DRKMATTER

I curbed one of my IForged wheels only days after I got them a few years ago and I was lucky enough to get some advice from a forum member on the repair. Well, I recently curbed (2) of them again while trying to avoid getting sideswiped by a Florida Blue Hair and decided to do a quick "How To" this time.

disclaimer: This is "MY" way to repair them, I'm not saying it's the "ONLY" way to repair them. This method is for NON clear coated, NON painted high polished aluminum wheels ONLY. DO NOT attempt this on chrome!!!

What I used:

3M Wetsand paper 1200/1500/2000
3M sandpaper block (rubber)
Emory Paper, Coarse/Medium/Fine
Mothers Wheel Polish
Sweat, aching back, and a few hours of time.



On to the damage:

Rear Wheel


Front Wheel


Rear Wheel


As you can see the rash is deep and extensive. I even contimplated ordering new lips since they are 3 piece wheels but I thought I'd give the repair a try first. The last time I did this repair it came out flawless.

Removing the wheels from the car is certainly the easiest way to attack but I left mine on.

The first thing you need to do is take the emory paper (coarse) and tear a piece off to wrap around your rubber block. Using a block is the easiest way to assure adequate and even pressure when sanding the lip. As long as the block is somewhat flexible, it will conform to the roundness of the lip thereby avoiding the possibility of squaring off the round edge.

Don't be afraid to get aggresive with your sanding, depending on the depth of the rash you may be at it for a while. Make sure to rotate the emory paper frequently, the aluminum will shear off the grit of the paper after only a few passes. I like to sand in one direction only, although you can go back and forth if you like.

Here is a picture of a damaged section after using the emory paper...I used the coarse grit until I knocked off all the sharp edges and then the medium grit to level the surface...you may or may not not need the fine grit but while you are there....may as well make a few passes with it.



Don't worry if you slip and sand a clean undamaged part of the lip, wetsanding will take care of it.

After you've leveled the surface so that it's free of nicks or pits you can begin wetsanding. The most important thing about wetsanding is keeping the paper wet and wiping off the surface frequently to check your work. I also used the rubber sanding block for this step and decided to just do the entire lip (damaged or not). IForged doesn't do a great job of polishing the lips to begin with (at least not on mine) so I figured I'd step it up.

Started with the 1200 until it felt pretty smooth and then the 1500 until it felt REALLY smooth. I used the 2000 for the entire lip.

You will be left with something like this:



It will have a very dull and hazy look..not to worry, that's what the Mothers is for.

After you have gone through all the sanding steps and you are satisfied with the smoothness and coverage, polish with the Mothers, I just use a white cotton rag and do the wheel in 1/3 sections. This is the longest step imho....the more you polish, the deeper the mirror reflection. Mothers will also take out the very fine scratches left by the 2000 grit paper. You may consider having some 3000 grit on hand just in case Mothers doesn't do the trick on fine scratches but it wasn't necessary on mine.

This is what I was left with:







I could honestly do some more wetsanding in a couple of areas since they are not perfect but until I feel like screwing around with it some more they are fine for now.

Thanks for checking out my thread...I hope you never have to use it

Jason

Toque

That is fantastic ! I always wondered what I will do with my CCW's If I get a scratch on them. I'm saving this post...

Thanks

Toque

damilleniumboy

They look good again, but how did the curb rash occur?

DRKMATTER

Hope you never have to go through it...but it's really pretty easy. If you really want to be a perfectionist you can tape off undamaged areas, just takes more time is all. Since I planned to 2000 grit the entire lip I didn't bother taping. Could have sanded even more...I found some pits I didn't see until after they were polished.


Old lady ran me off the road into a curb

k0ts

How about the clear coat?? I assume the wheels are clear coated...

34RedRage

been there done that!!!!

Gonzo

I did the same thing, 3 days after I bought the Z, my first new car ever (at my old age), while entering the Church parking lot

My wife did not make it any better, she asked if I could drive this "car"

I'm sure you process will work out well, or you can do what I did and get someone else to do it, I figured I did enough damage.

It happens to everyone, and we all hate it

VetteHunting

High polish, not clear coated.

DRKMATTER

mentioned in my first post....This method is ONLY for NON clear coated/painted/chromed lips! This is one of the advantages to having non-clearcoated or chromed lips....fixing them is WAY easier and cheaper if you do it yourself or not.

perfectlyfrank

Great write up. I hope I don't need it for my CCW's, but just in case.

MyVetteDream

Good write up!

Thanks for taking the time.

I have chrome, so I'm skrude if that ever happens to mine

EDIT::: I just noticed I made a rhyme!

black98c5

Great info! Hope I'll never need it though. Thanks!

countslav

Thanks bro for the write up....

Bret01Z06

I have already had to repair the passenger side CCW's on my car.

damilleniumboy

I hit the curb at the drive up ATM machine with my stang, and I had new wheels on it too. It rode on a 315/35/17 profile rear tires on a 17x10.5 wheel, and I wasn't used to the rear tires being to wide at the time.

NemesisC5

Great write up Bro, glad you have your 20's back to "Pimp"

ajg1915

Nice write-up.

00 Rooster

great write up...I'm sure there are a lot of members who will benefit (I won't because I have stockers )

dobewillie

great write up and fantastic job thanks

Vetteman Jack

Very informative post. Well done.