C5 Wheel coating and same rim size question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
C5 Wheel Coating replacement & can you use 18" or 17" all around
Found some used tires and wheels for my 2002 C5 really cheap. The wheels have spots where the coating is coming off. Can I fix this myself and if so is there a lot of effort and cost? Any help would be appreciated. Also anybody running 17" or 18" wheel all around. Really like to rotate the tires and can't with staggered wheels.
Last edited by shaft517; May 21, 2015 at 12:30 PM. Reason: clarification
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 32
From: Woodbridge Virginia
If you are talking about the polished aluminum rims then the coating is clear coat paint. You can remove the paint with paint stripper polish the rims and have them repainted with clear or leave them bare. If you leave them bare you will need to plan on polishing them 2 or 3 times a year depending on how you use your car.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Thanks!
If you are talking about the polished aluminum rims then the coating is clear coat paint. You can remove the paint with paint stripper polish the rims and have them repainted with clear or leave them bare. If you leave them bare you will need to plan on polishing them 2 or 3 times a year depending on how you use your car.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
thanks for the info
Lots of people run all 18 or all 19 but they most have the rear tire a larger overall diameter than the front to avoid problems with Traction Control. General rule of thumb is that the overall diameter of the rear tires needs to be 1/2" to 1 1/2" larger than the overall diameter of the front tires to avoid TC coming on when it should not. A few people get away with running the same size tires front and rear but most do not. The variations in the electronics on some cars allow the same size front and rear tires. Only way to know if your car will work with that is to try it.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 311
Likes: 2
From: glenside pennsylvania pa/ la
In a month or so ill be selling my magnesium c5 wheels for cheap. Just got to wait for my new rims to come in. Pm me if ur interested.
Found some used tires and wheels for my 20a02 C5 really cheap. The wheels have spots where the coating is coming off. Can I fix this myself and if so is there a lot of effort and cost? Any help would be appreciated. Also anybody running 17" or 18" wheel all around. Really like to rotate the tires and can't with staggered wheels.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
I've got a set of original clear coat aluminum thin spokes that I stripped and repolished. I took them to a couple of high end paint shops (including DUB here in Charlotte) and was warned not to have the clear coated again as it would start peeling very quickly. The alternative is to power coat them but they will not shine as bright. I'm keeping 2 sets of wheels and tires now and rotating them out every few months to allow a good polish of the wheels.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Thanks & Question
I've got a set of original clear coat aluminum thin spokes that I stripped and repolished. I took them to a couple of high end paint shops (including DUB here in Charlotte) and was warned not to have the clear coated again as it would start peeling very quickly. The alternative is to power coat them but they will not shine as bright. I'm keeping 2 sets of wheels and tires now and rotating them out every few months to allow a good polish of the wheels.
Thanks again!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
Wash out the barrels real well and scrub to remove remaining brake dust.
I used a stripper I bought at Lowes called JASCO Premium Paint stripper - let the stripper do the job. I used old plastic hotel keys as my putty knife because you can bend them into the curves. Hurrying the stripper and leaving marks on the wheels will just mean more sanding and buffing. If you don't get everything on the first try with the stripper then do a second and even a third coat. When done stripping rinse with mineral spirits to neutralize.
For damaged spots I sanded starting with 200 grit and worked my way to 3000 grit. I followed this by using a buffing wheel on my grinder, drill, dremel tool and anything else that would spin. I used a brown bar buffing compound made for aluminum followed by a white bar known as jewelers rouge.
I have not sealed them with anything yet - the sealant only slows the tarnishing and gives you a little more time between polishing. This set will be going on the car in a few weeks after I get a chance to seal them.
The process is not hard - just time consuming - and I recommend you wear a dust mask unless you really like to inhale aluminum powder.
Here's a picture after stripping but before polishing
I used a stripper I bought at Lowes called JASCO Premium Paint stripper - let the stripper do the job. I used old plastic hotel keys as my putty knife because you can bend them into the curves. Hurrying the stripper and leaving marks on the wheels will just mean more sanding and buffing. If you don't get everything on the first try with the stripper then do a second and even a third coat. When done stripping rinse with mineral spirits to neutralize.
