Painting Wheels

[glanga]

Just picked up a WRX and the previous owner threw in a set of cheapo ADR Design wheels. They are factory defects so the paint is flaking off in spots. I like the design of them and they look good on the WRX so I want to keep them and paint them myself. Anyone have any good tips or know the best way to do this?

I figure I need to sand down the wheels and get all the old paint off... should I use a rough grit first then a finer grit to smooth it all out?

Should I bother priming them before painting and if so, what kind of primer?

What good solvents are there to remove grime and stuff before painting them?

What brand/kind of paint can I use? I don't want to spend a ton, just some Dupli-Color crap is fine and I am going to do them black. Haven't decided on gloss or flat yet.

They need new tires so should I wait to paint them until I get new tires on there so the machine doesn't destory my paint job?

I don't expect to be perfect, if I did then I'd either get new good wheels or get these powder coated but I'd rather just do this myself so any advice is appreciated.

 

[workin_ike]

LOL, I just noticed your sig "you cant throw a rock 1100 fps" you would be one rich baseball pitcher. No one is taking my lincoln without a few new holes in them

 

[JWerner2]

ADR's from what I found out aren't really cheapos in quality they just don't cost much. I found a ton of Subi guys like them as well as Evo people and some others. The other thing is that some of them are known to flake paint off of them.
I actually found a :q:q:q:q load of people that are into them ranging over to even Volvo people.

Anyway I did a search on google and I found a lot of good info on doing it yourself. I have started a project and have been sanding and sanding but I kinda took a break over the last few weeks.

I say do it unless you know someone that does a good powder coating job. We are both in Jersey so I can refer you to Wheel Collision in Bath PA. Not far from where I live in Lopatcong.

Its not that hard just make sure you have Patience between adding coats, keep them clean while adding coats and use a lot of pro grade clear coat. Definitely use a lot of clear coat!

 

[JWerner2]

I just realized I have not found Tal-Strip around lately and did a search for it and found this of all things Painting Wheels

 

[glanga]

I already sanded them down and painted them. Came out pretty ok.

The paint was coming off on the lip and partially on the spokes. I think they look really good on the car. I went to fill them up today and one of the tires has a hole in the sidewall. The tires are pretty much new though except Hankook discontinued the K102 tire.

I would never spend money to have these wheels repaired or repainted unless I did it myself on the cheap. Otherwise I'd just spring for some BBS or stock STI wheels.

Bath, PA is a little far to go too haha. My girlfriend lives in Basking Ridge and my dad used to live in Hackettstown so I know exactly where Lopatcong is right off 78.

 

[JWerner2]

Can we see?

 

[Blenderhead]

What I usually do when painting wheels is first clean them off with a power washer. Make sure to get EVERYTHING off, and it will look infinitely better. Next, wet-sand them with some 400, then powerwash again to get all the sanding residue off. Dry the wheels off, then go over the whole wheel with a red scotch-brite pad, then clean it off with wax/grease remover. After all that is done, I usually use high-temp engine paint on the wheels, followed by a catalyzed clearcoat sprayed out of a gun. Doing it this way, your wheel will look brand new, and the catalyzed clearcoat will be very durable, as well as make them easy to clean, since brake dust should just wash right off when you are washing the rest of the car.