refurbishing the PZ lightweight alloys - will it add weight and reduce structural rigidity?

[plas87]

As the title says really. My Prodrive PZ alloys could do with a refurb and I know they're not forged or anything (I think some type of aluminium alloy?) but I wouldn;t want the refurbishment process to add more weight than in stock form. Also, will it reduce the structural strength?

I live in NW London. Any recommendations on where I should go to get them refurbed?

[13Black]

I don't quite understand how a refurb would reduce their strength and add more weight... what did you have in mind?

You sometimes have to be careful with powder coating - it seems like some alloys don't like the high heat that some companies use.

[PeteH]

When people say refurb they usually mean repaint. Sometimes a bit of bodyfiller is used to fill in the kerbing marks. Some alloys are "diamond turned" (which reveals silver highlights), and the refurb process will often involve a further skim of those silver bits, although the amount of metal removed is very small. But the PZ alloys are not diamond turned anyway, so this won't happen. The only other thing that could affect the structure of the alloy is if the wheels are buckled or deformed, and the refurb company is asked to straighten* them. I'm not a huge fan of re-bending alloy wheels, because you can't know for certain how aluminium alloys will react, but it's often done, so it's probably fine.

Basically, If the company's decent then it will just get them back to "as new".

* or "rounden" them, I suppose

[v-rex]

I did mine at Diamond alloys in Northolt. Powder coated and they fixed a front wheel which was slightly buckled. That was a few years back and so far so good.

A few flakes of paint are coming off in the odd area and i graunched one of the rears on a kerb. All good apart from that. I will probably get them redone at some point...

[Ainmhidh]

Company near here claims they can fill-weld chips and kerbing on alloys between stripping and repaint/coat so they end up 'good as new'. They also do ceramic coating on the new paint for ongoing resilience.
No idea on cost, but I do intend to take a set of R3 rims to them, at least for a quote, later in the year.

[mi60o0]

Just Google for London I see two garages charge 220 if you bring wheels with out tyres. 260 with tyres diamond cut is over 300.
Im planing to bring my horable orange wheels to make them black

[v-rex]

I paid 280 for all 4 tyres when I did mine. Dropped the car off and collected the next day with alloys looking brand new.

[Paul_13]

http://www.wheelrefurbishing.co.uk/?doi ... 0820312500

I've used this company a number of years ago. Highly recommended

[WildMan10]

No.
As to prices, they vary. In general you get what you pay for.
Amusingly, my nearest is expensive (£350 for 4 18”) and the reception said they wouldn’t do my forged Rays as they were wary of poor quality aftermarket wheels.

[shroom]

Citywheelrefurb in digbeth did all four of mine for £120 that included taking tyres off and fitting new ones for me without tyres it's £80. They get thousands of wheels through a week so stack them high sell it cheap.

A lot of local businesses sub contract to them and charge a lot more.

My wheels were absolutely fubared so corroded etc and they brought them up like new

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Conan]

As the title says really. My Prodrive PZ alloys could do with a refurb and I know they're not forged or anything (I think some type of aluminium alloy?) but I wouldn;t want the refurbishment process to add more weight than in stock form. Also, will it reduce the structural strength?

Hi and to answer your question,
The PZ alloys are spray painted and lacquered as standard ( as are the S1 wheels )
Spray painting is the lightest option and the wheels have not been through a heat cycle associated with powder coating.
All the PZ wheels that I have weighed have been 9 Kls not the 8 Kls stated by the factory.
Powder coating can add a kilo to a wheel of that size and put it through its first heat cycle associated with powder coating, ( you would have to ask a metallurgist about effects )
You should only use a trusted powder coating place as there have been cases of catastrophic shattering of powder coated wheels and I beIeve there were some photos on here some years ago. ( Someone capable of using the search may be able to find them )
You can get more effects with painting than powder coating.

When I powder coat my single seater race car chassis I remove the old by hand and weigh it and the chassis, I ask the company to apply the minimum weight of powder and reweigh after.
Regards
Pete

[SeriousSam]

It's been said before I'm sure, but the only thing that reduces the strength of the wheel is cracking or buckling, at which point the strength can't be put back. A refurb won't make things any worse than they already are, but if the wheel needs welding or straightening then it was already slightly weakened, and the repair process only ensures that it will now seal and balance properly.

If you ever find yourself heading down the M3 then MyAlloys in Basingstoke are good. Last time I asked they quoted £60 a corner for 18" wheels in a basic finish - funky paint jobs or diamond turning cost extra, as do larger wheels. Take the wheels off the car and you save a bit, take the tyres off the wheels and you save a bit more.

There are also mobile companies who will come to you and do the job on the spot. It saves the hassle of delivering the wheels or car to the refurb shop, but you pay a little more for the privilege and they can't repair everything. Light cosmetic scuffs will be fine, but if you want a full strip and repaint then drop them off somewhere with the facilities to either shot blast or acid dip the wheels before getting started.

[Conan]

There you go Sam’s a metallurgist and you should always listen to experts.
My post is accurate to the best of my ability and experience but I wish I hadn’t bothered and won’t post on this thread again.

