Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Tuesday March 19, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Subaru Models > Legacy Forum

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-30-2003, 06:15 PM   #1
Patrick Olsen
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 120
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: AKIC
Location: Where the Navy sends me...
Vehicle:
1997 Legacy 2.5GT
1996 Impreza coupe

Smile Thinking of painting wheels - comments wanted

I have a set of 17" UK WRX wheels, silver, that I like a lot. They really transform the look of the car IMHO. However, over the past couple years they've taken some brake dust abuse (a track event with aggressive pads to be specific) and I haven't been able to get rid of all the deposits. Here's what they looked like on the car when "new":


Here's a close-up of the brake dust concrete :


So, I've been thinking of getting them refinished. This is kinda low on my priority list, I haven't even asked around for a good shop to do it, but it's bouncing around in the back of my head. Anyway, one option I've thought of would be to have them repainted the same color as my Volk TE-37s, as seen here:


I like the bronze look - it's darker than the gold that Subaru uses on their OEM wheels. However, I kinda feel as though I would be desecrating some relatively rare wheels (not as rare as monovich's 18"ers, but still... ) by painting them a non-OEM color. And, of course, there's the thought that as much as the bronze TE-37s look pretty tough, I might not like having bronze wheels on the car all the time, ya know?

Any thoughts? Any Photoshop experts want to make the wheels in the first picture the Volk bronze color?

Pat Olsen
'97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Patrick Olsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 11-30-2003, 06:35 PM   #2
SUBE555
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 24043
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Oshkosh, WI
Vehicle:
2014 BMW 335i Sedan
Silver

Default

Nice UK OEM's. I'm jealous.

I think they would look alright in bronze. Just make sure to get those skirts painted. Sorta wish I could have picked up the silver GT instead of my black, but thems the breaks.

Sorry, can't help you out with the chopping in bronze as I'm not good enough with PS even though I do have it. Mostly use it to cut and chop photos (got it for free. )

BTW, what pads do you run? I run more of a ceramic pad and they have a pretty nice stopping ability, very low dusting in nearly all situations (haven't washed my car in like 2 months because it's been sitting out a lot lately and is dirty every day after the frost melts, and the wheels still don't look atrocious as the semi-metallics did after a week), and good heat range. Would Carbotech Bobcats help?

Also, what are you running for mods to put you in SM?
SUBE555 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 07:21 PM   #3
KD7000
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 16653
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Central MA
Vehicle:
2017 Mazda 6
2013 Toyota Vanling

Thumbs down

Hmmm, "looking for comments." That opens up a whole can o' worms, you know.

I think painting those wheels would be a waste of time and money. They're quite gorgeous as is.

A high quality wheel cleaner should dissolve that brake dust buildup. It might need a good bit of scrubbing, but it should come off.

-Brian
KD7000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 07:24 PM   #4
froggert
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 768
Join Date: Jan 2000
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: nj
Vehicle:
OB, volt, 911,
ram 1500, 1098s, m620

Default

i couldn't do the bronze color but managed to come up with a few others:

gold


grey


chrome
froggert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 08:08 PM   #5
monovich
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:
1998 Old Grey Mule
Regacy Rype R

Default

I dunno, the wheels look SOOOOO nice in the stock color, I just can't imagine any other color looking better.

I'm not really big on bronze. If anything, I'd say go gunmetal with them, but I really prefer silver.

good luck!
monovich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 08:31 PM   #6
Patrick Olsen
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 120
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: AKIC
Location: Where the Navy sends me...
Vehicle:
1997 Legacy 2.5GT
1996 Impreza coupe

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by SUBE555
Just make sure to get those skirts painted.
I've never been a fan of the painted skirts. That's actually one thing I much prefer on the "regular" GT compared to the Limiteds (with the other thing being the gold-tinted wheels).

Quote:
Originally posted by SUBE555
BTW, what pads do you run? I run more of a ceramic pad and they have a pretty nice stopping ability, very low dusting in nearly all situations (haven't washed my car in like 2 months because it's been sitting out a lot lately and is dirty every day after the frost melts, and the wheels still don't look atrocious as the semi-metallics did after a week), and good heat range. Would Carbotech Bobcats help?
I run Mintex 1155s on the street. They dust a bit, but I've never had a problem cleaning it off. The brake dust concrete was formed while running Carbotech Panther Plus pads on my sister's WRX for a 2-day track event. The wheels didn't get cleaned for a couple days after I got home, during which time it rained, and the dust that was on there just caked up into a concrete stuff that will not come off.

