Ball Polished Wheels and discolored clear coat | FerrariChat

Ball Polished Wheels and discolored clear coat

Discussion in '360/430' started by CoreyNJ, Jul 2, 2020.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    On one of my wheels the clear coat is has some white discoloring near the center cap. Is this common? is there a way to fix without stripping and respraying the wheel? For example, does this kind of stuff polish off or once it discolors, the clear coat is done?

    Thanks,
    Cheers,
    Corey
     
  2. AandSC

    AandSC Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 12, 2016
    757
    Jax, FL
    Full Name:
    Allen
  3. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    I guess I'll have to wait till the driving season is over since it will take upwards of two weeks with shipping. I wonder since my rims aren't actually damaged, but only have the clear coat issue if someone can simply polish the clear coat off in those areas and re-clear the entire rim locally so I don't have to put the car on jack stands for two weeks.
     
  4. AandSC

    AandSC Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 12, 2016
    757
    Jax, FL
    Full Name:
    Allen
    Would be interested in knowing the same, but from what I’ve read that doesn’t work.
     
  5. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    5,563
    Central NJ
    Full Name:
    Dominick
    There is a place in Edison that does rim refinishing

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
  6. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    AWESOME... what is the name of it and do they do polished rims or just painted?
     
  7. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    5,563
    Central NJ
    Full Name:
    Dominick
    Crimson wheel repair ..give them a call .. +1 732-632-7750

    Read and heard good things .. not endorsing..and no affiliation ..just figured I pass on the name

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
  8. KC360 FL

    KC360 FL Formula 3

    Jun 20, 2017
    1,677
    Melbourne Florida
    Full Name:
    KGC
    What you see is simply corrosion of the aluminum under the clear coat. Over the years I have tried various clear coats on the custom aluminum moldings I fabricate. Nothing seems to be immune to this. I have even had custom pieces I've fabricated show this (usually at the edges where the clear realistically cannot "seal" the aluminum) as soon as 6 months upon delivery of the parts. Some last for years without problems. Even my powder coat guy of 25 years admits he cannot guarantee his clear powder coat won't show the same problem down the line when applied over aluminum-- for him too it'***** or miss.

    As others have suggested, you'll have to have them stripped and redone.

    I would however address it as soon as you can as the aluminum is actually corroding and you want to get to it before it gets too deep into the wheel. Tho longer it's there it will be hard to minimize the damage to the wheel itself from it's decomposition due the corrosion.

    Also, I see you live in New Jersey. If you drive the car in the winter at all, you may want to have another set of lesser wheels on the car once you have redone yours. Salt and aluminum-- not good. Clear coat or not.
     
  9. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    Ok. So it’s the aluminum not the actual clear that’s an issue.

    Can they be fixed by any wheel repair guy even if they don’t have a ball polishing machine?


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  10. KC360 FL

    KC360 FL Formula 3

    Jun 20, 2017
    1,677
    Melbourne Florida
    Full Name:
    KGC
    Check the thread. There's a few suggestions on who to go to.
    I doubt you want to go to "any wheel repair guy". Just sayin'...
     
  11. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 25, 2005
    8,683
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    John Zornes
    Short answer for ball polished is no. They will need to strip the wheel, clean up the corrosion, ball polish again, and clear coat.
     
    KC360 FL and AandSC like this.
  12. AandSC

    AandSC Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 12, 2016
    757
    Jax, FL
    Full Name:
    Allen
    One crazy thought I had was to buy a second set of ball polished rims so that one refinished set would always be on standby.
     
  13. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    I actually was thinking that, but selling the wheels after they are done.


    Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
    AandSC likes this.
  14. KC360 FL

    KC360 FL Formula 3

    Jun 20, 2017
    1,677
    Melbourne Florida
    Full Name:
    KGC
    ... and keep one set for the winter months and salted roads.
     
  15. AandSC

    AandSC Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 12, 2016
    757
    Jax, FL
    Full Name:
    Allen
    Thankfully no salted roads or winter where I live....
     
  16. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    I did the "sports" car in the winter back in 2000, which ended in a Boxster sliding down my driveway and into a snow bank. Ok, granted I didn't have winter tires on, but I think the Ferrari will join my GT3 hibernating for the winter. I did drive the GT3 one year with winter tires when I first got it, with the rear engine it was pretty amazing in the snow for a two wheel drive car, but an inch of snow and with the RS splitter was like a snow plow. Sold the spare wheels before the next winter.

    I guess that's why I have a Cayenne Diesel for winter (don't know what I'll do when it's time to replace it, love the diesel and they don't make them anymore).
     
    AandSC likes this.
  17. CoreyNJ

    CoreyNJ Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2006
    2,004
    New Jersey Shore
    AandSC likes this.
  18. mwstewart

    mwstewart F1 Rookie

    Feb 5, 2014
    2,625
    England
    Full Name:
    Mark
    The trick is to use etching lacquer. Most places use regular clear to repair and it's next to useless. Nothing will last forever over bare aluminium but the right product makes a difference in terms of several years.
     
  19. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 25, 2005
    8,683
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    John Zornes
    Or spay with an adhesion promoter THEN clear.
     
    mwstewart likes this.

Share This Page