i have a set of blitz type-03 and i am trying to clean then up real good but i can get between the edges where the spokes and the lip meet. since its a 3-piece can i take it apart?? if i am able to take them apart, do i have to dis-mounted the tire and release the air before i do so???

 

Don't do it....you need a pro to do this.

Pete

 

i should probably give blitz a call and see what they say

 

Have you tried everything? Q-tips always seem to get into those tight spots on my car for me.

 

havent tried everything but its been raining on and off and left waterspots and its tough to get out without some sort of polish, seems like the face of the wheel can come on and off

 

can any experts shed some light on this topic???

 

if you want to take the face off the lips jsut unbolt the bolts.

 

will it do any harm if i just unbolt the face and clean it up then bolt it back up together?? do i need to dis-mount the tire or release air pressure??

 

With three piece wheels, there is also a "sealer" that is applied between the barrels and the face. It is sort of like the bathroom tile sealer (clear, semi soft). You can only see this sealer when the tire is removed. This is what prevents air from seeping out of the bolts on a 3pc wheel.

 

yeah u can clean that up and reseal it. When i was getting one of my rims fixed the shop pointed out that my seals were chipping away. told me they could reseal for 25$ or if i knew how to do it i could do it myself , he said it wasnt hard.

 

The key with disassembling three-piece wheels is in the reassembly process- let's be honest, a monkey with a wrench can take them apart...

Most high-end three-piece wheel manufacturers recommend replacing the assembly hardware anytime the wheels are reassembled - the bolts stretch slightly when first installed, and can fatgue if re-used. The key to reassembly is torque- different manufacturers use different hardware, and torquing the hardware is critical. I would venture to say that most wheel repair shops reuse the original assembly hardware and over-torque the bolts/nuts. Not good. Some wheels require a special tool to engage the bolt or nut properly, so consider this as well.

You'll also need to completely and thoroughly clean all the old sealer off of the inner and outer rim components. Trim the bulk of the sealer off with a box cutter or a razor blade, and take the remainder off with a wire brush attached to a drill. This is time-consuming and messy.

Also, before reassembling the wheels, clean the rim mating surfaces with laquer thinner, to remove any residue and help promote adhesion of the new seal. Generally, regular 100% RTV Silicone works well to seal the wheels- do this AFTER assembling the wheels.

Since the torque specifications can vary, PLEASE consult the wheel manufacturer for the recommended hardware torque value.

 

i figured it would be just disasemble and assemble... i will give blitz a call and see what they recommend, thanks for everyones help

 

ive taken apart and put back together several 3 piece wheels for customers of mine............id have to say that davin comes apart the easiest................lowenhart on the other hand has been a royal PITA in my experience.............i damaged one of my 20x9 LD1 on the front of my gs and took a BR5 with same width and offset and robbed the outer lip from it..................since dazz will not sale just the lips.........anyway i had to beat both wheels apart and it definately was not fun,,,,,,,,,nor was getting it back together............others have been easy for me though...............yes the substance derrick is talking about and what i use is silicon intended for aluminum surfaces.................

mike