The first car was invented in 1886, and ever since then, people have been figuring out ways to repair their cars and keep them looking as new and fresh as possible. Curb rash is a common problem that affects many vehicles sooner or later. Many people believe that there isn’t much that can be done to fix this problem, but this isn’t quite true.
There are certain steps you can take to fix even the most severe types of curb rash. But where should you start? Keep reading and learn more about how to fix curb rash on your own.
What You Need to Know About Fixing Curb Rash
The first thing you should do before you even touch your car’s wheels is put on some personal protective equipment. You should have a pair of goggles, gloves, and a mask on hand. This is because you are going to need to sand down the rim and work with some harsh materials that can irritate your eyes and respiratory system, so it is important to be safe when working on a project like this.
One of the best curb rash fixes is to use sandpaper. A small square of sandpaper may not seem like much, but it can actually do a world of good when it comes to refinishing the wheel and smoothing out some of the larger scuff marks. In particular, you will want to find 400-grit sandpaper.
All you need to do is move the sandpaper back and forth against the damaged part of the wheel.
Eventually, you will start to notice the surface of the metal evening out. Be sure not to sand any unaffected areas as this will only cost you extra energy and won’t help you with your task.
When doing this, make sure that you cover the tire with something protective so the sandpaper doesn’t damage the tire’s rubber. It is best to start working on curb rash as soon as you notice it. If you wait too long to fix it, the problem will only get worse and worse until it is nearly impossible to fix.
The Details
However, if you catch the problem just in time, you might be able to get your wheel looking as good as new. After you’re done sanding the wheel, it will be time to use some spot putty. You don’t need to worry about using any specific type of spot putty and you don’t need to use it very much.
All you need is a small drop of spot putty on a putty knife or a similar tool. Then, spread it across the curb rash. The spot putty will function to fill in the ridges and scratches that the sandpaper didn’t manage to smooth out.
Keep in mind that you should not apply a very thick layer as it won’t dry well. After about 30 minutes, the spot putty should be dry. At that point, the putty may look a little flakey or uneven, but that’s when you can use the sandpaper again.
Once you sand down the area, the only spot putty that will remain will be within the crevices of the curb rash. As a result, the area will look far smoother and more even than before. By that point, the curb rash should already start to look better.
Other Curb Rash Repair Tips To Keep In Mind
Sanding and applying the spot putty only once may not be enough to get the result you want. In some cases, you may need to do this several times, especially for severe cases of curb rash, before the wheel finally starts to look smooth. If this is necessary, always make sure that you let the spot putty dry before you start to sand it, otherwise, the right result won’t turn out.
Once the curb rash is starting to look much better, you will likely need to repaint the entire rim a slightly different color. This is because it will be a very hard task to find a paint color that matches your rim color. It is easier just to repaint the entire rim.
If you do plan to do this, you will need to use a scouring pad to scrub away the clear coat from the wheel’s rim. You’ll know when the clear coat is gone when the rim looks matte. Then, you’ll need to remove the rim’s paint with paint thinner and then apply the new paint.
What You Need to Know
If all this sounds like a lot of work for you, you may be better off hiring professionals to do the job for you. This is especially true if you’ve never tried fixing curb rashes before. If you make a mistake at some point during the process, you might ruin the appearance of your wheel.
To prevent this stress and inconvenience, hiring a professional service is often worth it even if it does cost you a bit of extra money. The professionals will have plenty of experience with this problem and they’ll also have all the right tools to fix it. This is not to mention that you’ll have a lot more free time on your hands.
All About Curb Rash Repair
Curb rash can be annoying to deal with and it can certainly ruin the look of your car’s wheel, but fortunately, it isn’t a permanent problem. All you need to do is sand down the rash, apply some spot putty, repeat, and apply some new paint, and by that point, the wheel should start to look much better. Professionals can also handle the job for you if you don’t want to do it.
