nrgetic99

I just got my grubby paws on 5 16x8 FJ80 rims.

One is in perfect condition and the rest get kinda worse from there.

The only real eyesore is the little spider tracks where the corrosion has got under the clear coat. Its really not pretty.

I would like to remove these marks and then clearcoat or even clear powdercoat.

I started messing with one rim tonight , I stripped the clear coat and discovered I will need at least 400 grit wet and dry paper to get the pitting removed. This leaves some nasty looking areas which do not polish out with mothers aluminum wheel polish.

I plan on getting some much finer grades of paper and trying to work the scratches out.

I also found a 'wheel smoothing kit' from Eastwood with 3 grades of buffing compound and some wheels.

Anyone have any experience ?

My guess the secret is patience and lots of labor.

David

ecchamberlin

No ideas but I am tuning into this because 3 of my 5 LC rims are good and the other 2 are not so great. My spare is pretty rough. Not a huge concern for me since I will be wheeling them pretty hard and that means more scratches. But if there is a simple fix to the problem I am all ears.

Localmotion

might want to talk to callmej. I know he has experience with re-finsihing wheels and etc.

nrgetic99

Slight threadjack (its my own thread so get over it ), Matt, did you get your deckplate yet ??

David

Localmotion

haha no, I havent had the chance. now back on topic!!!!!!

HAHA jk

snap-on

your gonna have to work your paper up in grit. you cant go from 400 to pollish and hope to get decent results

400 to at least 600 then give it a shot

mothers wheel polish is a finish step. youll need a harder pad with some cutting compound at least.

my neighbor used 3m Fine cut on a wool bonet to buff out his, but based on the level your going you may have to start with something even more aggresive than that.

nrgetic99

Thanks Snap On. You may have missed it but I said I was going to go buy some finer grades of paper.

From some work I do on sharpening and polishing the edges on my skis, I expect to end up at 1000 grit or even 1200 before I use compound.

I was just doing some scoping work on the worst rim to see what to expect and hoping for a quick solution as I am itching to get the tires mounted and get them on the truck.

David

Localmotion

what tires are you going to wrap them in?

my 5th is in horrible shape too. They are going to look nice on your rig!!

nrgetic99

Gonna add some pics later but I am now well into this process.

It takes a lot of hard work.

I have removes all of the scratches and I am in the process of smoothing with 80, 220 and then 320 grit polishing compoounds on 4" sprial sewn buff and my Makita Cordless.

I am having some issues with small deep scratches caused by hard clumps of the buffing paste.

I have some tripoli and white rouge compound and another loose sewn buff coming and a flexible shaft for the drill so I can use my corded drill.

They had better look good when I finish.

David

jrallan26

Will the LC rims fit on the truck without a lift?

ecchamberlin

It depends on the tire size. If you are running 265's you should be okay. Tacos have diff wheel wells than Runnes. I run 285's on LC rims with no rubbing/ 2.5" susp lift and a 1" body lift. Never even folded the pinch weld over. Were as my buddy with a Taco runs same susp lift and 2" of body lift and he rubs quite a bit even after some trimming.

nrgetic99

Yeah,

What he said

David