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How to repair exposed carbon fiber wheels.

dsiggi

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Wish there was a process for GT350R wheels. I agree, I really enjoy the car with the carbons!
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Wish there was a process for GT350R wheels. I agree, I really enjoy the car with the carbons!
Actually R wheels are easier to fix. You don't need a UV stable epoxy. All you need is a high temp epoxy. Repair, and then paint. Its easier.
 

TxGT350-52

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I don't mean to sound like I'm questioning your driving skills, how do you manage to kerb so many wheels ?
LOL he bought them damaged.
Yes, he has another thread where he talks about buying used CF wheels to add to his growing collection... It is called 3 down, and 1 to go or something like that...
 
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Today, I completed the wheel repair.

First, I removed the gorilla tape mold.



I then used an Xacto knife to trim the height of the epoxy down while it was still a little soft.
20210915_085301.jpg


I taped off the area around the repair and began sanding. I always sand the outer lip first and then to the point that it is close and then I work on the contour areas. I started off with 500 grit worked my way down to 4000
20210915_085801.jpg


Get the majority of the sanding done using 500 wetsand. When you are getting close to the contour, switch to 1000. When you are just about there, switch to 1500. You should have the contour set while finishing off with 1500 grit. Anything more than 1500 grit is just a polishing step.



Watch the taped edges. You will eventually wear through the tape and the tape will have to be changed from time to time
20210915_093140.jpg


Check your work from time to time. Use a flexible straight edge to make sure the surface you are sanding is flat and also cross reference the epoxy height to that of the wheel.
20210915_091226.jpg


Continue and polish until you go through 4000 grit.

It will go from looking like this
20210915_095910.jpg


To this
20210915_095924.jpg


To this
20210915_153301.jpg


Keep going through 3000 grit and then a 4000 grit pad.

then use liquid polish to finish the job.
You can use a coat of clear if you desire.


A recap..... This is the wheel before repair.
20210914_145135.jpg



Here is the wheel after the repair.
20210915_163004.jpg



Viola. A repaired exposed CF wheel.
20210915_163436.jpg
 

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The painting and getting that to look right in gloss black would be my concern.

Or would a body shop be able to do it properly?
Yes, a body shop would have no issue with it. You wouldn't either. You go to your local auto paint shop and ask for ebony black and paint. Do several coats and then do a coat or two of clear. Wetsand/polish from 2000 grit up to 4000 and then use a liquid polish and you are set.
 
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So today I finalized the GT500 CFTP wheel repair project by having the tire installed and balanced. I then installed the wheel protection film that I cut out of some extra Xpel ultimate PPF using the Bemaro templates.

So im back on carbon fiber wheels. I am so glad I made this move. $5200 and a little bit of work was well worth it. I have a set of street/track wheels and I will put the original wheels away in storage.

I have another front spare wheel in case anything should happen to the ones installed on the car now.

20210925_154237.jpg


20210925_162222.jpg
 

Cobra99

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So today I finalized the GT500 CFTP wheel repair project by having the tire installed and balanced. I then installed the wheel protection film that I cut out of some extra Xpel ultimate PPF using the Bemaro templates.

So im back on carbon fiber wheels. I am so glad I made this move. $5200 and a little bit of work was well worth it. I have a set of street/track wheels and I will put the original wheels away in storage.

I have another front spare wheel in case anything should happen to the ones installed on the car now.

20210925_154237.jpg


20210925_162222.jpg
Where did you get the templates?
 

dsiggi

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So today I finalized the GT500 CFTP wheel repair project by having the tire installed and balanced. I then installed the wheel protection film that I cut out of some extra Xpel ultimate PPF using the Bemaro templates.

So im back on carbon fiber wheels. I am so glad I made this move. $5200 and a little bit of work was well worth it. I have a set of street/track wheels and I will put the original wheels away in storage.

I have another front spare wheel in case anything should happen to the ones installed on the car now.

20210925_154237.jpg


20210925_162222.jpg
Super cool. No concerns about heat with the PPF? I have a hard time believing PPF will hold up to heat if ford is coating the wheels with the nasa grade white coating as the brakes can reach 1600 ish degrees!!!
 

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Tomster

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Super cool. No concerns about heat with the PPF? I have a hard time believing PPF will hold up to heat if ford is coating the wheels with the nasa grade white coating as the brakes can reach 1600 ish degrees!!!
I ran it at Daytona. Zero issues. I had the same concerns. Anyone who runs Daytona knows how hot the brakes can get going from 180 down to about 50 going into turn 1.
 
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Where did you get the templates?
I bought a set from Benjaman and asked about the cost for an extra set. he came up with some crazy number, so I just used his cut PPF as a template. I don't feel bad about it. He got the sale for a set and I made my own using some PPF I had laying around.
 
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@Tomster , any chance you have found a way to repair the white coating on the GT350R wheels?
Oh boy.....
This has been discussed before and the short answer is that you need to send it off to spyder composites in CA.

There was another technique, but it was highly encouraged to contact carbon Rev before doing so.

I dont wish to get into that aspect of the repair.
 

dsiggi

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Oh boy.....
This has been discussed before and the short answer is that you need to send it off to spyder composites in CA.

There was another technique, but it was highly encouraged to contact carbon Rev before doing so.

I dont wish to get into that aspect of the repair.
Got it. I may PM you if you don't mind. Have a few questions in regards to that because it seems to flake very easily and I also want to be able to run my Carbons.
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