL OR CONNECT
1. Balance wheel and tire assembly.
^ Replace the original balance weights with nylon coated weights to avoid discoloration of the wheel.
2. Tire and wheel assembly.