How Professionals Repair Curb Rash, And Why It’s So Expensive
Sticker shock and wheel repair quotes go hand-in-hand. It’s no wonder, because wheel repairs can cost as much as $150 per wheel. That’s the same price as some brand new wheels.
But the more you think about it, the more it makes sense why wheel repair professionals charge so much money. We’ll explain why in this article.
But Repairing A Wheel Is So Easy!
Repairing a wheel seems like an easy and straightforward process. DIY curb rash repairs can lead to good results. But there’s no substitute for professional repair. You’re not only paying for the professional’s time. You’re also paying for their years – or even decades – of training and experience.
There’s an art and science to wheel repair. You can learn the science in an hour. But it’ll take a lifetime to learn the art. A good repair person can make a heavily damaged wheel look new. That’s because they’ve repaired hundreds or thousands of wheels. Practice makes perfect.
So if you ask us, the rates professionals charge are worth every penny.
Professionals use one of the following two methods:
- Refinishing the wheel
- The body shop method
Let’s talk about each method.
The Refinishing Process
Refinishing the wheel is an ideal solution when there’s minor damage. Here’s a general overview of the process:
- Clean the damaged area.
- Cover the tire and the valve stem (if near the damaged area).
- Sand out the scratches and jagged edges with coarse sandpaper.
- Cover the scratched area(s) with Bondo putty.
- Gently sand the putty until smooth.
- Scuff about six inches around the damaged area with a scuff pad until completely smooth.
- Spray three or four coats of primer on the wheel.
- Spray a couple of coats of paint on the wheel. Sand between coats. Let dry.
- Spray two light coats of clear coat over the paint.
While this project is something you could do at home, it rarely ends up looking good. It takes some practice for good results. The putty may not come out as smooth as you wanted, for example. The paint job may not look good, either. A professional will make your wheels look perfect.
The Body Shop Method
Some professionals use a body shop type method. This method involves media blasting the wheel to remove the paint before applying epoxy putty, primer and paint to the wheel. This method brings great results. It’s a great way to remove all the paint and rust from the wheels. You would need a bunch of tools, including:
- Air compressor
- Air hose
- Sandblasting gun
- Sand
- Goggles
- Gloves
Rather than invest in all these tools and risk getting results that don’t look great, hire a professional. Good professionals already have all these tools. They also have the expertise to make your wheels look flawless.
Protecting Your Repaired Wheels
A professional wheel repair job is a great investment, so of course you would want to protect it. There’s a good chance your wheels will get scraped up again. The best way to protect your wheels from future damage is to get rim protectors.
RimSavers is a leading brand for rim protectors. RimSavers are lightweight and durable strips of proprietary material that you can apply around your rims. They serve as the first line as defense against curbs and other obstacles on the road. Check out RimSavers and see if they’re an ideal solution for you!