I suggest you goggle “ powder coating wheel failures “ or similar “
Regards
Pete

[SprintRX8]

For a really good quality refurb I use these guys.
https://www.lepsons.com

I even got the Mercedes Dealer I worked at changed to Lepsons,
After seeing a set of Diamond Cut Triumph Stag wheels they done.
I’ve use others but for a first class job it goes to Lepsons.

[Ainmhidh]

I'm definitely not a metallurgist, but (courtesy of google) it does look like the hardening temps for powder-coating are in the realms of the hardening temps for aluminium and some/many Aluminium alloys, so it may not reduce the 'strength' of the wheels (in fact may make them more 'rigid') but, at the same time could make them more brittle, thus less resilient to impacts?
I'd certainly be relying on an expert opinion before considering a powder-coat. Left to my own decision, I'd be going with a low-temp curing (possibly UV curing?) painted finish. I'm also not a paint/painting expert - in case that wasn't obvious!

[v-rex]

In the first few years I had a few scuffs fixed on the edges with some sort of filler and painted ( through mazda dealers and their affiliated body shops ) and they fell off after a while. Even though I had my worries about heat cycles, I still went down the powder coating route after that and that has worked out well. The wheels have held their appearance for a long time.

I am tempted to do refurb again, but now am worried about putting the wheels through a 2nd heat cycle..... I heard a good place will slowly heat up, not get too hot and then let it cool slowly to minimize any damage to the alloys. But that may be something that I was just told as I looked gullible enough to believe it.

Is it time for a group buy of PZ wheels ? I certainly could do with some nice new shiny center caps.... I have one left from before which I am saving for whichever wheel pops it's one out first and then I'm screwed.

[Ranjan]

Citywheelrefurb in digbeth did all four of mine for £120 that included taking tyres off and fitting new ones for me without tyres it's £80. They get thousands of wheels through a week so stack them high sell it cheap.

A lot of local businesses sub contract to them and charge a lot more.

My wheels were absolutely fubared so corroded etc and they brought them up like new

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I have been using these guys for years from Ferrari wheels to race wheels and they are brilliant and incredibly cheap but as stated they do thousands so can pass on the savings. Highly recommended if are in the West Midlands area.

Ranjan.

[v-rex]

Citywheelrefurb in digbeth did all four of mine for £120 that included taking tyres off and fitting new ones for me without tyres it's £80. They get thousands of wheels through a week so stack them high sell it cheap.

A lot of local businesses sub contract to them and charge a lot more.

My wheels were absolutely fubared so corroded etc and they brought them up like new

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I have been using these guys for years from Ferrari wheels to race wheels and they are brilliant and incredibly cheap but as stated they do thousands so can pass on the savings. Highly recommended if are in the West Midlands area.

Ranjan.

Do you powdercoat or just paint ? If powdercoating, have you ever suffered from a wheel cracking or anything like that ? From lurking on the forums I take it you drive some serious cars, seriously fast and seriously hard. So I take your opinion on this matter seriously....

[ChrisHolmes]

All cast alloy wheels have been through a heat treatment process between the casting and machining stages. To understand more about alloy wheels manufacturing then put the kettle on, open a beer or grab a glass (bottle) of wine and click on the link below;
https://www.engineeringclicks.com/aluminium-car-wheels/

[Ranjan]

Good god, I cannot believe these myths still do the rounds; as already been stated powder coating will not reduce strength only an unrepaired or unseen crack will do that. Most reputable coaters will check the wheels for cracks and advise you. Once a wheel has been damaged, I will not use it again as it is never the same again in terms of rigidity no matter how good the repair.

Bugatti make you change all the wheels every two years damaged or not just as a precaution against undetected cracks.

Ranjan.

[ChrisHolmes]

Erk! Every two years must make a hole in ones wallet!

[v-rex]

Good god, I cannot believe these myths still do the rounds; as already been stated powder coating will not reduce strength only an unrepaired or unseen crack will do that. Most reputable coaters will check the wheels for cracks and advise you. Once a wheel has been damaged, I will not use it again as it is never the same again in terms of rigidity no matter how good the repair.

Bugatti make you change all the wheels every two years damaged or not just as a precaution against undetected cracks.

Ranjan.

I thought I'd be ok so powdercoated mine but the posts on here starting to put the fear in me....

Glad I didn't buy that Bugatti in the end. They look so cheap when you look at the list price but they get you on maintenance and servicing....

[V8 Power]

Veyron wheels are £20k each

[shroom]

Citywheelrefurb in digbeth did all four of mine for £120 that included taking tyres off and fitting new ones for me without tyres it's £80. They get thousands of wheels through a week so stack them high sell it cheap.

A lot of local businesses sub contract to them and charge a lot more.

My wheels were absolutely fubared so corroded etc and they brought them up like new

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I have been using these guys for years from Ferrari wheels to race wheels and they are brilliant and incredibly cheap but as stated they do thousands so can pass on the savings. Highly recommended if are in the West Midlands area.

Ranjan.

Good to hear Ranjan a few people I have said to can't believe the price and think there is a catch but genuinely they are awesome!

I'm over Bridgnorth way so ain't too far to travel over to drop them off.

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[PeteH]

Bugatti make you change all the wheels every two years damaged or not just as a precaution against undetected cracks.

I believe they also make you change all the tyres if you do a top speed run. And they cost £20k a set.