Chevrolet Cruze Repair Manual: Aluminum Wheel Refinishing
Finish Damage Evaluation Procedure
Note:
- If the wheels are chrome-plated, do not re-plate or refinish the wheels.
- If the wheels are polished aluminum, do not refinish the wheels in the dealer environment. Utilize a refinisher that meets manufacturer guidelines.
- Inspect the wheels for damage from uncoated wheel balance weights or from automatic car wash facilities.
- Inspect the wheels for the following conditions:
- Corrosion
- Scrapes
- Gouges
- Verify the damage is not deeper than what sanding can remove.
- Inspect the wheels for cracks. If a wheel has cracks, discard the wheel.
- Inspect the wheels for bent rim flanges. If a rim flange is bent, discard the wheel.
Refinishing Procedure
Warning: To avoid serious personal injury when applying any two part component paint system, follow the specific precautions provided by the paint manufacturer. Failure to follow these precautions may cause lung irritation and allergic respiratory reaction.
- Lift the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
- Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
- Remove the balance weights from the wheel.
- Remove the tire from the wheel. Refer to Tire Dismounting and Mounting.
- Use a suitable cleaner in order to remove the following contaminants from the wheel:
- Lubricants
- Wax
- Dirt
Note:
- Do not re-machine the wheel.
- Do not use chemicals in order to strip the paint from the wheel.
- Use plastic media blasting in order to remove the paint from the wheel.
- If the wheel had a machined aluminum finish, spin the wheel and use sand paper in order to restore the circular machined appearance.
Note: The wheel mounting surface and the wheel nut contact surface must remain free of paint.
- Mask the wheel mounting surface and the wheel nut contact surface.
- Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for painting the wheel.
- Unmask the wheel.
- Install a new valve stem.
Note: Use new coated balance weights in order to balance the wheel.
- Install the tire to the wheel. Refer to Tire Dismounting and Mounting.
- Use a suitable cleaner in order to remove the following contaminants from the wheel mounting surface:
- Corrosion
- Overspray
- Dirt
- Install the tire and wheel assembly to the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
- Lower the vehicle.
Aluminum Wheel Porosity Repair
Remove the tire and wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal
and Installation.
Inflate the tire to the manufactures specified pressure as stated on the
tire.
Submerge the tire/w ...
Tyre and Wheel Removal and Installation
Removal Procedure
Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the
Vehicle.
Remove the wheel center cap.
Mark the relationship of the wheel (2) to the hub.
...
Other materials:
Paint Gauges
Paint thickness gauge. measure the total thickness of the vehicle finish. It
is important to accurately measure the thickness of the finish on
each vehicle as the thickness of the finish will vary on each vehicle. Use a
paint gauge before the sanding process in order to accurately
measure how ...
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
The ignition switch has four different positions.
Notice: Using a tool to force the key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or break the key. Use the correct key, make sure it is
all the way in, and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by hand, see yo ...
Ultra High Strength Dual Phase Steel
This information provides repair recommendations and general guidelines for
steel classified as Ultra High Strength Dual Phase Steel (Dual
Phase Steel with a tensile strength greater than 800 MPa), also known as DPX.
General Motors recommends the following when repairing or replacing this type ...
