'Redoing' stock wheels?

[Kung]

And yes, I did search on this...but I've got an addition or two to the 'standard' questions I see.

So my '00 4Runner SR5 Highlander came with the Limited 5 Star wheels, and frankly I do like them. HOWEVER....the best way I can describe it is that the aluminum appears to be flaking off.

I've seen plenty of threads where guys have painted them; but every time I see guys who have done that, they appear to have started with rims that are scratched. I'm curious as to how one would go about 'refinishing' wheels where the aluminum has flaked off.

 

[SRSRunner]

pics? I would assume its just the finish itself that's flaking off. Just sand them down and re paint them- you can get paint that will match the factory color of the wheels.

 

[Chrome Magnon]

Or you can strip the clear coat which is flaking and polish the aluminum to look like chrome. Use a paint stripper and do not sand. I bought this aluminum polish online and will be doing this to mine soon.

 

[CanukRunner]

I've done soooo many rims ...

I used to just go after mirror shine.. but i'll never do that again. its far too much work.

depending on how bad the paint / clear is ... you may have to use paint stripper... sand paper will take too long. just buy a bucket of the crap and keep applying.. gasket remover works better..

Lots of folks tell me that certian paint strippers "seep" into the metal and screw things up.. I've never seen it.. but call me crazy for washing my rims before i paint them. use brake cleaner too

If you insist on bringing it to bear metal cause your young... go nuts. just remember for 20 bucks a rim or less you could just have them blasted. youll spend close to that on paper and chemicals to do it yourself.

I have a set of 5 stars i bought for my runner and I brought them to bare, put the zinc chromate primer then paint, then clear... did it by the book,
turned out worse than the rims on my truck now where i just ground down the pitts applied self etching primer and the paint its self no clear...

The best part about no clear is that if the pitting start to show through in a year.. just pull off wheel, apply more paint..lol

 

[Kung]

pics? I would assume its just the finish itself that's flaking off. Just sand them down and re paint them- you can get paint that will match the factory color of the wheels.

Sorry for the delay. Not much of a pic (it is nighttime, after all) but here's an example.

 

[BrianSD_42]

powder coat is worth it if you have the $

 

[PitbullRescuer]

My 5 Stars were in similar condition. I used a wire brush attachment on my drill, sanded them down, used a file on the curb rash, primed, painted and cleared them. they look great. Pics are in my build thread in my sig.

 

[Kung]

powder coat is worth it if you have the $

Just need to find somewhat of a local place, of course. But yeah, I would almost rather powdercoat them if it's more durable.

 

[ryankmasuda]

My wheels looked the same way. it's pitting and corrosion from the clear coat coming off. Use a "coarse" wire brush drill attachment. Get the cone shape and the standard disk. Take it down to bare metal then use a self etching primer. Take your time taking it down to bare metal. My first two wheels I took my time and they came out great. The other two I was in a hurry and I can tell the difference. Also don't hold the wire brush in one spot for too long. it will gouge the wheels and it will show after the primer and paint.

 

[ryankmasuda]

Just need to find somewhat of a local place, of course. But yeah, I would almost rather powdercoat them if it's more durable.

If you plan on wheeling or airing down your tires you will probably chip the powder coat at some point. if you use rattle can you can at least touch it up at any time.

 

[Kung]

If you plan on wheeling or airing down your tires you will probably chip the powder coat at some point. if you use rattle can you can at least touch it up at any time.

I gotta be honest - while I eventually plan on lifting it, it's going to be closer to our reliable DD than an off road rig. Therefore, I'm not too worried about whether or not the powdercoat chips.

 

[binhsterbinh]

I paid $215 after tax to have my Tundra split 5 spoke wheels sand blasted and powder coated. Believe breakdown was $88 for sand blast and another $112 to powder cost. My wheels had a lot of rust on the backside, so sanding and painting would have taken me way too much time and effort. On the other hand, the limited 5 spokes would be easier to sand/paint. In the end, I would've not been able to clean up all the corrosion in the cracks, so if I painted over it, the paint would just start flaking off again from rust seeping through.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you plan on wheeling or airing down your tires you will probably chip the powder coat at some point. if you use rattle can you can at least touch it up at any time.

Yes, I realized this once after I went through with the powdercoating. I guess that means you have to be extra careful when wheeling.

 

[binhsterbinh]

Yes, I realized this once after I went through with the powdercoating. I guess that means you have to be extra careful when wheeling.

I was able to buy an aerosol can of matching Cardinal brand spray paint that was the exact color code match of my powder coat finish for $12. I used this to paint my caps. It can also be easily used to touch up if you scratch the wheels after wheeling.

 

[SRSRunner]

Granted I'm a cheap basta... but that's not bad enough to need to be sand blasted. A steel brush or wheel will clean that up in no time, so if it were me I'd spray paint them. you could do all 4 3-4 times before it cost what powder coating one wheel would.

 

[Whackmaster]

Aircraft stripper will take it down to bare metal, then prime and paint...Don't clear coat and you can touch up any time.