How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

I had a dip$^&t at goodyear swap rims for me when I went to my current blacks. this was 2 years ago. he told me he took off the weights as a favor from the outside of rim. I am about to swap em back and noticed the scratches on the rim he did. spoke to the store and they wont do anything as so long ago.
any one have this happen? yes I could polish the rim but it would look different from the rest of the lip. or I could have weights put back in place which would do the trick I think but it would mess up the look. keep in mind these rims WERE 20K mile perfect! I want them to look right. any thoughts to how to get the scratches off (not very deep but thu the clear!) and yet keep the "hazed" look of the clear? see pics attached.

thoughts?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...ictureid=40937
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...ictureid=40936

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

The wheels have a factory applied clear coat. You need to treat those scratches like you would scratches in your paint on the body. If you can catch a fingernail, it to big to be polished out. In the case of too big you might be able to touch up with clear, and do a little wet sanding & polishing to get them out. Might be tough to keep an even finish and might end up needing to do the lips on all four wheels to match the clarity of the "repaired" wheel.

That is what I would try. Probably no easy fix... but if I run across one, I'll post it :)

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

thanks. I will do the finger nail test when I get home. I was thinking rubbing compound. all four have scratches so all 4 will need done

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

If you don't mind removing the clear coat from the the wheels,just sand down the entire wheel and those scars will disappear. I did a set for my TA,I haven't polished them yet(don't know if I want to)they look like brushed aluminum,nice and clean.When I had them mounted,I had the shop put the weights on the opposite side.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...&dl=1367970619
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...&dl=1367971161

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

what did you use to sand? paper? grit level?
That's exactly the look I want! did you spin them on the car to allow a even rub?
would like a little more shine but not much more....lind of like the inside of the wheel where the tire covers...

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

It really isn't his fault for just removing the weights. unless he removed them wrong. but yeah the way the guys told you to take care of them will take care of them.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

the thing is.. I asked for the old tires to be removed from the wheels.. not the weights...
he was being nice.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

Almost always when hammer on weights are installed they will leave some kind of scratch. Working for a tire place, I rarely ever remove a hammer on weight that has been on there for a period of time and the wheel to be in perfect condition underneath it. I would say after you get it fixed, just ask them to hammer a weight on the back and then tape weight the inside of the wheel instead of hammering a weight on the front.

Also, a lot of shops remove the front wheel weight anyway, because when removing the tire that wheel weight can scratch the duckhead.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

great to know...really good info so I am not as mad at the guy:)

I worry about them taking off the tires I have on my powder coated rims since the entire wheel is powder coated including the lip... think they can do it?

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

I started with a medium 100 course to a 150 fine,to a 220 very fine.I did them buy hand,I didn't spin them on the car(sounds like a good idea though)but I did try to keep sanding in one direction except where the weight scars were, I moved in both directions.It takes awhile to do them but once the clear coat starts to come off it gets easier.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...&dl=1367970619
These are the wheels that I did,they came off of a Red 87 TA.(got them for free)You can see the weight scars on them along with corrosion at the weighs.I did one just to see how they would cleanup before I jumped into a project.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

well it paid off for your car.. it really looks great!

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

I was reading dome sites on how to refinish and found this video:
he is recommending starting at 220 then 400,800 then 1200 if you want mirror finish.im thinking I may want 400 or 800 to keep the "machine look" marks and yet make it a bit shinier sure my wife with love the hours away from me...lol

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

i wouldnt suggest starting with such an agressive grit, but mantaguy has the approach id take. id start with 220, seeing that aluminum is soft and your scratches dont look deep. id also use a paint stripper to remove the clear, 220 will remove scratches in bare aluminum easily, but the clear coat is much harder than bare aluminum. from there i'd go 320/400/400wet....possibly 600wet if ididnt like the finish of 400.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

im looking at days I am guessing

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

if you sand well, 600 will get you a noticable reflection. you probably dont need to sand that high. even a polished wheel only needs to be sanded to 600(well) before using polishing compounds. the sanding to high grit method is a waste of time when polishing a wheel.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

The duckhead can also drag the weight around the wheel which can cause gauges until the tech notices it.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

Very true

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

You seriously went back to the tire shop seeking restitution after 2 years has already gone by?!?! Attachment 348462 Attachment 348463

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

I called them
getting the car out of storage today
can I only take the off the clear on that part of the lip...and leave the ready of the clear on?

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

Sure you can, but it'll look like you took part of the clear coat off and left the rest on.

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

:yup: When you start taking of the clear coat,your going to see that the C Coat is kinda yellowish.:eek:

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

car is home. gonna jack it up put a wheel on and spin as I work it. still haven't done the fingernail test. that will show me what approach I need to take. hope I just need to use some polish or rubbing compound on the clear!

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

or if its in the clear I will just polish with high grade sandpaper

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

ok. there was some deeper past the clear but I used some rubbing compound to get rid of any coloration in the groves and touched a bit with 400 grit to get it smoothed out. not perfect but you would have to be pretty picky to notice it. I'm gonna leave them as is now. thanks for all the advice I appreciate it!

I am gonna plastidip the centers today and get the wheels swapped hopefully tomorrow! I will post picsp

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

it was slow going and I got two of the centers plastidipped. gonna do the other two tonight then doing the glossifier to make them shinny. I will post pics when done!

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

I got the wheels done.. see below.
I did not remove the scratches but made them less noticeable see the rim in the upper left? that's it now.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/pict...ictureid=41152

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

Look Good,:thumbsup:

Re: How to remove weight scratches from GTA wheels
 

thanks! I will post when they are on car this weekend