Hi

 

Had Mrs Chesters alloys powder coated recently. Really pleased with the result.

 

However, this week the car developed a noise from the front near side. Noise increased with speed so suggested something to do with the wheel rotation.

 

Checked last night and when I jacked the front near side up the actual wheel was loose. The other 3 wheels were also loose but not to the same extent. All have locking bolts fitted.

 

The wheels have been back on the car for about 6 weeks since being powder coated. I did check the tightness of the bolts after doing a few miles. We have since been to Tenby and back (500 mile round trip) so the car has covered a few miles but the noise only started this week. So the car has probably covered 700 miles since I refitted the wheels.

 

I must have removed and refitted hundreds of wheels over the years - I don't make the mistake of leaving ALL wheels bolts loose.

 

Has any else had problems like this after having their wheels powder coated?

 

Mark

 

EDIT: Just realised I've posted in the wrong forum - should be in the Fabia I forum.

Edited 26 July, 201312 yr by Chester

There was a post in General Car Chat a couple of weeks ago.

 

Powder Coating Companies and car drivers need to know to remove the Coating from under wheel nuts/bolts.

They should have been masked and not coated.

 

Same when painting/refinished rims.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/281008-powder-coated-wheels-safety-issue

 

george

Hi George,

 

Thanks - guess that probably explains it. The complete wheel was coated.

 

What is the best way to remove the coating from the bevel where the bolts make contact with the wheel?

 

Mark

See the thread i linked.

 

Just take it off carefully with the end of a file, Dremel or however.

Usually by now the extra coating has gone once the bolts have seated then been removed again.

 

Do not spoil the seating face, by being to hashy..

Maybe have the company do it.

At least tell them they are planks.

 

george

Something like this should sort it out when it's being done

but theres no excuse for that really, just laziness or ignorance either

of which could have deadly consequences in this scenario..

I got mine done for much cheapness at a motorcycle parts

powder coater and yet he still knew to mask off the bolt holes and mating

surface on the rear.

 

 

Looks like a busy weekend ahead with the dremmel and emery cloth.

 

Thanks

 

Mark

A simple way is to take not to coarse sand paper and cut out some circles.

Big enough but not too big with a hole in the middle.  Cut the stud hole before using something to cut the outer edge.

2 pence piece is about the right size.

 

Then put a wheel bolt through the hole and try to sand the Wheel Stud seating/face.

Its quite quick with a wheel brace used,

it does not take much and use get in the swing of it for the next 19 holes.

 

i have used an Electric Driver/drill that takes a ratchet socket, wheel bolt, that i use for putting up and down caravan legs.

 

george

George - like the idea of the small disks of sand paper. Bit more control than using a dremmel too.

 

Do you think its worth cleaning up the mounting face too? Reading around you get mixed opinions about that bit.

 

Mark

The rear face?

 

Yes most definitely.    Did they not mask that, as on grr666's ?

 

george

Yep - the rear face. There entire wheel was coated.

 

Wish I had known about the masking before hand.

 

Thanks once again.

 

Mark

The main reason for cleaning the rear face is that the heat  

from the brakes can cause the coating to melt and stick your wheels

to the rotors like glue. Clean it back to bare alloy again and coat

the mating surface with a healthy dose of copper slip.