So I'm making a push to get my '02 XLT FX4 cleaned up for the summer. I'm replacing my fan controllers, returning my underpulley setup back to stock, new speakers, possible new nerf bars, etc., etc.

I'm getting ready to get new tires all around and I'd like to do something about my rims/wheels. I've got the stock 17" alloys that came with the truck but they are looking a tad rough. Can I refinish these myself somehow? I know there are wheel repair places around but I think they cost about as much as I could buy new on eBay. Any suggestions?

 

PLASTI DIP is the cheapist alternative for you

 

You can get them refinished for 100 ish per wheel. They will look brand new!

 

Yup...............

 

Good God man what have those wheels been through to end up looking that bad?

If you're going to continue to do whatever it is you do that beats wheels up that bad, I'd just leave them alone or you're just going to put time and money into them and have them looking the same way in a short amount of time.

 

This.

Maybe you could make those your beater/winter wheels, and get something nice for cruising around town.

 

FX4 is still a good looking wheel...you'd need to sandblast them to see what's left to work with, good chance the inside is corroded too which makes mounting tires difficult, next step is having the outer face powder coated (or the whole wheel for more money)

 

go eBay and get new.... imo

 

Lol! Thanks for the replies guys! Yeah, I don't know why these wheels look the way they do. It looks like they are clear coated and for some reason that is deteriorating. I'm 49 years old and I've never beat the thing or had it off-road or anything like that, just the occasional transportation.

The cost of buying new wheels is not much more than having them refinished so I may go that route, or if I have the time I may give the plastidip thing a try. I had never heard of it until now.

Anyway, I'm getting ready to order some BFGoodrich tires for this thing so I have to make a decision on what to do.

Here's a look of the rest of the truck btw, except for the nerf bar starting to rust it's in pretty good shape.

 

Good looking truck. No wonder you want the wheels to match the rest of it!

 

Plasti dip won't hold up to much abuse. Cheap and looks good but wont hold up
Powder coat? Not sure if the heat process in the powder coating is good for allow metals?

 

"plasti-dip" is a **** poor choice for anything, and shouldn't even be considered unless you want the truck to look trashy and un-kept like all the other poor vehicles on the roads with the "plasti-dip" treatment

 

I used truck bed coating on mine.

 

Those are trash. You should probably just give them to me.

 

If you powder coat them, if they have any divits they will show up. PC doesn't "fill" gaps like paint does so sand/polish them up, take them to a balancer shop and see if they are still within spec. If they say they are too far out of whack, recycle them.

If they are within spec, use a good self etching primer, paint, clear coat and then keep them clean.