Chrome Wheel Woes
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Chrome Wheel Woes
Purchased a set of C6 5 spoke Chromed wheels in a C5 Z06 size for my 04 from OE Wheels.
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...heels-Chrome_4
Little more than a year later and the barrels are starting to pit. One wheel is so bad that it looks horrible. I'd have to check my invoice but I do believe i'm over the Warranty , but then I checked their web site and found this : "We warranty all new rims against any manufacturer's defects for one full year. There is a lifetime warrantee on the structure and one year on the face finish providing the wheel has been properly maintained. Notice the print in bold ? "One year on the face finish" Nothing is mentioned about the barrels.
So, I can't return them even if i was within the time frame of the warranty.
My question is, besides having them repaired and clear powder coated, is there a paint I can use that will hold up?
I was thinking of wire wheeling the barrels, cleaning them,taping them off and shooting them with either an Argent Gray or Argent Silver paint and then clear coat. Has anyone had any experience with the wheel paints that are on the market?
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...heels-Chrome_4
Little more than a year later and the barrels are starting to pit. One wheel is so bad that it looks horrible. I'd have to check my invoice but I do believe i'm over the Warranty , but then I checked their web site and found this : "We warranty all new rims against any manufacturer's defects for one full year. There is a lifetime warrantee on the structure and one year on the face finish providing the wheel has been properly maintained. Notice the print in bold ? "One year on the face finish" Nothing is mentioned about the barrels.
So, I can't return them even if i was within the time frame of the warranty.
My question is, besides having them repaired and clear powder coated, is there a paint I can use that will hold up?
I was thinking of wire wheeling the barrels, cleaning them,taping them off and shooting them with either an Argent Gray or Argent Silver paint and then clear coat. Has anyone had any experience with the wheel paints that are on the market?
Last edited by SG Lou; May 24, 2012 at 02:15 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,131
Likes: 4,154
From: Kannapolis NC
Purchased a set of C6 5 spoke Chromed wheels in a C5 Z06 size for my 04 from OE Wheels.
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...heels-Chrome_4
Little more than a year later and the barrels are starting to pit. One wheel is so bad that it looks horrible. I'd have to check my invoice but I do believe i'm over the Warranty , but then I checked their web site and found this : "We warranty all new rims against any manufacturer's defects for one full year. There is a lifetime warrantee on the structure and one year on the face finish providing the wheel has been properly maintained. Notice the print in bold ? "One year on the face finish" Nothing is mentioned about the barrels.
So, I can't return them even if i was within the time frame of the warranty.
My question is, besides having them repaired and clear powder coated, is there a paint I can use that will hold up?
I was thinking of wire wheeling the barrels, cleaning them,taping them off and shooting them with either an Argent Gray or Argent Silver paint and then clear coat. Has anyone had any experience with the wheel paints that are on the market?
http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...heels-Chrome_4
Little more than a year later and the barrels are starting to pit. One wheel is so bad that it looks horrible. I'd have to check my invoice but I do believe i'm over the Warranty , but then I checked their web site and found this : "We warranty all new rims against any manufacturer's defects for one full year. There is a lifetime warrantee on the structure and one year on the face finish providing the wheel has been properly maintained. Notice the print in bold ? "One year on the face finish" Nothing is mentioned about the barrels.
So, I can't return them even if i was within the time frame of the warranty.
My question is, besides having them repaired and clear powder coated, is there a paint I can use that will hold up?
I was thinking of wire wheeling the barrels, cleaning them,taping them off and shooting them with either an Argent Gray or Argent Silver paint and then clear coat. Has anyone had any experience with the wheel paints that are on the market?
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
They don't warranty the barrels.
Your paint plan sounds good. I've never tried it, but Duplicolor has some good rattle can wheel products.
Your paint plan sounds good. I've never tried it, but Duplicolor has some good rattle can wheel products.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,401
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From: Summerville South Carolina
I responded the other day
to a fellow with chrome wheels that I preferred the polished ones due to peel and rust problems with chrome. I would definitely call the vendor . Most reputable companies will go above and beyond to satisfy customers. This should not happen so quickly with a quality chrome application. Damn the Chinese quality issues.
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Worth a shot with the manufacturer of the wheels - heck, you've got nothing to lose at this point. If they decline, then your paint idea should work fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
If your adamant on chrome you can get them powder coated in a chrome finish. Depending on your size you will be looking at anywhere from $80 to $120 a wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
I have yet to see any repop chrome wheels that don't have issues. I would be hesitant to put more money in wheels that are having issues. There are too many other better alternative choices IMHO.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 578
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From: Boiling Springs Pennsylvania
Oldtimer
I was told by a vendor on this site that all of their aftermarket wheels (and they had many; and some were really sharp) including the "newer" Vette wheels to fit the C5 were all made in China. I've been playing with cars for a very long time and the "cheaper" wheels have always been imported. Back in the day the cheap wheels were 40-60 bucks apiece and today, they are 150-200 bucks apiece. The chrome ones have always been a disappointment unless you clean and polish them weekly (and that's clean the inside of the wheel and the chrome outside of the wheel). I learned the hard way like everyone else and it's aggravating.
