CLEAN, PAINTING & COATING OF ALUMINUM WHEELS
MODELS/YEARS ALL MODELS WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS
This bulletin supersedes Dealer Technical Bulletin 84-T-09.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to assist dealerships in repairing the discoloration or surface degradation that has been experienced on certain style cast aluminum wheels.
A protective clear coating is applied to the surface of original equipment cast aluminum wheels. A surface degradation condition can begin to develop if frequent, repeated automatic car wash cleaning abrades or wears off the factory applied protective clear coating. This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities using aggressive silicon carbide tipped tire brushes to clean white walls and tires. Once the protective clear coating is damaged, exposure to caustic cleaners and/or road salt further causes surface degradation. The following procedure details how to strip, clean and recoat those aluminum wheel rims that are affected by the above condition.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
- 3M Scotchbrite Cleaning Pad, Part No. 07445 or equivalent - 3M Brand Troubleshooter* chemical stripper or equivalent - 3M Medium Buffing Compound, Part No. 05955 or equivalent - 3M Buffing Pad, Part No. 05701 or equivalent - R & M Pre Kleno cleaner or equivalent - R & M Metal Conditioner, Part No. 801 or equivalent - R & M 893 2K Enamel Clearcoat and 894 Catalyst Hardener
SERVICE PROCEDURE
A. Remove wheels(s) from the car. This makes stripping, cleaning and recoating much easier.
Remove wheel weight and mask off tire. Reference mark tire for reinstallation of weight after recoating of wheel.
B. Removal of original clear coating:
1. Apply a chemical stripper such as 3M Brand Troubleshooter* to wheel rim surface.
2. Wait 10-15 minutes, then wet scrub surface using a 3M No. 98 Scotchbrite Cleaning Pad, Part No. 07445.
3. Rinse surface thoroughly with clean water.
C. Removal of surface oxidation:
1. Compound surface with 3M Superbuff Buffing Pad, Part No. 05701 and medium type compound such as 3M Part No. 05955 or No. 05931. This will remove any existing stain and oxidation from the wheel.
2. After compounding, hose off rim with water and scrub, with small brush to remove excess compound and air blow dry.
CAUTION:
Use of eye goggles is necessary to prevent personal injury.
D. Recoating procedure (R&M):
1. Use Pre Kleno to clean surface of any surface contaminants.
2. Apply No. 801 metal conditioner. It is recommended that rubber gloves be used for this application.
3. Refer to label for specific directions. If No. 801 metal conditioner is used, make sure it is reduced one part metal conditioner with three parts water.
a. Apply metal conditioner with clean rag, keeping surface wet.
b. Wiper off carefully while still wet with clean, dry rag.
4. After removing the original clear coating and preparing the surface, next apply R & M 893 2K Clear with 894 Urethane Catalyst Hardener. Refer to label for specific directions.
SPECIAL NOTE: When applying any two part component paint system, wear proper respiratory protection such as 3M Paint Respirator, Part No. 06984, or Easi-Air Respirator, Part No. 06986 or equivalent.
Wheels should be allowed to air dry for a minimum of over night prior to installing on vehicle. For further information on the 3M products mentioned in this bulletin, contact the nearest 3M branch and ask for the Automotive Trades Division Coordinator.
3M BRANCH OFFICES
Alaska High Point 5331 Minnesota Drive 2401 South Brevard Street Anchorage, Alaska 99502 P. 0. Box 2047 907-561-1030 High Point, North Carolina 27261 919-889-7181
Atlanta Los Angeles 2860 Bankers Industrial Drive 6023 S. Garfield Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 30360 Los Angeles, California 90040 404-447-7000 213-726-6300
Boston New York 155 Fourth Avenue 15 Henderson Drive Needham Heights, Mass. 02194 P. 0. Box 2076 617-449-0300 West Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 201-575-2000 Chicago 6850 South Harlem Avenue Philadelphia Argo Post Office 5698 Rising Sun Avenue Bedford Park, Illinois 60501 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19120 312-496-6500 215-728-5300
Cincinnati St. Louis 4835 Para Drive 10725 Baur Boulevard Cincinnati,Ohio 45237 P. 0. Box 510 513-482-3100 St. Louis, Missouri 63166 314-997-8500 Cleveland 12200 Brookpark Road San Francisco Cleveland,Ohio 44130 320 Shaw Road 216-362-1700 S. San Francisco, California 94080 415-761-1155 Dallas 2121 Santa Anna Avenue Seattle P. 0. Box 28158 100 Andover Park West Dallas, Texas 75228 Andover I ndustrial Park 214-324-8100 Seattle, Washington 98188 206-244-7200 Detroit 23923 Research Drive Twin Cities Farmington, Michigan 48024 313O Lexington Avenue South 313-477-5000 Eagan, Minnesota 55121
Hawaii Mail To: P. 0. Box 33211 4443 Malaai Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55133 Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 612-733-3300 Mail To: P. 0. Box 30048 Honolulu, Hawaii 96820 808-422-2721
*We believe this source and their equipment to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such products. Oldsmobile Division does not endorse, indicate any preference for or assume any responsibility for the products from this firm or for any such items which may be available from other sources.
General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
