How To: Repairing Curb Rash

[CleanNeon98]

All credit for this writeup goes to Chance91 from www.mazda-speed.com but I looked through the DIY and thought it would be good info to have here.

Original Thread: http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/in...c,15633.0.html

The info:
Ok, so, do you have curb dammage, chips, scrapes, and other dammage to your wheels coating or even the alloy underneath? Do you want to change the color of the wheels? Ok, then this is for you. Are you somewhat confident in your ability to file, sand, and prep for paint a metal surface, and are you Ok with using spray paint on your wheels? If not, hopefully this helps with confidence!
Parts list before we start, here's what I used.
-Various rasps and files
-Sand paper in grits from 160-400. I primairly used 180, 320, 400.
-JB weld
-stir stick/applicators (I used popsicle sticks)
-marker
-Box of Latex/nitrile gloves
-knife/razor
-painters tape
-one or two sunday newspapers
-large bucket for paint cans
-Acetone
-self-etching primer
-Wheel paint of choice (Used here Duplicolor Performance wheel Coating)

To start, make sure if you plan on doing this you have a few days to go without your wheels. At least one day should be given to preperation and allowing the JB weld to dry, and another good portion of the next day to perperation, and possibly paint. Let the paint cure for 2 or more days before mounting and balancing, and don't use any solvent to clean the wheels for a month. Water and a cloth only.

Ok, so to start, just wash the wheel with soap and water so that it can be handled without getting you dirty! I went through in good light with a sharpie and marked everywhere I needed to sand/file. Start by taking a file and knockin down the deep protruding cuts smooth. Take some heavier sand paper to the nicks or coating-only chips and smooth them out, and also sand over where you used the file. After the whole wheel is done, throw on some gloves and mix up your jb weld. Use some acetone to prep where it is going, and use your aplicator to fill in the scrape. Using your gloved hand, smooth in the JB, leaving some protrusion to be sanded later. Takes 8+ hours to dry... I waited about 15 hours, next day.

Ok, Now that the jb weld is dry, throw on some gloves again and break out the sand paper. Start with about 180 and knock down most of the excess till it is near flush with the wheel. Finish with 320, then 400. You should be able to run your finger along the finished edge and not feel any transition. Remember, this is going to be the wheels new edge. Also, take 180/220 and scuff up the whole wheel's surface to promote paint adhesion. Great, not much left after this.

Go on ahead and spray the wheel down with a hose at this point, to get the dust off. We are now going to tape up the wheels for paint. I'll just use pictures with this one, pretty self explanitory. Just be precise, use a razor if needed, and remember this is going to be the line your wheels are going to follow.

Get a bucket of hot water for your cans of paint. Leave them in there for at least ten minutes, till they are warm. Don't forget to follow directions, and shake the crap out of them before you use em. Pretty important.

So, wipe the can off well with a rag so water doesn't get on the wheel, and lay down two coats of primer on the wheel. Wait about 5 minutes between coats. I start from the bead and work to the middle. After about 8-10mins you can lay down your first coat of wheel paint. Wait same 8-10mins between coats, with 3-4 coats to finish. Let them dry in a clean area free from dust, and if you want to bake/use heat gun, I'd recommend waiting an hour at least of air drying first. So, pictures now....













Words of Warning from the OP:
1. Paint is thick, but don't get fooled into putting it on too light, as I did. It leaves that abrasive thin finish.
2. Watch out for water droplets from the can when removed from hot water.
3. be carefull with the can, and possibly hitting the wheel when shooting at the tight spots. I made that mistake once.

Finished Product on the car:

[Karnag3_0kc]

Niiiice mazda

[jdm free]

u can use bondo instead of jb weld. so that way u can just throw bondo on, sand it down, then respray the area if u have an exact matched paint.

[dsmtalontsi95]

good job, it looks good.

[richcurl03]

thanks for the post

[CleanNeon98]

Originally Posted by jdm free

u can use bondo instead of jb weld. so that way u can just throw bondo on, sand it down, then respray the area if u have an exact matched paint.

As far as Bondo, I think JBweld holds to metal stronger and you want that with wheels. I've seen issues where cars have Bondo on the body, and it just falls off as a big chunk if say an area nearby gets hit, the last thing you need is pieces of your wheel falling off when you go over imperfections in the road.

[JB'sLGT]

Metallic bondo adheres very well to curb rash, since the rash itself is really rough. I've repaired numerous rashed wheels with metallic bondo and never had to go back and reapply because it fell off. I've hit some nasty, rim bending potholes too.

[DPancoast]

nice write up. gives me the hopes to fix my Koseis once i get tires for my other rims

[DysCompLexSick]

Thanks, for great post

[OutToWinPAHC]

Just don't ever powder coat them

[Sgt Tunez]

What's wrong with powder coating them? Don't hurt me! Just a question!

If anyone wants to try this write up on my wheels, let me know! I don't trust myself.

[jpalamar]

I have a spare set of wheels with some rash on them. This was similiar to what I planned on trying. Hopefully it works well.

[JB'sLGT]

Originally Posted by Sgt Tunez

If anyone wants to try this write up on my wheels, let me know! I don't trust myself.

You talking about the chrome wheels on your Charger? The DIY fix won't work for chrome wheels unless you plan on spraying all of the wheels a different color.

[Sgt Tunez]

I'd like to paint the wheels I have now black anyway. I've been told it can be done. I've also been told to powdercoat them but I'm not sure about that.

[09vdubgti]

good job looks good!!!

[OutToWinPAHC]

Originally Posted by Sgt Tunez

What's wrong with powder coating them? Don't hurt me! Just a question!

If anyone wants to try this write up on my wheels, let me know! I don't trust myself.

JB weld in the oven wont work.

[s13silviaguy]

This is exactly why I don't let my gf drive my car... she curbs her factory 07 accord rims daily, haha... Nice write up!! Thank you

[Culti]

So many kids at my school with those scraped up rims. I scraped mine twice on my STi and had them redone and painted black by motion three. Now I drive like feet from the curbs lol.

[stover]

i did this with a set of BBS wheels from my vw, they were all curbed badly (previous owner) so i sanded them, used some jbweld, sanded again and sprayed them all, you couldnt even tell they were touched after the paint was on

[Mojimzer]

nice look to the rims