Wheel powder coating - will it last?
 

Long-story short, a brake shop spilled brake fluid all over my wheel and ruined the finish.

They offered to have it powder-coated by some company they work with, it peeled off within six months, it's a lifetime warranty but I can't afford to be driving out there every few months to have it re-done.

Not knowledgeable about wheel finishes, is this normal with powder-coating or is it just being badly done? I'm thinking of going to a good shop and having it powder-coated there but I want it to last and not have to worry about running it through power washes etc.

My other option is to buy a used wheel (not paying Nissan's prices) but I never know if I'm getting a wheel that's already been cheaply powder-coated etc. because the ones on eBay are surprisingly cheap.

So, is a proper powder-coating, prepped and done correctly designed to last or will it never be as good as original?

Sounds like an unprofessional powder coating application. Should last much much longer than 6 months.

Mine have lasted 4 years now, no peeling on any of them, with many track days and sub 0 temps. The guy did a quick job and didn't prep the surface correctly before painting it.

:iagree::iagree: If done Right, they should last much Longer. I would let them know that You will choose the shop that does the coating. :tup:

I work for caterpillar as an engineer over the paint department, our high class surfaces are powder coated to last longer and stand up to the tough conditions. We have to protect our 3/4 million $ machines if that tells you anything. Haha

I agree with the Improper Prep folks above.

I'd give them another chance. If they mess up again, have it sent to another paint shop.

When I picked my calipers up from my powder coater, I asked how durable he expects they will be. He pulled out his BFW (Big F... Wrench) and beat on the caliper as hard as he could. He was really going at it, I wish I had a video. There was not a single chip. Your wheels should be lasting longer. When you say it chipped, did that start from curb rash after the powder coat?

...having said that, there is no way in hell the brake shop would not have been replacing my wheels if they did this. I would not have let them send me to a friend of theirs to powder coat away their mistake. New wheels FTW.

Nope, no curb rash, I'm super careful about that, I just noticed one day the paint was peeling from the center, it's been pretty gradual but it's slowly peeling further.

And believe me it was months of back and forth, me calling corporate, showing up at the shop. The manager apparently quit and this new punk kid they hired claimed he knew nothing about what had happened. Corporate just blocked my number, so I went after them on social media and they just blocked me everywhere. I finally said F this, I just don't have the time, and if that's their attitude then their business will crumble on it's own in due time.

But yeah I'm trying to find the best powder coat place I can. Out of curiosity, anyone know how much a new wheel runs? It's the front Rays 19x9 2012 model. I'm afraid Nissan is going to quote me some insane price, not sure I trust the ebay wheels.

The eBay wheels are the same as the Nissan wheels if the listing says it is OEM/factory.

:iagree:

Just dont use pressure washer :shakes head:

Sandblast, then powder coat... mine look flawless after about 6 years. One caveat, I do not use automatic carwashes... hand wash only.

I have Powder-Coated wheels that have years on them and look good.

They should have lightly sand blasted the wheels.Need to make sure the wheels are perfectly clean.Then do your chem wash.If this is not done well they will peel.
Then need to bake at 350.If not baked long enough they will peel.Sounds like rushed job.

That's the thing, if it can't withstand pressure washing I'll just get a new wheel. In 25 years of pressure washing cars, some pushing 300k miles, I've never had paint peel off from anywhere on a car or a wheel.

Might go with an eBay one and hope for the best, they are obviously OEM but who knows, they could have been cheaply powder coated too lol.