How much work is it to paint my wheels?

Alright so heres the deal guys I love my tacoma and I really enjoy working and tinkering with it but im not the most skilled in the automotive field. And recently ive been interested in painting my wheels i was just wondering if someone could give me some insight on how much work it really is? i pretty much know what it all takes. but i dont got a jack with exception of the one that comes with the truck and i dont have and stands. Any info from ya guy would be awsome. And if you guys gpt any other ideas for bada** upgrades to the truck let me know.

 

DIY is not that hard just take your time masking and applying coats.

My jeep wheels I'm painting.

 

Hey thanks guys for saying im behind the power curve. I know i got some learning but i just really like moding my truck im just not the best ya know.

 

its not that bad its really easy just let them dry for a least 2 hours and be careful when putting them on i chipped mine with the lung nut wrench cause the paint was not cured.

 

just ask a friend for some jack stands and another jack. doing all 4 at the same time will be much faster.

 

Here is my $.02 and please don't take this the wrong way. It is great that you want to do your own work that is the best way to learn! I would recomend going out and buying a mid priced jack and set of stands first. Everyone that does their own work will need them from time to time. Rotate tires, brakes, lifts etc. Then take em off and do them on the ground the right way, I think you will be much happier.

 

Yeah...Check out sears or autozone or any local hardware/auto parts place. For 150 you can probably get a jack and stands- and if you really like to tinker- They will be INVALUABLE.

It took me a weekend to paint mine. I installed them carefully before the paint had completely cured...but they have stayed fine for over a year. I touched them up on the truck while painting my sliders because they have some real obvious trail scars.

Take your time cleaning and prepping and they will be great.

 

What paint should be used? anything else besides the pain? is sanding necessary?

 

Yeah from what i seen you need to sand all of it, definatley a big pain in the ass. but if its done right it will look real nice and last alot longer. As far as the paint they make wheel paint but im sure any metal surface paint will work. But you need plastic paint for the center cap.

 

As far as sanding goes- I felt it was cause the paint was beading up a bit on the rim. I think there is a bit clearcoat type finish on there. Folks have used scotchbrite pads and that broke it up enuf to let the paint stick.

I used Duplicolor Satin Black regular rattle can paint. Lots of people like Krylon Fusion for the plastic caps...I didn't re-install mine...so I just shot them with the Duplicolor so if I want to I can put them back on.

 

Do you have a pic handy of your painted sport wheels w/no center caps. (this may become this Sunday's project for me as well)

 

Ask and you shall receive:


There are some close ups from during/after painting in my gallery-pages 4 and 5.

 

Thank you!!

 

Welcome- It's totally worth it. While I had the wheels off- I also painted the calipers in front (red) and the drums and hubs (front and back) black.

 

Pics?

 

How did you paint the calipers and drums? what sort of prepping did you do?

Also, If i paint my wheels black and then change tires in a few months, will the paint get chipped when they change the tires?

 

Sorry...Missed this request- Check my gallery.

I used spray paint for everything. They make caliper paint that I used for the red and the black I used the same Satin black Duplicolor I have on my rims. I got a hose and a bucket with a scrub brush...Clean everything really well and then wiped down with alcohol. Used about 3 days worth of newspaper to cover and mask everything I could. I don't think i even primed the calipers...They were still raw metal. Sprayed on about two coats per side.

For the black in front...waited until I put the tires back on and sprayed some light coats to cover the center of the hub (i did not replace the caps). The back I cleaned, masked, primed, and painted same way as above.

As for chipping due to tire changes- It shouldn't. I just did my own tire swap a couple weeks back and I didn't chip any of them...The machines aren't really susoposed to touch the rim I don't think. Carelessness might get them chipped I guess...but they are easy to fix.

 

Thanks Brunes!

I'm hoping to get my truck lifted and different tires put on in the future months. For now i was thinking about painting the wheels black to make it look different than stock until i save up the money for the lift. It's hard to save when I party a lot though...

Anyway, thanks for the info

 

That was my reasoning for painting. I could have dropped 1500 on tires and rims....or I spent about 20 bucks for paint and 120 for some used tires...and I'm set until I save up some cheese for the new set up.

Good luck...Let me know if you have any more questions.