It's my 2000 Mazda MPV, original wheel, aluminum alloy. there are corrosion on the rim that causes slow air leak. In the past, I asked shops to clean and wire-brush the lip, it only cures for a while. Last year, I went to a shop specifically for this, and result is that the tires hold pressure a bit longer, maybe 6 months. I'd like to have a permanent fix on this... tired of pumping air every 2 weeks. What would you suggest me do? rim sealers? Thanks.
cleaning the rim of alloy wheels: need advice
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Find a place that repairs rims and ask.
The rims may need to be polished and clear coated.
Have you checked that the seating diameter of your wheels are in spec? I've seen OE wheels that were too small (below the minimum allowable J contour spec). This can cause leaks and will compound the corrosion issue, especially when you polish it down and remove even more material from the wheel in this critical area.
Are you sure it is only leaking at the rim between the bead, and not because the castings themselves are porous? When I met my wife she had a set of Aluminum wheels installed on her Camaro at the time. They were all porous castings, and wouldn't hold air. She had to put 15 pounds a week in them. She finally got a refund on them against a different set by another manufacturer. They were fine.
Originally Posted by Donald
The rims may need to be polished and clear coated.
Likely you'll have to sand blast the inner lip of the rim. That will expose many pits. You are from salt country ...
Fill the pits with JBWeld and file/sand smooth and to contour. Clear coat the finished repairs and cruise on
The rims may need to be polished and clear coated.
Likely you'll have to sand blast the inner lip of the rim. That will expose many pits. You are from salt country ...
Fill the pits with JBWeld and file/sand smooth and to contour. Clear coat the finished repairs and cruise on
Bead sealer kinda works, but it won't stop corrosion, and can cause leaks all by itself. I can't believe how many shops slobber bead sealer all over new looking wheels with no corrosion, and tires making a huge mess out it, and difficult to clean off. New cars don't come that way. Once they corrode the only way to stop it is strip/refinish or replace. Or what I've done, is simply wire brush the bead seat clean, and brush on epoxy primer on the exposed aluminum. The biggest cause for the corrosion is from the excessively overuse of Salt. I've seen many winter used aluminum wheels, and most corrode out the rear bead seat only since the back side never get washed. It usually starts right where they put the clip on wheel weights 2 dissimilar metals, and the clip making a path.
There isn't time to clean, and protect the bead seat area of the wheel, and nobody would want to pay an extra $150-200 to refinish the bead seats. I usually just clean them well with a wire wheel, fill the with nitrogen, and they stay air tight for a long time, many times for the life of the tire. I never ever use bead sealer on new tires.
There isn't time to clean, and protect the bead seat area of the wheel, and nobody would want to pay an extra $150-200 to refinish the bead seats. I usually just clean them well with a wire wheel, fill the with nitrogen, and they stay air tight for a long time, many times for the life of the tire. I never ever use bead sealer on new tires.
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Originally Posted by Gebo
Rim Sealer. My tire guy is now using it on "all" installs. It really works.
OK, Gebo... what brand? or any bead sealer would work? Thanks
Rim Sealer. My tire guy is now using it on "all" installs. It really works.
OK, Gebo... what brand? or any bead sealer would work? Thanks
Originally Posted by eljefino
I use "Xtra Seal" which is the go-to brand most FLAPSes sell.
thanks. Advance auto has it but not in stores.... ugh.
I use "Xtra Seal" which is the go-to brand most FLAPSes sell.
thanks. Advance auto has it but not in stores.... ugh.
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Be sure there is no corrosion around the valve stem as well.
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