Repaint your rusty wheels

[Daox]

For a while now, I've been wanting to repaint my wheels. When I bought the car, the areas of the wheel that were exposed to the sun had faded and rusted as shown below. I wanted to refresh the paint job and make it look decent again.




So, first I removed each wheel. I used a wire brush to knock down the rust, then I used a random orbit sander to clean it down to the metal.




Next, I taped up around the tire and took some rubbing alcohol and cleaned up the wheel so it was ready for paint.




First, the wheel got a coat of etching primer.




Then, it got two coats of flat black paint.




The finished look looks pretty good IMO. Still debating weather to put the wheel covers back on or not. They're kind of beat up and could use paint too.




Here is the best before picture I had. Unfortunately I don't have any pics without the wheel covers on.

[gclark8]

I just sand blasted the five rims and had them powder coated:

[mapanch]

For a while now, I've been wanting to repaint my wheels. When I bought the car, the areas of the wheel that were exposed to the sun had faded and rusted as shown below. I wanted to refresh the paint job and make it look decent again.

How long did it take them to dry? Need to do something with my rims, they look like crap.

[exodus0784]

+1 for no wheel covers. The axle nuts are a pain to remove either way.

[Daox]

Not real long. Of course it mainly depends on the paint you use. The label wil give you drying times. I did them leisurely over a Saturday.

[daug1502]

I like how the paint is not faded where the hubcaps are located, means those are atleast doing their job lol. You did a nice job cleaning them up and painting them, I need to give mine the same treatment.

[Bradt726]

Sorry for bringing the thread back from the dead but I was just wondering if you left the wheel covers off of yours. I'm thinking about painting my wheels a flat black and wanted to see what someone thought about it after they did it.

[daug1502]

That would depend on your personal preference. The hubcaps do provide protection, but are not necessary. I personally will leave mine on as long as I am usiing the factory Rims. I might paint them as well as the rim when I do the project.

[Daox]

I eventually ended up putting the covers back on after I repainted the covers. They were pretty scratched up from the previous owner.

[fbc]

Alternatively, You could've painted the wheel cover rust coloured. But I like the guy that powder coated. WOW. Talk about a lifetime finish. Nice.