For damaged spots I sanded starting with 200 grit and worked my way to 3000 grit. I followed this by using a buffing wheel on my grinder, drill, dremel tool and anything else that would spin. I used a brown bar buffing compound made for aluminum followed by a white bar known as jewelers rouge.
I have not sealed them with anything yet - the sealant only slows the tarnishing and gives you a little more time between polishing. This set will be going on the car in a few weeks after I get a chance to seal them.
The process is not hard - just time consuming - and I recommend you wear a dust mask unless you really like to inhale aluminum powder.
Here's a picture after stripping but before polishing
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If you are talking about the polished aluminum rims then the coating is clear coat paint. You can remove the paint with paint stripper polish the rims and have them repainted with clear or leave them bare. If you leave them bare you will need to plan on polishing them 2 or 3 times a year depending on how you use your car.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
As for the staggered tire size you have to keep them they way they are designed or you are going to run into problems with the computer getting confused. It will throw codes and mess with your ABS and traction control. At least that is what I have read here. Check the tech section. There a lot of threads on the subject.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I've got a set of original clear coat aluminum thin spokes that I stripped and repolished. I took them to a couple of high end paint shops (including DUB here in Charlotte) and was warned not to have the clear coated again as it would start peeling very quickly. The alternative is to power coat them but they will not shine as bright. I'm keeping 2 sets of wheels and tires now and rotating them out every few months to allow a good polish of the wheels.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
Rotating side to side will change the direction of rotation unless you are taking them off the wheel and turning them to keep same direction of rotation. Need to look at your exact tires and many are good only for one direction.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Awesome and thanks for the info!
Wash out the barrels real well and scrub to remove remaining brake dust.
I used a stripper I bought at Lowes called JASCO Premium Paint stripper - let the stripper do the job. I used old plastic hotel keys as my putty knife because you can bend them into the curves. Hurrying the stripper and leaving marks on the wheels will just mean more sanding and buffing. If you don't get everything on the first try with the stripper then do a second and even a third coat. When done stripping rinse with mineral spirits to neutralize.
For damaged spots I sanded starting with 200 grit and worked my way to 3000 grit. I followed this by using a buffing wheel on my grinder, drill, dremel tool and anything else that would spin. I used a brown bar buffing compound made for aluminum followed by a white bar known as jewelers rouge.
I have not sealed them with anything yet - the sealant only slows the tarnishing and gives you a little more time between polishing. This set will be going on the car in a few weeks after I get a chance to seal them.
The process is not hard - just time consuming - and I recommend you wear a dust mask unless you really like to inhale aluminum powder.
Here's a picture after stripping but before polishing
I used a stripper I bought at Lowes called JASCO Premium Paint stripper - let the stripper do the job. I used old plastic hotel keys as my putty knife because you can bend them into the curves. Hurrying the stripper and leaving marks on the wheels will just mean more sanding and buffing. If you don't get everything on the first try with the stripper then do a second and even a third coat. When done stripping rinse with mineral spirits to neutralize.
For damaged spots I sanded starting with 200 grit and worked my way to 3000 grit. I followed this by using a buffing wheel on my grinder, drill, dremel tool and anything else that would spin. I used a brown bar buffing compound made for aluminum followed by a white bar known as jewelers rouge.
I have not sealed them with anything yet - the sealant only slows the tarnishing and gives you a little more time between polishing. This set will be going on the car in a few weeks after I get a chance to seal them.
The process is not hard - just time consuming - and I recommend you wear a dust mask unless you really like to inhale aluminum powder.
Here's a picture after stripping but before polishing
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
Again, can expect to have aluminum wheels under the clear coat and gray paint on my original 2001 thin spoke wheels??? After the strip and polish I should have a polished aluminum wheel. This is a pic of my wheels, Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 580
From: Cape Coral, FL
Check the side wall of your tires first. If they have an arrow on them and the word rotation under or near the arrow then the tires are directional and can not be rotated. The Hankooks I just purchased are that way.