Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual: Aluminum Wheel Refinishing
- Finish Damage Evaluation Procedure
-
- 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
-
- 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.
All Seasons Tires Description
Most GM vehicles are equipped with steel belted all-season radial tires as standard
equipment. These tires qualify as snow tires, with a higher than average rating
for snow traction than the n ...
General Description
The factory installed tires are designed to operate satisfactorily with loads
up to and including the full rated load capacity when these tires are inflated to
the recommended pressures.
The fol ...
Other materials:
Rear Brake Backing Plate Replacement
Removal Procedure
Warning: Refer to Brake Dust Warning.
Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal
and Installation.
Remove the rear wheel speed sensor, if equipped ...
Tire Dismounting and Mounting
Caution: Use a tire changing machine in order to dismount tires. Do
not use hand tools or tire irons alone in order to remove the tire from the
wheel. Damage to the tire beads or the wheel rim could result.
Caution: Do not scratch or damage the clear coating on aluminum wheels
wit ...
Wheel Alignment Measurement
Steering and vibration complaints are not always the result of improper alignment.
One possible cause is wheel and tire imbalance. Another possibility is tire lead
due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. Lead/pull is defined as follows: At
a constant highway speed on a typical straight r ...
0.0054