Topic: aluminum rims on cars

[2wheels]

Up here where road salt is really hard on these car rims they start leaking air, and are a real pain.
The tires are off the rims.  I've started sanding, but what a job.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to clean these rims up?
What kind of paint should I use?   Thanks.

[crazypj]

 When I was in Britain (very salty in winter) I used industrial coatings on the inside of rims.(UK Plant blue )  Its air drying but smells funny (not a two pack or standard paint) something like Catapillar or other heavy machinery paint. Needs quite a while to fully harden  but it stays sealed and the tyres didn't stick to it when they needed changing.
On the outside, its just loads of cleaning and washing off when you would rather be getting a hot bath
PJ

[ProTeal55]

POWDERCOAT

[merc2dogs]

 Implement paint with hardener. available from farm supply stores (tractor supply company up here) very good paint, and real cheap, less then $20 a gallon. I use it for everything that takes abuse, frames axles and rims on 4x4's works like a dream.

Ken.

[keiths]

My 1995 car has aluminum rims and my new tires leaked air despite two different garages cleaning and remounting them. Road salt is a problem here too. I finally bought a can of air with sealer in it. The first can I bought had a screw on adapter. It broke when I tried to screw it on. Then I tried a can with a press on adaptor and it worked great. No more air leaks.
If I had the tires off, I'd paint the insides of the rims are suggested, but if it still leaked I try a can of air. They also sell the sealer called "slime" at Walmart, but the tires have to be empty to pour it in.

[Roach Carver]

"slime" is very thick and although it works great for atv's and farm equipment, I doubt that it would function well at speed. I suspect you would experience a bad vibration.

[keiths]

Thanks for the spelling correction 71cb750. I'm not sure if the stuff in the can is "slime" but I've seen no problems with vibration at speed using the canned stuff. Only time will tell if wear problems occur over time.

[2wheels]

Thanks All
I'll keep with the sanding.  Then paint the same if it's a bike engine.

Brian

[BobbyR]

I would check the car forums. I remember seeing how toos on wheel repair and refinishing. Do a search on Aluminum wheel repair.

[Rocking-M]

I've done a few sets.

Bead blast if you can, then prime with an etching primer. Then shoot with
a wheel paint. Wheel paint is available from most any auto parts store, I get mine
at the local Car Quest. It's in rattle cans to.  (They also have the etching primer).

[tsp37]

I think that the Fix-a-flat chemicals are hard on steel wheels - if true, the same chemicals will be harder on aluminum.  Maybe the slime is different?