Clearcoat gone on Ivan Stewart TRD wheels

[iceman601]

The clearcoat is starting to crack on these wheels, which I've read is a common problem for some. So far two out of four is bad, the rest is starting to crack. I have experimented with the center caps using paint stripper to remove the clear coat and it works. I buffed it back up and sprayed on the Duplicolor wheel clear coat and it came out pretty good.

Now the center spokes are silver in color, is it painted or powder coated? Will it also be fine to use the paint stripper on it?

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/trdwheel2.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/trdwheel1.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/cap.jpg

[Ric]

subscribing: I would also like to know, mine are doing the same thing...

[iceman601]

Had some time today so I did a little test spot on the back of one of the spokes. I can confirm that it is indeed painted silver and not powdercoated :chair:. It now has a nice shinny bare metal spot now and only leaves me with two options; either strip it all and paint the spokes back to silver and clearcoat everything or try to wet sand it all down and then clear it. Another thing is that the shinny screws are not screwed in but pressed in, so when you break them loose you'll have to glue them back :headscratch:

Screw
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/screw.jpg

Test spot
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/spot2.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/yota%20profile/spot1.jpg

[callmej75]

My guess would be to have them powder coated...it would last the life of your 4runner. You would not have to go through what you are doing now. I'll give it a year if you paint it, it will begin to flake off again. If you decide to have them painted, make sure they are sandblasted to leave a good etch on the aluminum for the paint to stick.

I recently got some new stripper in a white plastic container from advance auto parts that works exceptionally well. Brush it on and wait about 15 minutes and it should be all crinkled up. Just 1 thing...and this sounds ridiculous, but it works. When you brush stripper on, brush it with 1 stroke in the same direction. It strips faster that way and don't go back over the same spot twice. Don't ask me how...but it works like that! I learned that from an old body man..

[callmej75]

Tiger Drylac's powder is what I mainly use. Make sure your powder coated pretreats his metals with chemicals known as iron phosphate or maybe an aluminum chromate. or self etching phosphate and clean water rinse that is either deionized....or mainly with no minerals and what not left behind from regular city water. Tiger Drylac offers a super durable powder, but the coater has to be certified and tested to order it. Thats what they powder coat architectural structures with. The only TGIC powder, which most coaters use, that stands up to abuse is the veins. A silver vein is nice, but I have never saw it on rims before. You can also have the coater to maybe lay silver vein in the middle section, and leave the outer edges polished. Clear coat it all and you have a durable finish! Another alternative to soda blasting, would be using aluminum oxide. Its not a heavy adrasive and cleans metal and aluminum well. I use it on intakes and what ever else is aluminum and steel. Its a great versatile media.

I have a sample panel of silver vein that has been sitting outside on the ground for a few months now and it still shows no signs of corrosion....this is after beating it 5-6 times with a ball peen hammer! Thats good stuff...

Like four runner says...take them bolts out and the coater will put silicone plugs in it so no powder gets into it. I don't know about some coaters, but I also do bolts separately as long as they aren't in a high torque situation.

[iceman601]

Yea, it looks powder coating it will be the best option but it won't be anytime soon...kinda short on funds due to upcoming holidays :chair: Now I just have to decide on which color: Silver, Gun Metal, or Black :hillbill: Thanks for all the info

[RunnerUp]

hey guys, is there anyway you can fix your pics so i know what you are speaking about? i just ordered a set of these wheels off ebay and while i am sure they are in better shape than my current wheels, i would like to make them perfect before i get them mounted. thanks!

[iceman601]

:hillbill:...I didn't even know my pics got switched around.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/screw.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/trdwheel2.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/trdwheel1.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/MHT.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/spot2.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/spot1.jpg

[Ric]

from my understanding, toyota got a new new co. to make the new release of them.
BTW, 4 of my 5 are the TRD from yota,and the 5th is also a MHT... :headscratch:

[RunnerUp]

i wonder what mine will be, supposedly they came off an 02 tundra so the are prob TRD (i am assuming that is before the clearcoat issue became widespread) anyways, the should be here by the end of the week!! cant wait to get something to freshen up the look of my runner!! im so pumped

[RunnerUp]

alright, just got the wheels put on and the shop couldnt balance them because the centercaps dont come off... how do i get these wheels balanced???

[iceman601]

The center caps do come off....on older models they are screwed on, simply use 3/8 ratchet with an extension on the back. Newer one can simply be pushed out after you remove the metal ring inside the cap.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f154/babyangel47/ivan%20stewarts/trdwheel1.jpg