Need Advice- Wheel Cleaning

[Park]

Need Advice- Wheel Refurbishing

Hey all. So I picked up a set of LC wheels for the truck a while back. They are pretty nasty, I put them in my attic and forgot about them. Recently however, I've decided the time for some new rubber has come (265/75/16 Kenda Klever)and now that I'm looking at them I'm at loss. The clear coat is shot. there's heavy corrosion and rust built up on the surface. My end goal is to paint these gloss black so the surface does'nt need to be flawless but it still needs to be smooth

So what methods are there? I was thinking mabey acid? or a grinder w/ a sanding wheel but I'm not sure..

Before you all bash be just know that I only paid 45 bucks for these

<a href="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/Park2103/media/IMG_8751_zps8b95a545.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r531/Park2103/IMG_8751_zps8b95a545.jpg" border="0" alt="LC Wheels photo IMG_8751_zps8b95a545.jpg"/></a>

 

[farmerjon]

If I recall correctly, our trucks are 5 lug wheels, these are six. So they may not work anyway.

Edit: [MENTION=7105]Scramble[/MENTION] and [MENTION=76881]squabeggz[/MENTION] clarified (thanks guys!). Not sure what I was thinking. My wheels have a similar problem, will be interested to see where this goes. Carry on!

 

[Scramble]

If I recall correctly, our trucks are 5 lug wheels, these are six. So they may not work anyway.

Our trucks are 6 lug, the new LC's are 5.

Since you got these cheap a while ago get them media blasted, for $100 they will look brand new. Then you can prime & paint them any color you want. Or get them powder coated for another $225 ish.

 

[squabeggz]

If I recall correctly, our trucks are 5 lug wheels, these are six. So they may not work anyway.

3rd gen rigs are 6 lug. These will work just fine. Somewhere I have a good link from this site that details wheel refinishing...I believe with a set of LCs too. I'll post if I can find it.

Essentially, clean all the grime off, then strip with aircraft stripper? Or something like that. Sand with a fine paper. Prime with a high build primer to fill any pits, then sand smooth then paint and clear.

 

[Park]

If I recall correctly, our trucks are 5 lug wheels, these are six. So they may not work anyway.

For a man with an ARB on his truck I'm disapointed. :flamewar: jk jk


Ok thanks for the suggestions, [MENTION=76881]squabeggz[/MENTION] lemme know if you find that link.

Also, does anyone know if the LC wheels are wider? Its difficult to tell. I know that they offset the wheel by an inch but I'm not sure if the widths are the same.

 

[farmerjon]

For a man with an ARB on his truck I'm disapointed. :flamewar: jk jk

That's fair. End of a semester, finals approaching, and I got turned around in my head, for some reason, I've thought there was five lugs, even though I've taken my tires on and off a number of times haha. Good luck, LC wheels are a find!

 

[Unner]

Since you paid so little for them I would probably lean towards powder coating. They'll look perfect then.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I'd suggest using the method I wrote about here.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...licolor-3rd-gen-wheel-painting-how-story.html

Btw you can clean & prep any wheel with dish soap, water, and a 3M scratch pad.

You don't need to sand off all the paint.

 

[ElBrio]

I'd suggest using the method I wrote about here.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...licolor-3rd-gen-wheel-painting-how-story.html

Btw you can clean & prep any wheel with dish soap, water, and a 3M scratch pad.

You don't need to sand off all the paint.

I just bought a full size wheel for a spare and for cheap (slightly dinged up and to see how it would come out).
I did almost exactly what is linked and it comes out real nice, much better than I expected. I did mine in gunmetal grey.

 

[Park]

I'd suggest using the method I wrote about here.

Thanks Brian. I bookmarked it. Have you had any problems with chipping, I know that is a problem when rattle canning. Or does the clear coat prevent that?

 

[TheDurk]

I'd suggest using the method I wrote about here.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...licolor-3rd-gen-wheel-painting-how-story.html

Btw you can clean & prep any wheel with dish soap, water, and a 3M scratch pad.

You don't need to sand off all the paint.

Just an update--I did mine this way in the summer and fall of 2010 (so four winters) and they still look great.(Duplicolor Graphite.) A 3G owner at the NAPA store with the same wheels stopped me just last week to ask me how I did them. I was able to show him the shelf with all he needed (except the graphite, which takes a day to order.)

Teaser: I am now doing my chrome bumpers the same way, Front is new (from Certifit), rears are maybe six years old with a fair amount of surface rust. I'm taking pics, and once I'm sure it sticks well to the chrome after my chosen prep method, I'll post a how-to. Painting over chrome is a challenge, but so far it looks good.

 

[BrianSD_42]

i haven't had any major issues. They still look great and i get asked about then from time to time.

My wheels are trail wheels though. I already have scratches from going over rocks on the trails.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

I love my powder coated FJ rims. They come out clean and looking new every time I wash them. $300 for all 4 including painting center caps to match. I know that's expensive, but powder coating is 10x stronger than paint.

 

[Scramble]

I love my powder coated FJ rims. They come out clean and looking new every time I wash them. $300 for all 4 including painting center caps to match. I know that's expensive, but powder coating is 10x stronger than paint.

$300 is cheap compared to buying new wheels plus you can pick any color you want.:art:

 

[TheDurk]

I love my powder coated FJ rims. They come out clean and looking new every time I wash them. $300 for all 4 including painting center caps to match. I know that's expensive, but powder coating is 10x stronger than paint.

Thing is, I can easily touch up my rattlecan wheels any time I need to for cheap and on the truck. (only had to do it twice. I do go offroad, but it's mud and sand and dirt, not much rocks. Plus I go around the rough parts when I can, I don't go looking for them. I just like going to remote places.)