Scratch on new wheels

[Goldfish]

Hi all,

I posted here a while ago with scratched clear coat on aluminum wheels. Well, after living with them for a while longer, I picked up a set of gently used wheels (same exact wheel) from a 2011 Tahoe.

They showed up today and one has a scratch I wasn`t aware of. It`s about three inches or so long and appears to travel through the clear. (Can catch a fingernail when ran across it.)

It really doesn`t bother me all that much, but if there is any easy way to mask or get rid of it, I`d like to.

See pic. Any opinions welcomed!

Thanks again!

[Beemerboy]

Repairing a rim like that is not something you can do on your own. This link is to an international company that is franchised. They have locations all over the US. My local person is real good, its who I use to out source, when customers have curb rash

Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists... The World`s Largest Mobile Wheel Repair Company

[Goldfish]

Thanks.

Was hoping there was a way to make it at least less noticeable. Was wondering if polishing compound or scratch cover for painted surfaces would help?

[Rocket]

Are they polished aluminum? If it was me I would strip the clear off and polish them up. You could always use a sealant on them to protect the finish

The only other option is contacting a wheel repair shop like above ntheycan refinish the wheel. That scratch looks too deep to fix but maybe try a touch up clear coat. Maybe it would hide it some but I`ve never tried it

[C. Charles Hahn]

Are they polished aluminum? If it was me I would strip the clear off and polish them up. You could always use a sealant on them to protect the finish

I wouldn`t advise that -- bare aluminum is a nightmare to keep maintained, especially if we`re talking about a daily driven vehicle.

I`d go with Dave`s advice above, and just get the wheel refinished. In the long run you`ll find that to be the cheapest option.

[qaz393]

strip it, polish it and put wurth wheel clear coat

[GearHead_1]

I wouldn`t advise that -- bare aluminum is a nightmare to keep maintained, especially if we`re talking about a daily driven vehicle.

I`d go with Dave`s advice above, and just get the wheel refinished. In the long run you`ll find that to be the cheapest option.

Amen to that. There isn`t a sealant made that stands up to Utah`s road salt in the winter. Uncoated aluminum is a disaster on a daily driver. Now if it sits in the garage it`s another story.

[Beemerboy]

strip it, polish it and put wurth wheel clear coat

Its a tiny scratch on the rim, don`t you think that`s a tad extreme?

Are they polished aluminum? If it was me I would strip the clear off and polish them up. You could always use a sealant on them to protect the finish

The only other option is contacting a wheel repair shop like above ntheycan refinish the wheel. That scratch looks too deep to fix but maybe try a touch up clear coat. Maybe it would hide it some but I`ve never tried it

Same as above to extreme for what this is, the repair shop can sand, fill, paint and clear coat to the point you would have no idea it happened

I wouldn`t advise that -- bare aluminum is a nightmare to keep maintained, especially if we`re talking about a daily driven vehicle.

I`d go with Dave`s advice above, and just get the wheel refinished. In the long run you`ll find that to be the cheapest option.

Thanks

[Goldfish]

Thanks for the replies...

The scratch is way to small to make me want to have the wheel repaired. I`ll see what I can do on my own.

Thanks again!

[juliom2]

Take a little piece of 2500 grit paper (wet) with care sand over the scratch and its edges
level as much as possible. Then polish.....
If its a little scratch you`ll be able to mask it pretty good....