Quote:
Originally posted by SUBE555
Also, what are you running for mods to put you in SM?
Whatever I want. Seriously, I have Cobb heads and cams, which puts me in E Prepared. There's nobody else running EP, and all of (well, most of) the WRXs run in SM, so I figure I'll run in their class and beat them.

Quote:
Originally posted by KD7000
A high quality wheel cleaner should dissolve that brake dust buildup. It might need a good bit of scrubbing, but it should come off.
Trust me, I've tried all sorts of stuff, including wheel cleaners and other stuff (Fast Orange and toothpaste, for instance).

Pat
Patrick Olsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 08:55 PM   #7
Legacy777
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4800
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Houston, Tx
Vehicle:
1990 Legacy & OB XT
AWD 6MT EJ22T AWIC Swap

Default

I'd recommend staying the same color.....they look good and match well with the car.

If you want durability, you might want to get them powder coated.....if they can do it in the color you want.
Legacy777 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 12:13 AM   #8
Jonathan
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4021
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: Natick, MA USA
Vehicle:
1999 Legacy GT Ltd
Quick Silver Metallic

Default

Like most everyone else, I really like the silver colour.

If you must paint them some OTHER colour, how about painting them a 'brake dust' colour ?

Have you by any chance tried 'wet sanding' the brake dust off with an eight-hundred or maybe even a six-hundred grit sandpaper ?
Seeing as you seem to have pretty much made up your mind to paint them anyway, this might be a good 'last-ditch' attempt at cleaning them.
Jonathan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 12:22 AM   #9
Cajual
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 12900
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vehicle:
1997 Legacy GT-Turbo
Quick Silver Metallic

Default

I personally think that silver cars look better with darker wheels which is the reason I put gunmetal wheels on my silver GT. Here's a pic of a local members WRX with the UK17's powder coated gunmetal. Those wheels look beautiful in that color:

Cajual is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 12:27 AM   #10
etam
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 439
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: yyz
Vehicle:
www

Default

sorry.. ot.. are you using hub-rings with those 15" TE37? your front brake looks big with those TE37!!

actually, cajual's wheels are nice... shiny but not chrome!
etam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 01:53 AM   #11
subiekid
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 25516
Join Date: Oct 2002
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Send help, stuck in internet!
Default

dont paint them.
subiekid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 02:31 AM   #12
Patrick Olsen
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 120
Join Date: Jul 1999
Chapter/Region: AKIC
Location: Where the Navy sends me...
Vehicle:
1997 Legacy 2.5GT
1996 Impreza coupe

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by etam
sorry.. ot.. are you using hub-rings with those 15" TE37?
Yeah, they came with the wheels.

Pat
Patrick Olsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 02:32 AM   #13
pilfflip
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 40484
Join Date: Jul 2003
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Salem, OR
Vehicle:
'02 Murdered WRX
'02 Silver Legacy

Default

I second Subie Kid, I wouldn't paint them it would be killing the whole beauty of the wheel.

~Mike
pilfflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 02:56 AM   #14
subiekid
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 25516
Join Date: Oct 2002
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Send help, stuck in internet!
Default

i love the 17in jdm, i had to get rims taht looked like them



pat, maybe you could find a set of these, paint them and see how you like them. these look a lot like the jdm rims.
subiekid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 09:37 AM   #15
WAFlowers
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 23337
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clearwater, FL
Vehicle:
1997 Legacy GT Sedan
Black

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by KD7000
A high quality wheel cleaner should dissolve that brake dust buildup. It might need a good bit of scrubbing, but it should come off.
When all else fails, Simple Green and some light brushing will make them look new! Hose the wheel to remove any loose dirt, spray on Simple Green and let sit a minute or two. Spray more Simple Green on your brush and go at it. I've never found anything better for brake dust, and never found any brake dust that it won't budge.
WAFlowers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 04:04 PM   #16
MannySoobia
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 22139
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: *714* in tha House
Vehicle:
2008 FXT Sport
Gee-Are-Pee

OMGHi2U

My 17" wheels were silver, and needed to be re-painted. So I took them in for Powder coating. I'm gettin them done a Metallic-Gunmetal, or something like that. I should be gettin them back this week, I'll post some pix when I get 'em.

