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CrazySx
14-05-2008, 15:26
Hi Guys,

I recently purchase some R33 GTR wheels and I am looking to get them refurbed.

I want to go from this..

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/GTRsilver.jpg

to this...

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/GTRwhite.jpg

But I want Gun metal centres.. not white.

Can anyone recommend a good/Cost effective place to do it? I am in Kingston Upon Thames.

Daz
14-05-2008, 15:42
to this...

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/GTRwhite.jpg


WOW, they look awesome.

There's a Company called spit and polish, in purfleet I think, bought £50 a wheel I think.

CrazySx
14-05-2008, 15:59
Thanks mate, I have already had a quote from them, they pick up from Merityres in Kingston and drop off too.. they quoted me £291 and are my only option right now. Was wondering if there were any others.. ???

Daz
14-05-2008, 16:00
fooking ell, thats a bit expensive.

Will be good to see what other companies there are around then.

George
14-05-2008, 16:12
It won't be cheap anywhere you go to get the lip polished like that. I looked at buying an automated machine for polishing the rims but they were around £5.5K and i wouldn't have had enough demand up here to justify it.

You're looking at around £40 a wheel to get them the right colour, then the polishing on top of that. From that price it looks to be around £30 a wheel to get the rims polished, and even if it takes half an hour per wheel that's still not too bad.

dan mkii
14-05-2008, 16:15
yep search for lepsons in kent ..

Daz
14-05-2008, 16:22
yep search for lepsons in kent ..

Just rang them, £53+vat per wheel to refurb them, and for the paint and polish like you want, is £68+vat per wheel.

You have to drop them there though

George
14-05-2008, 16:27
Just rang them, £53+vat per wheel to refurb them, and for the paint and polish like you want, is £68+vat per wheel.

You have to drop them there though

That's £319.60 though, which is more expensive than his £291 quote he has already got.:wack:

CrazySx
14-05-2008, 16:37
My brother in law knows some guys that do refurb in hounslow, so i will see what he comes back with.

Else it looks like it will be good old Spit and Polish!

dan mkii
14-05-2008, 16:42
Just rang them, £53+vat per wheel to refurb them, and for the paint and polish like you want, is £68+vat per wheel.

You have to drop them there though

they are very good thoe!! :nod:

Si-PS13
14-05-2008, 16:44
That polished lip looks as though it's been added on to the rim as there isn't a step on the ones in the 2nd pic, or are they different wheels?

GrahamB
14-05-2008, 16:53
yep search for lepsons in kent ..

Got my 33's done there :thumbs:

dan mkii
14-05-2008, 18:37
there the best ive seen personally,andive seen spit and polishs stuff too...what did you think off them graham?

GrahamB
15-05-2008, 10:10
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2145/2494561590_bc62675abe.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2493742815_713d9e54f8.jpg

They did an amazing job even managing to remove kerb marks on the spokes :eek: :notworthy

George
15-05-2008, 10:20
They did an amazing job even managing to remove kerb marks on the spokes :eek: :notworthy

I would hope so. But that's a much more basic job than getting the rims polished etc. You'ld only be talking £40 a wheel to have that done. Doing the polished rim, you would have to TIG up any serious kerbing marks before grinding it back to the flat and polishing.:)

CrazySx
15-05-2008, 10:41
Wow graham, what colour is that? and how much did you pay? Did you have to specify exactly what you wanted? Are they on the car yet??? I want mine in Gunmetal with a polished Rim, but not sure what they will look like. Have you put them on the car yet?? If so can you get pics up PRETTY PLEASE!!! :thumbs:

GrahamB
15-05-2008, 10:51
Pics already in sig mate ;) (click sig and it'll take you to my profile)

They've been on the car for 5 years mate lol :D

The colour I asked for was Anthracite ;)

Oh and the original thread was HERE (http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=58344)

(Need to fix the pictures as they were originally on Imagestation :( )

Mark
15-05-2008, 11:11
Lepsons :nod:

had my r33 rims done anthracite with polished lip and they was the bollox :smitten:

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54586&stc=1&d=1210846226

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54587&stc=1&d=1210846267

CrazySx
15-05-2008, 11:56
Lepsons :nod:

had my r33 rims done anthracite with polished lip and they was the bollox :smitten:

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54586&stc=1&d=1210846226

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54587&stc=1&d=1210846267

Hey Mark,

Do you have anymore pics?

