Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual: Aluminum Wheel Refinishing

Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual / Chassis / Wheels/Tires / Tires / Aluminum Wheel Refinishing

Finish Damage Evaluation Procedure

Note:

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:

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

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.

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:

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:

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
For vehicles with this feature, read the entire section before using it. Warning The LDW system is an aid to help the vehicle stay in the driving lane. It does not steer the vehicle. The LDW system may not: . Provide enough time to avoid a crash. . Detect lane markings under bad weather co ...

Indicator/Warning Message Description and Operation
Indicator LIGHT ON Refer to the owner's manual for the descriptions and explanations of all indicator lights. For diagnosis and repair information related to an indicator light, refer to the System Diagnosis and the Description of Operation that the message relates to. ...

Steering Wheel Airbag Coil Replacement
Steering Wheel Airbag Coil Replacement Callout Component Name Preliminary Procedures Remove the steering wheel. Refer to Steering Wheel Replacement. Remove the steering column upper trim cover. Refer to Steering Column ...

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