Alloy wheels, which are the most attractive things about many cars, have countless perils. Potholes, restless driving, raised manhole covers, high kerbs are some of the many enemies of alloy wheels. But if they are not fractured or cracked, they can be easily repaired, despite what some tyre shops claim.
This article provides you with all the necessary information you need to know about Alloy Wheel Repair Aldershot.
HOW TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE
It is a bit difficult to correctly assess the damage of alloy wheels with naked eyes, but doing an x-ray to detect cracks can be expensive. Alloy rims consist of an alloy of nickel and aluminium. If you have a family sedan, your alloy rim will have more percentage in aluminium than that of a supercar. The low nickel percentage in the alloy makes it easier to straighten as aluminium bends easily when heated. This means the special tyre shop can easily fix the damage.
Wheels having a higher nickel percentage are very susceptible to fracture and cracking even at slight deformation. So, it is advisable to get the wheels checked by a professional wheel straightening company.
Since it isn’t possible to tell the nickel content in any alloy just by looking at the wheel, as a rule, it is assumed that nickel concentration increases with the size of the wheel. Nickel makes the wheel harder, but any deformation will most probably lead to fracture.
REPAIRING ALLOY WHEELS – DO IT YOURSELF
It is common to kerb a wheel at some point in time. The repair kit in question consists of a primer, filler, paint, and sandpaper.
When using such kits, you need patience and luck on your side – patience because the wheel has to be prepared properly and no paint should run while being painted. You need luck so that the colour chosen by you matches that of the wheel.
Given below are the steps you need to follow –
- The wheels should be cleaned vigorously in order to remove grease and dirt
- For flattening chips and removing damaged paint, use sandpaper.
- Erase any dust.
- After mixing the putty, use it to seal the worn-out part. Take care to make the surface as level as possible.
- Let it set.
- When the filler is completely dry, sand it with sandpaper until flush. This step requires patience and time.
- To wipe off dust, use a damp cloth.
- Cover the damaged area with masking tape and apply the primer. Wait until it is dry.
- Put on light coatings of paint. Keep on applying until you are happy with the finish. Make sure to wait in between coats of paint and give enough time for the paint to dry.
- If your kit comes with a lacquer, apply a light coating now. Give time to dry. You can purchase lacquer separately if the kit doesn’t have one.
The presence of a set of smart alloy wheels generally indicates that the rest of the car is spick and span, making it a lot easier to resell the car.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL THE PROFESSIONALS?
If your wheel is bent, or there are extensive fractures, kerbing, or corrosion, it is time to call a mobile wheel refurbishment company to repair the damage.
If you own a premium car or if there is some serious damage, you need to call a service company if you want your repaired wheels to look brand new and be well protected.
A wheel can be bent out of alignment by a deep pothole which might render it irreparable.
A service company immerses the wheel in a chemical bath for exposing the bare alloy. After checking for cracks, the wheel is washed and primed. It is rechecked before painting and is baked at 200° F. After giving a lacquer finish, the wheel is again baked at 230°F.
COST OF ALLOY REPAIR DAMAGE
When doing it by yourself, you’ll need an alloy wheel repair kit which generally costs £25-£30.
If you use a professional service, it’ll cost you £50 per wheel repair, giving you £200 in total.
So, you need to be aware when it comes to alloy wheel repair to avoid expensive repairs. You can easily purchase alloy wheel repair kits online. Plus, the wheels should always be kept clean.