That is exactly what i am looking for, but not sure whether to go gunmetal or Saph Blue :wack:

Also the other fear has kind of been confirm, that the polished lip makes the rim look smaller... I think i have to reconsider my options now.

CrazySx
15-05-2008, 11:58
Pics already in sig mate ;) (click sig and it'll take you to my profile)

They've been on the car for 5 years mate lol :D

The colour I asked for was Anthracite ;)

Oh and the original thread was HERE (http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=58344)

(Need to fix the pictures as they were originally on Imagestation :( )

Thanks mate :thumbs:

Quick question.. what tyre sizes did you go for? I have already got some 225/45 for up front and 245/40 for the backs

GrahamB
15-05-2008, 12:03
235/40 front 255/40 rear :thumbs:

CrazySx
15-05-2008, 12:07
Are you running standard shocks with Eibach Springs? Did you roll your arches (rear)? And how are the 235s on the front?

GrahamB
15-05-2008, 12:16
Yep, Nope and they're pretty damn good compared to the 245s I had before :hurl: They dont tramline anywhere near as bad :thumbs:

CrazySx
15-05-2008, 12:18
hahaha.. then 225 sounds like a good choice :thumbs: So you are running standard shocks with eibach springs? what is that like, i think i could do that for the time being if it doesnt bottom out or anything horrible like that!

GrahamB
15-05-2008, 12:40
Yes I'm still running that setup. Although I am also running adjustable top mounts(on the fronts), ARB's and Pineapples ;)

I've never had any problems with the setup, although it's maybe a bit hard.

CrazySx
04-06-2008, 22:46
Ok, So i gave my wheels in to Merityre Kingston 2 weeks ago, and they came back like this.......

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/03062008364.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/03062008365.jpg

With Rubber...

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/04062008372.jpg

On the car...

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/04062008380.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x249/danny4q/04062008373.jpg

:smitten:

I only have one question.. the front tyres seem to be fouling on the struts, any ideas on this :confused: I thought these wheels were plug and play :annoyed: 3mm spacers or 5mm ???

GrahamB
05-06-2008, 09:54
What size tyres did you go for on the front?

I wouldn't bother with spacers if you can avoid it :no: They're more trouble than they're worth :annoyed:

They look sweet by the way :smitten:

CrazySx
05-06-2008, 10:48
Hey Mate, thanks :thumbs:


I have 225/45/17 as recommended by many fellow sxers here. I know i would rather not have spacers either.. but i think i will have to have a 5mm jobbie on there. Its funny, i tested it properly on the way to work today and on right hand lock it scrapes, but left hand lock is fine :confused:

GrahamB
05-06-2008, 10:54
It's probably just scraping an arch liner ;)

I doubt it'd be the struts as it would rub all the time so a spacer won't cure the problem (if anything it might make it worse)

Mark
05-06-2008, 11:28
Yep thats the arch liner :nod:

CrazySx
05-06-2008, 15:43
Are you sure about that guys?? It sounds terrible around right hand bends and on full lock the tyre looks like its touching the strut, and you get feedback in the steering :eek:

Mark
05-06-2008, 17:16
Are you sure about that guys?? It sounds terrible around right hand bends and on full lock the tyre looks like its touching the strut, and you get feedback in the steering :eek:

How can it hit the strut when the wheel turns :confused: the strut moves with the wheel :nod:

its the plastic arch liner :nod:

CrazySx
06-06-2008, 11:20
I checked it last night and the rim was rubbing on the strut, but only on the right hand side for some perculiar reason :confused:

My brand new refurbed GTR Rims had been scuffed, but it wasn't that bad, and i used a bit of grey hammerite to seal the paint again.

I fitted some 5mm spacers, and the steering now feels nice and light like it should :thumbs:

Mark
06-06-2008, 15:16
Bit odd :confused: knackered wheel bearing :confused:

GrahamB
06-06-2008, 15:18
VERY odd :eek:

Wheel shouldn't hit the strut at all :no:

Maybe tyre wall but never the wheel :no:

CrazySx
01-07-2008, 10:42
Well i just got back from hols, and even with the spacers on, the steering feels weird. It pulls from side to side. Maybe they have setup the wheel alignment all wrong??

