DIY cast wheel repair

In detail: DIY repair of cast disks from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Alloy wheels are very popular among motorists. But along with the advantages of casting, they have one significant drawback. Heavy impacts damage the discs, creating a hazard on the road. Repairing alloy wheels can eliminate some faults and extend their life.

We have already written about the differences between stamped and alloy wheels, as well as painting alloy wheels with your own hands. This article will be a good addition to the previous ones.

All light alloy wheels are divided into two main groups.

  1. Alloy wheels - these are light-alloy wheels that are hot-cast, when molten metal is poured into casting molds. Therefore, alloy wheels are quite fragile and do not have the required elasticity. During impacts and collisions, impressive cracks and chips are formed on them, the geometry is broken and beating appears.
  2. Forged wheels done differently. The light alloy billet is heated and stamped. As a result of metal drawing, the structure of the product is fibrous, which significantly increases the strength and reliability of the forged disc. Such wheels are less likely to crack and deform.

Car enthusiasts should be aware that it is not safe to use “problem” alloy wheels. Most faults are now being repaired successfully. Depending on the nature of the damage to the light-alloy wheel, an appropriate repair technology is selected.

The main types of damage to alloy wheels are:

  • cracks,
  • radial displacement,
  • axial displacement,
  • chips,
  • violation of paintwork.
Video (click to play).

In what traffic situations do these problems appear?

  1. Cracks on the casting surface are most often caused by a strong impact when hitting a deep hole or pothole in the road. Discs suffer especially badly when using low-profile rubber.
  2. Radial runout (displacement) is formed when the wheel hits a high curb, as well as when it hits a pit. In this case, a dent appears on the disc. This trouble most often happens with "casting".
  3. With axial runout, a "figure eight" appears, which is the result of a side impact of the alloy disk on the curb. Similar damage occurs in the event of a side collision with another vehicle.
  4. Chips and damage to the protective coating will not immediately destroy the alloy wheel. The effect of aggressive salt will manifest itself in a couple of years, but then it will be too late to repair the disc.

Before contacting a specialized workshop that repairs alloy wheels, a motorist needs to know what problems for casting become fatal. Not all car service workers will honestly and directly refuse to work in case of serious breakdowns. Some will take advantage of the owner's naivety to profit. Therefore, in the absence of a reliable wizard, you should independently assess the condition of the disk.

Even the most experienced craftsmen, equipped with the latest equipment and devices, will not undertake the repair of the following damage:

  • wide and long cracks,
  • cracks in the hub area,
  • severe violation of geometric parameters,
  • large chips.

To solve problems associated with the repair of alloy wheels, the help of qualified specialists is required. You can only fix the protective coating with your own hands. Often, high-quality casting repair requires expensive equipment and tools, as well as the knowledge and skills of personnel.

Thanks to modern restoration technologies, many damage to alloy wheels can be successfully repaired.The professionalism of service station workers and the availability of high-tech equipment will become important components of the complete restoration of the casting performance.

Hello dear readers and blog visitors Avtoguid.ru Today in the article you can find out how to repair alloy wheels with your own hands without using the services of automotive repair centers.

Image - DIY cast wheel repair

If you wish and have free time, all work on the restoration of alloy wheels can be done on your own without outside help. Casting repair is a great opportunity to return them to their original appearance and save money on specialist services.

It must be remembered that it is not the gods who burn the pots and some work on the repair of the car or its individual units can be done independently. The main thing is to be patient and not rush. Alloy wheels are popular with most of the drivers.

Unlike stamped discs, they are reliable, durable and practical. The use of molding makes it possible to increase the attractiveness of the car's appearance.

Image - DIY cast wheel repair

Initially, without exception, all the wheels of the cars were equipped with stamped disks, the reliability of which raised doubts. They had a low level of quality and could not be used for a significant period of time.

Die-cast car wheels were replaced by alloy wheels, which caused an unprecedented excitement among drivers. Die-cast cars sold out like hotcakes in a hungry year. This is especially true of used, well-worn machines. Even the cost of cars with alloy wheels was higher than similar cars with stamping.

The modern cast wheel is produced using the hot casting method. Metal raw materials are melted at high temperatures to a liquid state and poured into special molds. Undoubtedly, their reliability is higher than that of stamped metal discs, but there are peculiarities of use and operation.

Due to the production technology, alloy wheels have one weak side. With sufficiently strong impacts and collisions, their surface is deformed and its integrity is violated. Damage leads to a violation of the geometry of the disc and the appearance of a characteristic runout, giving off to the steering wheel when the car is moving.

Modern machines are equipped with an improved version of forged wheel casting, the production technology of which has undergone improvements. This was done specifically to improve the reliability and durability of the material. When creating a forged disc, the prepared light-alloy material is slightly heated to increase the plasticity of the base and is stamped.

The structure of the material becomes fibrous, which contributes to a significant increase in its strength and reliability. Forged wheels are resistant to various kinds of damage and can be used for a considerable period of time.

Every motorist should remember that the use of a deformed alloy wheel reduces the safety of driving a vehicle several times. It can be the weak link and thus provoke an accident. Periodically, it is necessary to inspect the surface of the alloy wheels, and if damage is found, take immediate measures to eliminate them.

  • damage to paintwork;
  • chips and scratches;
  • axial displacement;
  • cracks;
  • radial displacement;
  • violation of the integrity of the disk.

Image - DIY cast wheel repair

Repair of alloy wheels must be carried out depending on the season. If they are installed on summer tires, then the restoration is carried out in winter. When winter rubber molding is used, the repair time for alloy wheels comes in the summer. In principle, everything is clear and understandable.

It must be remembered that all damage to alloy wheels associated with a violation of their geometry or significant deformations can only be performed using special equipment.It is simply impossible to do without the help of competent and qualified specialists.

Other types of damage: chips, scratches and just a violation of the integrity of the surface of the disc can be done independently without assistance. In this case, the use of special equipment and expensive materials is not required.

1. Alloy wheels are freed from rubber and carefully inspected for damage. To simplify the search for defects, the outer and inner sides of the disc must be cleaned of dirt.

2. If cracks are found on the surface of the cast disc, further repair work becomes impossible. Argon welding is used to eliminate cracks. If the disc is with an aluminum or magnesium alloy, special electrodes are used to repair cracks. After eliminating the cracks, you can proceed to the next stage.

3. The place of welding and repair of cracks must be sanded to eliminate the weld.

4. The geometry of the alloy wheel is checked using special equipment. You need to seek help from specialists who will perform diagnostics quickly and for a small amount of money. If it is not violated, the task is noticeably simplified and you can proceed to the next stage.

5. Using emery paper or a grinder, it is necessary to remove all irregularities and roughness on the surface of the disc in places of damage.

6.Epoxy two-component paste, matched to the color of the wheel, is applied evenly over the entire prepared surface of the cast wheel (can be purchased at almost any store selling auto chemistry). It is best to use a special automotive spatula to apply it.

7. A hair dryer can be used to speed up the drying of the epoxy layer.

8. The surface of the cast wheel, treated with epoxy paste, should be sanded using fine sanding paper.