subject: Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Sounds Expensive - Can I Repair My Own Wheels? [print this page] The first thing is to see if you can repair the damage yourself. For example, alloy wheels start to look shabby if you let brake dust build up on the surface. You can easily fix this yourself - if you do it regularly. Brake dust is corrosive and will eat into the surface of your alloy wheels if you leave it for more than a few weeks. Regular washing will remove most of the brake dust. But if your alloy wheels have intricate patterns it can be difficult to clean them with just detergent. In this case its OK to use a proprietary wheel cleaner to get rid of the brake dust.
Beware - proprietary wheel cleaners contain acids so be extra careful to remove all traces from your wheels after youve cleaned them or else the acid will eat into the lacquer. Also, make sure you wear rubber gloves and eye protection while you use it. Keeping your wheels clean is the best way to prevent expensive damage. We would suggest using a wheel cleaner about every four or five times you wash your car, not every time.
Next, if you are going to go to the trouble of cleaning months of neglect from your alloys you probably dont want it to be such a tough job next time. So, Top Tip - My recommendation is to take some time to use a wax polish on your alloys. It doesnt need to be anything fancy, just use the same polish as you use on the bodywork. (Most people I know will wax their car but totally ignore the wheels even though they suffer more from dust, grit and even salt from the road than the other paintwork!) So, a treatment with some polish will give your wheels an extra protective coat cutting the job of cleaning them next time in half.
Cleaning the wheels this way also gives you the chance to spot other damage that, if treated quickly, can avoid more expensive types of repair. However, once your wheels are a few years old they are bound to show signs of wear and tear. Youll find deeper scuffs and gouges on the surface of the wheel and especially round the rims. Dont be put off. We specialists use high performance fillers that cure in a matter of seconds so we can get your wheels looking as good as new in no time. And getting them refurbished by a professional mobile repair company can be cheaper than you think. Much cheaper than a new set of alloys but, repaired properly, theyll transform the look of your car and improve its value if you plan to sell it in the near future.