BBB
01-07-2008, 10:57
Do you mean tramlining (wheels follow bumps and dips in the road surface) or random wheel movement on good surfaces? If its the former then it's just a consequence of the width of the wheels and low profile tyres. If it's more like the second symptom then, yes, you may have unequal toe angles or worn tension rod bushes.

CrazySx
01-07-2008, 11:02
I think its tramlining then.. its fine on straight roads, just if there is a dip or a bump it likes to pull the car in that direction :eek: i don't like it, I was really considering putting my 16's back on :wack:

These are just 17s as well, i hate to think what 18s would be like :eek:

BBB
01-07-2008, 11:09
You'll get used to it, but if it really bugs you then you can get different track rod ends that eliminate bump steer or raise your ride height. Most people live with it. Thankfully your rims aren't even that wide.

GrahamB
01-07-2008, 11:10
It's the tyre width doing that not the actual size of the wheel ;)

George
01-07-2008, 11:25
The wheels look good. What colour is that? RAL7048 Pearl Mouse Grey perhaps?:thumbs:

CrazySx
01-07-2008, 11:27
You'll get used to it, but if it really bugs you then you can get different track rod ends that eliminate bump steer or raise your ride height. Most people live with it. Thankfully your rims aren't even that wide.

Any ideas where i can get the track rod ends? Are they dear? If they are i might just have to live with it :wack: Why can nothing ever be simple :D

Egon
01-07-2008, 11:34
Sorry to interject, but do you guys know if the aformentioned companies do wheel repairs too? My spare was "repaired:rolleyes:" by a place in gravesend but it looks like a shite job and i now have no useable spare...:(
Its leaking and looks like its cracked.....

BBB
01-07-2008, 11:37
Any ideas where i can get the track rod ends? Are they dear? If they are i might just have to live with it :wack: Why can nothing ever be simple :D


Not cheap :no:

http://www.sxoc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=304940&highlight=bump+steer+arms

CrazySx
01-07-2008, 12:45
The wheels look good. What colour is that? RAL7048 Pearl Mouse Grey perhaps?:thumbs:

Hey George,

I just said i wanted Gun Mettalic. Is that what it is then?? It does look a bit Mousey now that you mention it :wack:

CrazySx
01-07-2008, 13:34
Not cheap :no:

http://www.sxoc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=304940&highlight=bump+steer+arms

Thanks for the link mate, i doubt i will be buying them tho :no:

BBB
01-07-2008, 13:38
I don't reckon you need them anyway, from reading your other thread you're not lowered enough to need them. Stick with it and you'll soon get used to it.

crawleycruise
21-07-2008, 13:22
hi mate, theres a place in crawley near gatwick im trying to get a deal for my members.
will let u know

high boost hero
21-07-2008, 14:55
have you had the tracking checked and all the bushes checked as its happening to mine at the moment due to the bushes being shot.

saw your car in kingston couple of weeks back looks nice:thumbs:

CrazySx
22-07-2008, 12:36
Thanks mate, where you from??

I have an MOT due in August, I suppose I'd better check them! Thanks for the tip. However I doubt it will be the bushes as the car was perfect before i put the wheels on. I will be dropping it 35mm pretty soon.. that will make things interesting i am sure!

schumi84
23-07-2008, 12:59
As a quick extra post, thought it better to add it to this thread. I pranged my Megane Alloy a few months back and was looking around for a place, till i found this one:

http://www.wheelsapproved.co.uk/ -/edit based in Woodham over near Weybridge

Found them very professional to deal with and very competitive price wise (cost £55 for a standard 15" alloy with laquer).

Also if you recommend someone you get free M&S vouchers :Plug: :nod: :rolleyes:

Bennie
14-08-2008, 11:30
I work for a company called Automotive Repair Systems we do alloy wheel refurbs and will come to you to do it. We are going to be at Japbash 08 at the Pitman pub in Uckfield on 24th August it's hopefully going to be a good show and we are going to be offering very competetive prices for wheel refurbs, bumper and scratch repair and paintless dent removal. Be cool to see more SX owners there than last year it was only me and 1 of my mates.