Truck wheel refinishing should always be done by a knowledgeable and experienced professional. Regulations put forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) in the mid-eighties made it a requirement that rust and debris be removed from truck wheels before mounting a tire. Dirt and rust can prevent rim components from seating properly or cause the tire bead to not seat properly.
How Truck Wheels Are Refinished
The truck wheel refinishing process begins with cleaning and inspection of the wheels. Once the tires have been dismounted, the wheels will be degreased and cleaned. Upon examination, if any cracks or damage is discovered, or if the DOT stamp and manufacture markings are illegible, the wheel may need to be scrapped.
Next, any previously applied wheel coatings need to be removed. This is typically done inside a blasting cabinet, in which a variety of blasting media can be used, such as sand, steel shot, or glass bead. It is critical that all of the old coating be removed and that the surface of the wheel is made to be as smooth as possible. Significant pitting on the wheel surface could result in excessive coating thickness on crucial surfaces of the wheel.
Extreme caution must be used in during the process of old coating removal. When working with deeply pitted surfaces, it is possible to end up with metal that is weakened or compromised in important areas.
Once the wheel has been cleared of previous coatings and rust, it should be handled with gloves to prevent skin oils from contacting the surface. The stripped metal should be recoated as soon as possible to limit contact with moisture.
When the coating is applied, it is crucial that it is not applied too densely, particularly on the mounting surfaces and the bolt holes. Coating that is too thick can lead to a loss of clamping force, resulting in loose nuts and potential wheel loss.
Keep your fleet safe and looking its best with expert wheel refinishing services. Raben Tire is your source for commercial truck wheel refinishing.