GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

CLEAR COAT ON ALUMINUM WHEELS REPAIR PROCEDURE OUTLINED

"PLEASE DISCARD PREVIOUS BULLETIN 85-3-12, DUE TO THIS REVISION."

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN IS TO ASSIST DEALERSHIPS IN REPAIRING THE DISCOLORATION OR SURFACE DEGRADATION THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED ON CERTAIN STYLE CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS.

SERVICE REPAIR PROCEDURE:

I. WHEEL REMOVAL

REMOVE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY FROM CAR. MASK OFF TIRE PRIOR TO PAINTING. MARK LOCATION OF OUTBOARD WEIGHTS AND REMOVE. MARK WHEEL AND WIRE FOR POSITION ON CAR.

WASH WHEEL INSIDE AND OUT WITH WATER BASE ALL PURPOSE CLEANER. REMOVE GREASE, OIL WITH SOLVENT CLEANER.

II. ACCENT COLOR PREPARATION

A. SAND OVER PAINTED AREAS THAT WILL NOT REQUIRE RECOLORING WITH 400 GRIT (WET OR DRY) TO PROMOTE ADHESION OF CLEAR COAT.

III. SURFACE PREPARATION

A. SURFACE DAMAGE, CLEAR COAT DAMAGE

1. MOUNT WHEEL ON BRAKE LATHE AND SPIN SLOWLY.

a. SAND WHEEL WITH BACKING BLOCK OR PAD BY HOLDING ABRASIVE FLAT TO SURFACE OF WHEEL AND MOVING SLOWLY BACK AND FORTH FROM CENTER TO OUTER EDGE TO REMOVE IMPERFECTIONS.

1.) SAND WITH 80 GRIT* 2.) SAND WITH 150 GRIT 3.) SAND WITH 240 GRIT

*(NEVER USE ABRASIVE COARSER THAN 80 GRIT)

B. SLIGHT CLEAR COAT DAMAGE ON UNPAINTED WHEELS.

1. APPLY CHEMICAL STRIPPER -- ALLOW STRIPPER TO PENETRATE COATING.

SPECIAL NOTE - USE SMALL 1/4" DETAIL BRUSH DIPPED IN STRIPPER TO APPLY MATERIAL AROUND PERIMETER AND SPOKE-LIKE AREAS.

2. REMOVE STRIPPER -- FOLLOW MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS.

3. SAND WHEEL WITH 240 GRIT WHILE ROTATING WHEEL ON A SLOW SPINNING BRAKE LATHE OR BY MOUNTING ON VEHICLE AND SPINNING BY HAND. THIS STEP IS TO RESTORE THE MACHINED APPEARANCE AND TO PROMOTE ADHESION.

WARNING:

DO NOT USE VEHICLE POWER TO ROTATE WHEEL WHILE SANDING TO AVOID SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY.

IV. RECOATING PROCEDURE

A. CLEAN SURFACE OF CONTAMINANTS.

B. SOAK WHEEL WITH AMCHEM #33 OR EQUIVALENT FOR 1 TO 3 MINUTES, THEN RINSE WITH WATER AND BLOW DRY.

C. SOAK WHEEL WITH AMCHEM #1001 OR EQUIVALENT FOR 1 TO 3 MINUTES THEN RINSE WITH WATER AND BLOW DRY.

D. FINISH WITH DITZLER DELCLEAR ACRYLIC URETHANE AND DITZLER ULTRA URETHANE ADDITIVE OR EQUIVALENT. THREE COATS.

1ST. COAT - LIGHT MIST COAT, LET FLASH 2ND. COAT - LIGHT, LET FLASH 3RD. COAT - HEAVY DOUBLE WET COAT

E. LET DRY FOR 24 HOURS -- (OR FLASH FOR 30 MINUTES, FORCE DRY AT 140 DEGREES FOR 30 MINUTES, AND ALLOW TO COOL FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE MOUNTING.)

V. WHEEL INSTALLATION

A. REBALANCE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLIES BY REPLACING THE ORIGINAL BALANCE WEIGHTS WITH NYLON-COATED WEIGHTS.

B. INSTALL TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY ONTO CAR.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

AMCHEM ALUMI PREP #33-STOCK #DX533 (OR EQUIVALENT) - CLEANING AND CONDITIONING CHEMICAL FOR ALUMINUM.

AMCHEM ALODINE #1001 - STOCK #DX501 (OR EQUIVALENT) - COATING CHEMICAL FOR ALUMINUM.

DITZLER DELCLEAR ACRYLIC URETHANE CLEAR STOCK #DAU-75 (OR EQUIVALENT).

DITZLER DELTHANE ULTRA-URETHANE ADDITIVE STOCK #DXR-80 (OR EQUIVALENT).

NYLON-COATED WEIGHTS--THESE ARE AVAILABLE FROM WDDGM IN 1/4 OUNCE INCRE- MENTS RANGING FROM 1/4 OUNCE TO 3 OUNCES, P/N 9591358 THROUGH 9591367, INCLUSIVELY.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

LABOR OPERATION: T1170 LABOR TIME 1.7 HOURS (EACH WHEEL)

MATERIAL ALLOWANCE: $3.75 PER WHEEL

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.