I think your plan to paint the inside of your wheels is terrific; I spoke to American Racing Wheels years ago about rust and their center caps falling off on the road after 6 months of use...I can still hear the laughter and then the silence for what good it did to call them.
I think your plan to paint the inside of your wheels is terrific; I spoke to American Racing Wheels years ago about rust and their center caps falling off on the road after 6 months of use...I can still hear the laughter and then the silence for what good it did to call them.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,108
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
I had a set from WCC that were perfect after 7 years,I sold them when I bought a set of black C6ZO6 wheels from Jonathan at jwmotoring,his wheels are top knotch also.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
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Powder coat
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Check with the manufacturer, but you are probably on your own.
I would suggest looking at painting the barrels. Should not be difficult, and you may find a contrasting color really works for your car. Otherwise, just live with it.
I would suggest looking at painting the barrels. Should not be difficult, and you may find a contrasting color really works for your car. Otherwise, just live with it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
best of luck trying to sand off the chrome on the barrels. If they were nickel plated before the chrome, which is the normal process, you will not be able to remove the nickel. That is the sad thing about chrome plated wheels...the chrome layer is extremely thin...just a few microns, but the deeper layers are nickel...normally 3 layers, and extremely hard....just google triple chrome plating and see the multi step process. Not all suppliers adhere to the correct process, and that is what you get from China...absolute crap. When new, they look "ok"...but after one winter in your NJ environment they pit, peel, dull, etc. Buckwheat's set from WCC held up because WCC knows where to get them done right....and all the good platers are now in Californica....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Thanks for the comments Guys. I do believe I'm going to take the Paint Road on this issue. I'll try and give OE Wheels a call during the week and see what they have to say but as stated in another post I'm probably on my own. What pisses me off is I clean and polish the wheels on a regular basis both on the inside and out and the car never saw the road during the winter so I really can't contribute this to salt corrosion.
$$$frumnuttin' I don't have any plans on trying to remove the chrome as it's nearly impossible. What I do plan on doing is use a 120 grit flapper wheel to smooth out the pitted portions of the barrel. Then clean'em, wipe them down with a wax-grease remover and paint / clear coat.
I hoping this will curtail any more pitting.
If it continues I'll go with a set of OEM Polished C6 5 spoke wheels, which also means I'll have to get another set of tires
$$$frumnuttin' I don't have any plans on trying to remove the chrome as it's nearly impossible. What I do plan on doing is use a 120 grit flapper wheel to smooth out the pitted portions of the barrel. Then clean'em, wipe them down with a wax-grease remover and paint / clear coat.
I hoping this will curtail any more pitting.
If it continues I'll go with a set of OEM Polished C6 5 spoke wheels, which also means I'll have to get another set of tires
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I've had several things on my car powder coated "chrome" and they look more like a low luster polished aluminum. When I had the parts done, the man that does my powder coating made it very clear that they wouldn't shine like real chrome.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Sanding chrome off........good luck with that. The best advice "IF" you really want those wheels would be to send them to a chrome plating shop and let them remove the chrome plating "THE RIGHT WAY" and then have them RECHROME the wheels. There are a few shops in California that I've used for chroming wheels on Show bikes that do absolutely the most incredible chrome plating.
RECHROMING IS EXPENSIVE, It's cheaper to buy a new set, use them a couple of years then toss them out and buy a new set again.
RECHROMING IS EXPENSIVE, It's cheaper to buy a new set, use them a couple of years then toss them out and buy a new set again.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Sanding chrome off........good luck with that. The best advice "IF" you really want those wheels would be to send them to a chrome plating shop and let them remove the chrome plating "THE RIGHT WAY" and then have them RECHROME the wheels. There are a few shops in California that I've used for chroming wheels on Show bikes that do absolutely the most incredible chrome plating.
RECHROMING IS EXPENSIVE, It's cheaper to buy a new set, use them a couple of years then toss them out and buy a new set again.
RECHROMING IS EXPENSIVE, It's cheaper to buy a new set, use them a couple of years then toss them out and buy a new set again.
like I stated above...best of luck trying to get paint to adhere to chrome....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,664
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From: Newark DE
There is a paint called Steel it. It has stainless steel in it and is extremely good at covering rust and standing up to adverse elements. Its used in the pharmaceautical industry. Ive seen it used to spray a old rusty chain link fence and looked good years later. Im not sure where to buy it but its used all over the world and comes in arosol cans.