i have some oem toyota 4runner 16" alloy wheels, but the silver finish is chipping and kinda bubbling in some points and they just all around aren't "new" looking. are there shops that refinish such wheels? better yet, anyone know of any around los angleles?

or at least where i could get a good touch up paint match?

 

I have 2 suggestions:

1. Paint them black (my personal favorite)

2. You can have them blasted and polished. oscarz here on the boards had that done, and if you like bling, they really turned out nice. I was almost scared to paint over them, but I did anyway.

 

I used to work at a place that refinished wheels and when the wheels left the shop, you could not tell them apart from a brand new wheel. It is expensive though. Maybe consider buying a used set...

 

define expensive.

 

3 hens and a pound of Flour

 

depends on if the wheel is bent and the amount of work that needs to be done. Four wheels prepped and painted would be like $400 cdn.

 

don't think the wheels are bent. i just want them to look nice and purty again. i don't mind some minor scratches, but these are bad. i'm hoping $200 can get me something decent

 

Should have bought mine...still purdy

Seriously, look into having them bead blasted and powder coated. You are probably looking at more than $200 though.

 

"Should have bought mine...still purdy"
ya, thanks man. feel much better now. but i think i'm done with buying across states.

 

Charles,
You could get them powdercoated (in many colors) it's more durable than normal and one of the best ones is in the valley. I think the name is Pyramid Powdercoating.
They go around $50 a wheel I think.

 

can i get them powder coated silver tho? truth is, i like the regular color of the wheels, and i don't want black...yet. i like the sorta semi-gloss of the the oem finish.

thanks james, i'll look them up tomorrow.


my other concern is...does powder coating weaken the wheels? i only thought of that because a google search led me to this http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zero...tid=1547297889 corvettes, but still..

 

Yes, they can powdercoat in silver- glossy too Anything they can send a electric charge through.

I think they do alot of custom car work and wheels are very common.

That thing on the Corvette forum doesn't seem to make sense because I would think with heavy braking and hot tires, the wheel would easily reach 200-300 degrees at some point...just a guess.

I have never heard of it weakening wheels.

 

wow.
powder coating... is there anything it can't do.

i'm still pissed i've got to go though this in the first place, but "whatever".

 

Sorry man, just messin' with ya.

I know how it is to not get what you were expecting.

 

i vote against powder coating. while it is more durable than regular paint, it can not be touched up like paint can. wheels will chip and scratch no matter what you coat them with.

 

I thought there was a thread on repairing the clearcoat finish on the 'Yota OEM wheels. I'd search for ya', but I'm at work...