GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 1999 🢒 Cavalier 🢒 Suspension 🢒 Tires and Wheels 🢒 Clearcoat Damage to Aluminum Wheels

Unpainted Wheels
  1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation .
  2. Match mark the tire for reinstallation of the outboard wheel weights after the recoating of the wheel.
  3. Remove the outboard wheel weights.
  4. Clean the wheel inside and out with a water base all purpose cleaner.
  5. Remove the grease or the oil with a solvent cleaner.
  6. Sand over painted areas that do not require recoloring with number 400 (wet or dry) to promote adhesion of clear coat.

    7. Caution: Use of rubber gloves and eye protection is necessary to prevent personal injury.

  7. Apply the chemical stripper.
  8. Allow the stripper to penetrate the coating.
  9. Use a small ¼ inch detail brush dipped in stripper in order to apply the material around the perimeter and the spoke-like areas.
  10. Remove the stripper following the manufacturer's recommendations.

    11. Caution: Do not use vehicle power to rotate the wheel while sanding to avoid personal injury.

  11. Sand the wheel with 240 grit while rotating the wheel on a slow spinning brake lathe or by mounting on the vehicle and spinning by hand. This restores the machined appearance and promotes adhesion.

    12. Caution: Use of rubber gloves and eye protection is necessary to prevent personal injury.

  12. Clean the surface of the contaminants by washing the surface with soap and water.
  13. Spray the wheel with Amchem number 33 or the equivalent.
  14. Let the wheel soak for 1 to 3 minutes.
  15. Rinse the wheel with water. Blow the wheel dry with compressed air.
  16. Soak the wheel with Amchem number 1001 or the equivalent.
  17. Let the wheel soak for 1 to 3 minutes.
  18. Rinse the wheel with water. Blow the wheel dry with compressed air.
  19. Mask off the tire.
  20. Finish the wheel with Ditzler Delclear Acrylic Urethane and Ditzler Ultra-Urethane Additive or the equivalent using the following 3 coats. Refer to the labels for specific instructions.
    21. • Light mist coat, let flash
    • Light coat, let flash
    • Heavy double wet coat
  21. Let the wheel dry for 24 hours (or flash for 30 minutes, force dry at 60° C (140° F) for 30 minutes, and allow to cool for 30 minutes before mounting.

Installation Procedure
  1. Balance the wheel and the tire assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Balancing in Vibration Diagnosis and Correction.
  2. Replace the original balance weights with nylon coated weights in order to avoid discoloration of the wheel.
  3. Install the tire and the wheel assembly. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation