Curb Rash Damage: What You Need To Know
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Overview
Curb rash is the damage your rims or wheels suffer when hitting curbs, potholes, or some other obstruction resulting in light cosmetic damage such as scuff marks, scratches, or finish deterioration. Curb rash can also cause dangerous structural damage to your wheels like bending, cracking, severe gouging, chunking, among other things.
Let us list a few dangers contributed by curb rash damage:
A wheel with structural damage can break apart.
Damage to the tire's sidewall can result in unexpected blowouts.
Continued curb rash damage can result in front or rear suspension damage.
Hard hits to the curb can throw out the alignment on your car.
Your vehicle's undercarriage can suffer damage like transmission shifting, transfer case, or tie rod ends that may lead to poor alignment.
Any vulnerable lines such as brake and cooling lines can be affected.
Therefore, when dealing with any wheel damage, it is always advisable to have your vehicle checked by a professional to determine if the damage is cosmetic or structural. Understanding the degree of wheel damage is important to determine the type of repair.
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LEARN MOREReasons You Should Get Your Damaged Wheels Repaired
Safety is always a primary concern when there is wheel damage. With children involved, the concerns are amplified. More often than not, damage and the accompanying cost involved in repair are unexpected expenses and usually are challenging to cover—but the benefits typically outweigh the costs.
If safety is an issue, the choice is obvious.
The appearance factor is always a consideration in the modern era of high prices.
Keeping the wheels, body, and tires in excellent running condition increases your security.
Misaligned and improperly balanced wheel and tires are annoying at the least and dangerous if left unattended.
How To Fix Your Alloy Wheel Curb Rash Damage
Suppose you have the time, proper tools, and patience to take on this endeavor of repairing cosmetic wheel damage. In that case, you may certainly make it happen as there are great videos and information online that can provide you step-by-step on how to accomplish a decent job.
Light damage to rims can be fixed by a well prepared do it yourself car owner. You will need a few supplies, depending on the extent of the damage, including sandpaper, putty, scouring pads, spray paint, primer, and a clear coat. You will also need to match any painted surfaces requiring research on the manufacturer's website to find specific codes for your paint and primer.
Some builders offer touch-up spray; if not, specialty vendors offer various paint and clear coats. The key is to ensure the paint matches the manufacture's code. The cost for everything will run between $50 and $150, and the process generally includes:
Wearing protective gear (mask and gloves) to avoid chemical exposure.
Cleaning the damaged area of the wheel thoroughly.
Masking off the wheel, lug nuts, valve stems, and any other exposed areas.
Using coarse sandpaper to sand out the scuff marks and scratches and other defects.
Applying automotive putty to the damaged areas and allowing it to dry for at least 30 minutes.
Using a scuff pad to scuff around the damaged area until completely smooth.
Spraying a primer a couple of times on the wheel. The primer should be shaken thoroughly and sprayed about six inches from the rim. A back and forth motion should be used to cover the entire area allowing the primer to dry before applying a second coat.
Spraying the paint on the wheel and sanding between coats. Using a back and forth motion is perfect for applying the paint and allowing the first coat to dry before applying a second coat. It is recommended to allow the paint to dry overnight if at all possible before moving on.
Applying a clear coat over the paint.
This process may take 5 to 24 hours to complete, depending on the repair strategy applied. To accomplish a successful wheel repair, we recommend you use an air compressor, air hose, and sandblasting gun. Otherwise, your wheels may not look as smooth as expected.
Hiring a Professional to Fix Your Damaged Wheels
As previously mentioned, it is always good practice to have a damaged wheel evaluated by a professional. Wheel repair professionals have the knowledge and experience and offer advanced technologies and processes not available to car owners.
The costs involved with wheel repairs are typically factored in by the shop's overhead costs and location, among other things. For most American-made vehicles, shops will quote between $50.00 and $150.00 per wheel, depending on the damage. Cracked or gouged wheel repair cost is upwards of $500.00 and no less than $200.00.
Moreover, the different types of wheel finishes and material builds such as chrome, gloss blackening, shiny alloy aluminum, and steel are key factors determining the wheel repair strategy and cost. For example, aluminum alloy wheels, also known as alloy wheels, are commonly repaired without hassle.
However, chrome-plated wheels generally cannot be repaired or re-plated because the restoration process produces environmental hazards regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the EPA's regulation, the restoration process, if undertaken, must be done by approved plating and polishing facilities that meet certain equipment standards to control emissions with filtration devices.
Protecting Your Wheels
Vehicle owners should always make protecting wheels a priority. While American and world ingenuity continue to exhibit various wheel protective spray-on, wheel wax, and advanced quartz coatings solutions, not all are high-quality, like ceramic coatings.
Ceramic coating is a compelling new science that works at the molecular level. Microscopic Nano-particles (ranging in size from 80 to 100 nanometers) chemically bond with a wheel's finish. To put it into perspective, there are 25 million nano-particles per square inch.
Polymer technology makes a wheel and caliper surface resistant to UV rays/oxidation, scratches, chemical etching, and severe heat. After treatment, wheels become hydrophobic, making them water repellent and much easier to clean. Nano-particles generate a new functional layer on the varied surfaces of your wheels. The inseparable bond on a molecular level establishes a coating that cannot be washed off like a wax or other sealants.
Undoubtedly, car owners have many options when dealing with curb rash damage on their wheels. But after careful consideration of their time and costs involved, many conclude a professional wheel repair company, to be a great investment.
Auto Cosmetics™ offers various top-tier mobile wheel repair services in Arizona at low prices and a convenient way to book appointments or request quotes online 24/7. Our technicians are qualified, professional, and experienced in the wheel repair industry, ready to service your wheels at your home or office. Our technicians will make your wheels look perfect.