Repairing Aluminum Wheel Dings

Dings or dents in wheels cause the mirror-like finish to look uneven and brings attention to the dings. Dings in aluminum wheels are common since aluminum is a soft metal and susceptible to damage. Dings in the surface of aluminum wheels don’t case structural harm even though they don’t look good. You can repair aluminum wheel dings yourself within an hour using inexpensive materials from an auto parts store.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper, 220-grit
• Body filler
• Wax and grease remover
• Microfiber towel
• Masking tape
• Primer
• Sandpaper, 400-grit
• Sandpaper, 800-grit
• Water
• Wheel paint

Instructions

1. Sand the ding with 220-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface and prepare it for the filler.

2. Apply body filler to the ding so the filler stands up like a mound instead of a ding. Let the filler dry for 30 minutes. Sand the filler with 220-grit sandpaper to make it smooth and level with the surrounding wheel surface.

3. Wipe the wheel down with wax and grease remover and a microfiber towel to remove any grease from fingerprints or other contaminants, which can cause imperfections in the paint. Place masking tape around the edge of the wheel to protect the tires.

4. Spray two coats of primer over the filler, letting each coat dry for 10 minutes. Sand the dried primer with 400- then 800-grit sandpaper and water, keeping the sandpaper wet while sanding. Sand until the primer is completely smooth. Rinse the wheel and let it dry.

5. Spray wheel paint on the primer. Use a total of three to five thin coats of paint, letting each coat dry for 10 minutes. Hold the can 8 to 10 inches from the surface. Let the final coat dry for three hours before handling the wheel.

Tips & Warnings

• Always spray paint in an open or well-ventilated area.