wheels

My little summer project >>

BBS RC041 042 17 inch Split Rims
PCD 5x120 7.5J Front 8.5J Rear

Bought these for my MK4 golf to sweeten it up a bit with the intention of powder coating the centres and polishing the lips.

They have forged aluminium centres with aluminium barrels and 20 M7 splined bolts holding them together.
My little summer project turned into a lot of work =P

First off I stripped them down, knocked the centres out collected all the bolts in a tub, damaged a few bolts getting them out but ebay quickly helped me out with some spares.
I then set about stripping the nasty lacquer off the barrels in preparation for the epic task of sanding all 5 wheel rims down which was a huge task.

I tried to do one barrel every weekend but things/holidays/pets/kids slowed all that down a bit, still I managed to make a small sanding/polishing jig using and old wheelbarrow wheel on a wooden frame so I could sit each wheel on it and spin it round.
It made sanding them a whole lot easier as they were fixed in place and I didn't have to man handle around on the floor.

In the mean time I sent the centres to a powder coaters in Worcester, they were pretty cool and threw some crazy ideas at me which surprised me a bit. "Purple with metallic flake?" "Yea OK why not !"

Any way with the centres away I set about the mad task of sanding all the rims down, starting with 200grit then 400 600 800 1200 then polish. Sounds easy eh?

There was all sorts of pitting from brake dust corrosion especially on the fronts and out the five I had to relegate 1 to the spare wheel well because it was just so bad.
After a lot of effort some swearing and even starting again with 200grit on one wheel I finally got them done.

They might not be show winners but I was happy with them.

I seriously considered buying all new bolts but at £1.50 each ( I needed 100) I decided just to refurb the old ones and the spares I bought off the bay.



                                                                                                                                                                       

I stuck each one in a drill chuck and held a sanding block to them as I spun them round at about 1000rpm. Then with the paint gone I did this.Then sprayed them in purple metallic and loads of lacquer.

Finally I could re-assemble them! New bolt on valves were added.

Then tyres were added 205/45/17 Rear 195/45/17 Front.
Balance weights kindly hidden on inner barrel by friendly tyre fitters.
Tiny bit of stretch on the back none really upfront, sweet !

Fitted with H&R PCD adapters 20mm Front 30mm rear.
Coilovers were fitted by me the weekend before and the ride was way way better. Front needs more lows