If this was your wheel......

[skeeboo]

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/7438/wheelex1.jpg (http://img377.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wheelex1.jpg)

....what would you do to fix it?

Just about all the wheels on my subie look like this. The brake pad look rusted. Is that common, or a no-no? I've got spongy breaks (posted about that last week), so I'm thinking new pads will help. And also just look better.

How do you fix chipping on the rims? It's from snow salt in the road. Are they any chains that do it for a reasonable price? Any DIY kits available? Should they just be replaced altogether?

Rotors look ok, but I'm not an expert.

The tire has about 50% tread on it, but I'd like to replace it for better traction and a quieter ride. Currently looking at the Michelin Simmetry (http://www.michelinman.com/overview/symmetry/83.html) and the Michelin HydroEdge (http://www.michelinman.com/overview/hydroedge/1920.html) lines. Are the X Radial's no longer being made? I can't find them around here.

Anyway, I'm open to any suggestions and advice. Thanks guys.

[d1giPhux]

I think i posted this on another one of your threads.. but get this stuff called 'aircraft aluminum stripper.. it either comes in a can or paste'. If its the clear coat that is chipping.. that will help destroy the clear coat and take it completely off.. then you can just wipe it away. Then you can either sand down any rust, or polish it and re-clear the rims. Check out these sites.. its basically what you want / need to do :

http://zhome.com/Classic/HowTo/RefnAlWh.htm

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ ... shing.html (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Cockpit/6144/DSM_Home/Wheel_Finishing/wheel_finishing.html)

[rougeben83]

Yup, strip and repaint them. You can do it yourself for relatively cheaply, or pay someone to do it for you (IIRC, it's usually $80-100+ per wheel depending on who you ask).

The new michelin hydroedge tires are getting pretty good reviews. I think they're a good choice for a daily driven all-season vehicle. If you got dedicated snow tires on another set of wheels though, I'd go with something more summer oriented.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I hate my hydroedge tires...they handle like ass, and are awful in snow comapred to my Xice tires.

BTW- those aren't your pads that are rusted (pads don't rust as they're not made of metal) those are your calipers ;)

You can paint them yourself for fairly cheap. That's what I'm planning on doing as mine look kinda rough around the edges as well.

[Superu264]

mine look horrible also, not quite like yours but my drums look like garbage

[scottzg]

your calipers and rotors are cast iron- its normal for them to rust. The heat and wet from snow and whatnot accelerates it. I'd just ignore it if i could; a little painted-over rust will surely spread under the paint. Having a set of shitty tires that im trying to burn up is a recipe for a enjoyable week in my book. A properly used set of tires should last about 2 tanks of gas. :grin:

The wheels themselves would look much better with a cleaning. I'm a big fan of simple green automotive. I don't think anyone gives stock 10 year old alloys a second glance anyway, so you might as well just maintain them at '10 foot pretty' Just don't strip the clearcoat off your wheels and then leave them uncoated.

[Wiscon_Mark]

A set of tires per 2 tanks of gas....

No thanks, gas is expnensive enough.

[Huffer]

What I would do:

Ditch them for some cheap WRX rims and tires, and then pay a sand blaster to blast the old set of wheels and then rattle-can them a nice color to be used as winter wheels.

[Wiscon_Mark]

What I would do:

Ditch them for some cheap WRX rims and tires, and then pay a sand blaster to blast the old set of wheels and then rattle-can them a nice color to be used as winter wheels.

Right on!

[Sarra]

The caliper looks like it's rusted. So does the calipers on my 98 L GT.

If I were you, I'd upgrade to WRX wheels, or even L GT wheels, and then get WRX front brakes and Outback H6 rear brakes. Paint the calipers, they'll never rust, or at least you'll be able to see if they are about to.

The first thing I did after I got my L GT was get rid of the crappy wheels and get a set of WRX stockers.

[ooberdoob]

The caliper looks like it's rusted. So does the calipers on my 98 L GT.

If I were you, I'd upgrade to WRX wheels, or even L GT wheels, and then get WRX front brakes and Outback H6 rear brakes. Paint the calipers, they'll never rust, or at least you'll be able to see if they are about to.

The first thing I did after I got my L GT was get rid of the crappy wheels and get a set of WRX stockers.

i've got a set of WRX wheels for him, they are all like brand new. 225 for 5.

and yes, pads are made of metal. a blend of many other things, but they are a good % metal.

[MXS]

I repainted a set that looked worse than that. Same thing, it was just a machined surface with clearcoat, no paint under it. I didn't strip them completely -- just sanded a lot -- but it only cost me 10 bucks.

before/after:


http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/858/C0981FE2DD3A4ED992E6599DC012EC76.jpg

http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/858/05A631C2C9B24C61BCF682309D6F60C9.jpg
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/858/C472B9D492D34E60BDF5293C5115DDFE.jpg
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/858/8221D94C56774070B67C00D8D93F51F1.jpg
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/858/2C4B2304B7244816AD40D2F44BC69A47.jpg

so that's what I would do. :smile: that's Duplicolor wheel paint, by the way.

[Wiscon_Mark]

What kind of duplicolor paint? Paint # maybe? That's the color I want for my rims.

[MXS]

What kind of duplicolor paint?

"silver" :grin:

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/wheel.html