| Renovating alloy wheels. Although alloy wheels look | | | | stripper. Take the normal precautions to avoid the |
| much better than your average steel wheel they do | | | | stripper coming into contact with your skin. Once the |
| need a lot more looking after. Wind, rain and grit can | | | | lacquer has been removed, use some body rubbing |
| hit the surface of the alloys, brake dust can also get | | | | compound with a damp cloth to disguise any small |
| into the surface to ruin your alloy wheels. If | | | | pitted areas. You may need to also use some fine |
| untreated the wheels could start to corrode and your | | | | grade wet and dry paper to get rid of any severe |
| wheels could look duller than steel wheels with wheel | | | | corrosion. |
| trims. The other thing that can spoil the look of an | | | | If there is any mild impact damage, then use a small |
| alloy wheel is impact damage. Just slightly scuffing the | | | | grinding stone, a metal brush or a flap wheel on a drill |
| kerb can give your alloys a rough looking edge. | | | | to smooth this out. Take away the minimum amount |
| There are two ways of refurbishing alloy wheels. One | | | | of metal possible and again you may need some |
| way is to let the professionals do it, or if the damage | | | | rubbing compound once you have got the area |
| is just cosmetic the repairs can be done at home | | | | looking fairly smooth. Once all the impact damage and |
| with a few tools and a little elbow grease. It is easier | | | | corrosion has disappeared, the wheel will have to be |
| to work with alloy wheels when they are off the car. | | | | polished. Find a suitable Alloy polish available from |
| The first job is to mask up the tyres and any | | | | most good car accessory shops. Use plenty of elbow |
| painted areas with newspaper and masking tape on | | | | grease to get your wheels to as high a shine as you |
| areas you do not want to be affected. Most alloy | | | | can. Make use of a non-fluffy rag to apply the polish |
| wheels have a lacquer finish and this lacquer will | | | | and then use a smooth cloth to buff it up. The next |
| normally have to removed first. Loose or flaky | | | | stage is to give the wheels a re-lacquer with clear |
| lacquer can be removed with a wooden | | | | coat lacquer using a narrow paint brush to apply it. All |
| scraper,(avoid using metal scrappers in case they slip | | | | should be available from most accessory shops and |
| and damage more of the wheel). Then the rest of | | | | your wheels should look as good as new. |
| the lacquer can be taken off with some sort of paint | | | | |