2000 Chevrolet Tracker Alloy Wheels

The refinishing of aluminum wheels requires that the wheel surface be plastic media blasted to remove old clearcoat or paint. The use of chemical strippers is not recommended due to the concerns for repair durability.

The proper way is to remove the tire and wheel assembly, inflate the tire to 275 kPa (40 psi), submerge the tire and wheel assembly into a water bath to locate the leak, remove the tire and wheel assembly from the water bath, make a mark on the wheel to record the leak area, remove the tire from the wheel, use general purpose cleaners such as 3M, P/N 08984 or equivalent, to clean the leak area, install the tire to the wheel, and then install the tire and wheel assembly.

Aprotective clearcoat and/or base color is applied to the surface of the original equipment cast aluminum wheels. Surface degradation can begin to develop if uncoated balance weights are used, or if frequent, repeated automatic car wash cleaning wears off the factory-applied protective clearcoat and/or base color. This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities that use aggressive silicone carbide-tipped tire brushes to clean the whitewalls and the tires. Exposure to caustic cleaners and/or to road salt causes further surface degradation once the protective clearcoat is damaged.

The procedure is to remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle, remove the balance weights and valve stem from the wheel, remove the tire from the wheel, remove the old clearcoat and the old paint from the wheel by plastic media blasting the wheel, mask off the wheel mounting surface and the lug nut contact surfaces, install new valve stem, install the tire to the wheel, rebalance the tire and wheel using new coated balance weights, clean all the wheel mounting surfaces, install the tire and wheel assembly to the vehicle, and then lower the vehicle.

You should never use heat to loosen a tight wheel. It can shorten the life of the wheel, studs, or hub and bearing assemblies. Wheel nuts must be tightened in sequence and to the specified torque to avoid bending the wheel or rotor.