[rebelscientist]

Hi all. Just a quick question about stock rims

The paint on the side of the rim/wheel is chipping off. My question is... is this harmful to the wheel ? Would it cause the metal inside to rust or deteriorate?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebelscientist/7352959516/" title="Rim paint by boygenis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7352959516_9d010188f1_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Rim paint"></a>

If there are no side-effects, I want to keep it like this because I maybe around mid to semi low income folks and don't want unwanted attention from thieves.

Thanks

 

[Uncle Mush]

Should not be a problem as the paint is cosmetic and the wheel is aluminum alloy.

 

[xbiker]

What kind of scientist are you? If you are moving into a bad neighborhood you might want a different car. Ugly wheels won't keep the riff-raff away from your convertible.

 

[kaustein]

What do you wash your wheels with, acid?

 

[cyclehead]

That is your wheel decomposing. The paint is peeling because the aluminum under the paint is corroding. If you stripped all the paint, you could see the difference between the corroded and noncorroded material. The fix is to grind and sand off all the corroded material, then treat with alodine, primer and topcoat. If that corrosion is left untreated for enough time, it will hurt the strength and structural integrity of the wheel. How long can you ignore it? That's the $100 question.

 

[rebelscientist]

The paint is bubbling off. Not sure if aluminum alloy started to decompose...

I will get new rims eventually .... if the damage to the rims extends.

the metal inside the paint seems same as the brake caliper metal yet brake caliper had no paint and lives...

 

[dev]

It looks like to me that the paint is coming off the wheel not the rim.

I would scrape of as much as possible the bubbling paint with an abrasive pad then spray some Worth silver wheel paint which is a close match on the effected area. Apart from that there is very little you can do until it can be stripped down and repainted which is not really worth it.
It would be more economical to purchase someones good shape wheels for less then $100 per wheel and if they are nice they will let you keep the rim.

 

[spyderboy]

Hi all. Just a quick question about stock rims

The paint on the side of the rim/wheel is chipping off. My question is... is this harmful to the wheel ? Would it cause the metal inside to rust or deteriorate?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebelscientist/7352959516/" title="Rim paint by boygenis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7352959516_9d010188f1_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Rim paint"></a>

If there are no side-effects, I want to keep it like this because I maybe around mid to semi low income folks and don't want unwanted attention from thieves.

Thanks

Same thing is happening to my stockers that came with the car (I bought the second spyder used). I've been contemplating getting them refinished, don't know if that is possible or how much it will cost. So for now they are in my attic.

 

[rebelscientist]

It looks like to me that the paint is coming off the wheel not the rim.

I would scrape of as much as possible the bubbling paint with an abrasive pad then spray some Worth silver wheel paint which is a close match on the effected area. Apart from that there is very little you can do until it can be stripped down and repainted which is not really worth it.
It would be more economical to purchase someones good shape wheels for less then $100 per wheel and if they are nice they will let you keep the rim.

Great advice . Thanks

 

[Green Goblin]

That is your wheel decomposing. The paint is peeling because the aluminum under the paint is corroding. If you stripped all the paint, you could see the difference between the corroded and noncorroded material. The fix is to grind and sand off all the corroded material, then treat with alodine, primer and topcoat. If that corrosion is left untreated for enough time, it will hurt the strength and structural integrity of the wheel. How long can you ignore it? That's the $100 question.

No, it will not hurt the strength or structural integrity of the wheel. It is not like rust (also corrosion), whoch just goes deeper and deeper.