Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual: Aluminum Wheel Refinishing
- Finish Damage Evaluation Procedure
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- If the wheels are chrome-plated, do not re-plate or refinish the wheels.
- If the wheels are polished aluminum, do not refinish the wheels in the dealer environment. Utilize a refinisher that meets manufacturer guidelines.
- Inspect the wheels for damage from uncoated wheel balance weights or from automatic car wash facilities.
- Inspect the wheels for the following conditions:
Note:
- Corrosion
- Scrapes
- Gouges
- Verify the damage is not deeper than what sanding can remove.
- Inspect the wheels for cracks. If a wheel has cracks, discard the wheel.
- Inspect the wheels for bent rim flanges. If a rim flange is bent, discard the wheel.
- Refinishing Procedure
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- Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
- Remove the balance weights from the wheel.
- Remove the tire from the wheel. Refer to Tire Dismounting and Mounting.
- Use a suitable cleaner in order to remove the following contaminants from the wheel:
Warning:
To avoid serious personal injury when applying any two part component paint system, follow the specific precautions provided by the paint manufacturer. Failure to follow these precautions may cause lung irritation and allergic respiratory reaction.
- Lubricants
- Wax
- Dirt
Note:
- Do not re-machine the wheel.
- Do not use chemicals in order to strip the paint from the wheel.
- Use plastic media blasting in order to remove the paint from the wheel.
- If the wheel had a machined aluminum finish, spin the wheel and use sand paper in order to restore the circular machined appearance.
Note:
The wheel mounting surface and the wheel nut contact surface must remain free of paint.
- Mask the wheel mounting surface and the wheel nut contact surface.
- Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for painting the wheel.
- Unmask the wheel.
- Install a new valve stem.
Note:
Use new coated balance weights in order to balance the wheel.
- Install the tire to the wheel. Refer to Tire Dismounting and Mounting.
- Use a suitable cleaner in order to remove the following contaminants from the wheel mounting surface:
- Corrosion
- Overspray
- Dirt
- Install the tire and wheel assembly to the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Aluminum Wheel Porosity Repair
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
Remove the tire and wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Inflate the tire to the manufacturer ...
Camber Description
Camber is the tilting of the wheels from the vertical when viewed from the front
of the vehicle. When the wheels tilt outward at the top, the camber is positive (+).
When the wheel tilts ...
Other materials:
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash
Warning
A crash can damage the airbag systems in the vehicle. A damaged airbag system
may not work properly and may not protect you and your passenger(s) in a crash,
resulting in serious injury or even death. To help make sure the airbag systems
are working properly after a crash, have them i ...
Key with Integrated Transmitter Programming
Keys can be programming in various ways using the procedures outlined below.
Using the Replacing Keys procedures will first erase all the known keys from the
vehicle. Any existing keys and any new keys will then be programmed. This procedure
should be used any time a key is required to be unle ...
Hydraulic Brake System Description and Operation
System Component Description
The hydraulic brake system consists of the following:
Hydraulic Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
Contains a supply of brake fluid for the hydraulic brake system.
Hydraulic Brake Master Cylinder
Converts mechanical input force into hydr ...
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