-- Manny S.
MannySoobia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 04:22 PM   #17
eclone
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 31567
Join Date: Jan 2003
Default

Manny, how much did you pay for powdercoating? I called a few shops ppl recommanded and they wanted atleast $125cdn/wheel There's noway I'm going to pay min. $500 + tax + a new set of tires next year (might've well another NEW set for a couple hundred more). So I decided to paint my own. It's turning out really good. I'm doing a picture step-by-step and will post once I'm done.

So far it looks like it'll cost $100 cdn tops. (tire removal, primer, paint, clearcoat, sandpaper)
eclone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 04:35 PM   #18
MannySoobia
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 22139
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: *714* in tha House
Vehicle:
2008 FXT Sport
Gee-Are-Pee

Thumbs up

The particular color that I picked was actually used for a couple of Different wheels that were manufactured by Speedline. I paid $40 bucks for the Stripping of the wheels and $250 for the Powdercoat which involves 2 coats of color and 1 clearcoat to finish it off.

-- Manny S
MannySoobia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 05:24 PM   #19
tora
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 5851
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Vancouver
Vehicle:
17 Ford Escape SE
Blk

Default

Quote:
Originally posted by froggert
i couldn't do the bronze color but managed to come up with a few others:

gold


grey


chrome

Anthracite!! Looks great! Nice wheels!
tora is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 07:39 PM   #20
subefriek
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 11214
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ottawa Canada
Vehicle:
2001 legacy Gt
titanium

Default

Patrick, if you can get CLR in any of your hardware stores that will take your brake dust off. do not paint those gorgeous wheels.

Pat
subefriek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2003, 06:25 PM   #21
SubeGURU
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 14836
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: PDX, Or
Vehicle:
1997 Subaru Legacy
White

Default

Here are a view pics of my stock GT wheels powdercoated. BTW....the Grey color looks the best if you ask me for your car sedan.








SubeGURU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2003, 10:28 PM   #22
monovich
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 8124
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Denver, Colorado
Vehicle:
1998 Old Grey Mule
Regacy Rype R

Default

those look kewl
monovich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2003, 11:09 PM   #23
gtwagon941
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 16874
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Beaverton, OR
Vehicle:
2008 2008 Audi RS 4
2014 Audi S Q5

Default

those powdercoated rims look sweet. How much did that cost? Do you have any pics of your car in the sun. They look really good in the close ups but I can't decide if I like the overall look. (I have a white wagon and have always thought that gunmetals would look sweet).

thanks

Jared
gtwagon941 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2003, 02:08 AM   #24
SubeGURU
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 14836
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: PDX, Or
Vehicle:
1997 Subaru Legacy
White

Default

The wheels look even better in the sun, unfortunately I don't have any pictures taken in the sun....I wanted but now it's the rainy season here and if I get a chance I'll defintelly do it.

I took my wheels to Portland Powder Coating...there are other places that do it but I figured I might as well get it done by a pro. Overall I paid about $330. If you plan on doing it make sure you tell them to strip your wheels first...I made a mistake telling them not to do it the first time to save money but then the wheels turned all bubbled up...crapy. BTW....I saw a white GT wagon in town with the wheels done that way and that gave me the idea...the wagon is a Limited edition though so he has the white skirts also...bastard. Instead of getting new set of wheels I just had that done...my ride looks much better now...thanks for the compliments.
SubeGURU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2003, 02:49 AM   #25
gtwagon941
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 16874
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Beaverton, OR
Vehicle:
2008 2008 Audi RS 4
2014 Audi S Q5

Default

330 for both times you had it done or just for the one time when it was done properly? This could be a really good way for me to "get new wheels" for about half the cost, plus I wouldn't have to buy new tires (since I would have gone with 17s).

Jared
gtwagon941 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
WTT - NJ - Thinking of painting/powdercoating your brembos.... BuggeyEYED Private 'Wanted' Classifieds 8 06-13-2009 02:11 PM
Thinking of painting/powdercoating your brembos.... BuggeyEYED Tri-State Area Private Classifieds 21 04-10-2009 10:35 AM
Thinking of painting rims gold allblackgsrt Member's Car Gallery 19 04-06-2007 01:45 PM
Thinking of painting my own car... how dumb am I? Gerkins31 Off-Topic 40 01-02-2007 05:16 PM
Thinking of painting my interior trim... spdracr00 Legacy Forum 19 02-17-2005 12:51 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.