Category: Best Buffing Machines

Cars are a heavy expenditure and a precious possession for their owners. A good car owner never fails to ensure that it sparkles and shines just like it was when bought from the showroom. However, most car owners often ignore the wheels. Alloy wheels not only add to the elegance and appearance of the car, but also promise enhanced performance and a smooth drive.

Don’t forget that it’s the wheels that are more prone to dust, grime, and dirt. So, shouldn’t the alloy wheels be more or equally cared for as the car’s body?

Now, you know why your neighbor’s car sparkles more than yours despite regular cleaning. You missed paying attention to the wheels.

Better late than never

Brake dust, grime, and dirt are bound to accumulate on wheels while on the run as they are the most exposed to the elements and debris from the road. This can be taken care of by proper cleaning and washing. However, scratches, curb rash, bends etc. demand alloy wheel repair by expert wheel specialists.

For cleaning, you can follow the listed regime:

First, prepare your wheels for the cleaning process. Alloy wheels are made with a combination of metals, which are durable, shiny and strong. They need special care when cleaned. You just cannot scrub it with any cloth. A soft cloth, free from roughness must be used to avoid damage to the wheels. Similarly, special brushes with soft bristles are required for cleaning. So, before you start make sure you have all these things handy.

Moreover, brake dust and dirt can cause corrosion during cleaning. So, before beginning, wash off corrosive materials like dust particles and brake dust with a garden hose.

Now, it’s time for the cleaning process to begin.

• Soft soap cleaners for alloy wheels are available in the market. Purchase one of these bottles and spray it generously over the wheels. Allow it to soak for a minute and then clean it with a soft cloth. Repeat this unless all the dirt is shooed away. Do not use harsh detergents.
• Baked on brake dust is a nightmare for the wheels. This can be removed with a special alcohol based solution specially designed for removal of brake dust. Apply the solution on a microfiber cloth and clean the brake dust away.
• Odds are high that traces of alcohol and brake dust might be left behind after the cleaning process. It is therefore advisable to re-wash the wheels with warm soapy water to wash the residues away.
• Do you agree that a set of shiny, sparkling wheels are better than “merely-cleaned” wheels. Post cleaning, polishing brings the required shine to the wheels and leaves them looking as good as new.
• Finally, wash the wheels thoroughly and dry them immediately to avoid any water stains created due to quick heating.

Follow this process for clean, sparkling wheels. However, while cleaning, if you notice rash, scratches or any other damage, ensure visiting a wheel specialist for alloy wheel repair. Timely care will save your wheels from further damage.

Do you have any idea how many auto body shops there are in L.A.? Do a quick Google Search for “auto body shops Los Angeles”, and you get literally MILLIONS of results. No matter where you are in L.A., you can’t walk five blocks without running into a half-dozen body shops.

But are they all auto body repair shops you can trust? Will they charge you a fair price for top-quality work? That’s the most important thing to figure out before taking your car to any repair shop.

Here’s what to consider when choosing the best auto body shops in Los Angeles:

Location — Who wants to drive clear across L.A. to get a dent in their car fixed? You should try to find an auto body repair shop in a convenient location–either near your office, your home, your gym, or another place you frequent.

Reputation — What is the body shop’s rating on the Better Business Bureau? Is it even registered? Are there complaints about the quality of their service, customer handling, payments, etc.? What do users have to say on Yelp or Google? Are the reviews mostly positive, or are there a lot of negative reviews? Do the positive reviews look “fake” (a few lines praising the auto body shop, but in vague detail)? You want to find a body shop that has a reputation for delivering quality work, so it’s worth doing a bit of research before you visit a body shop.

Appearance — They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but that’s not the case for an auto body shop. What does the shop look like? Is it old, run-down, and dirty, or does it have a fresh, clean, and modern appearance? Are the cars in the shop older and beat up, or are the technicians working on newer vehicles? Does the equipment look a few days away from breaking down, or is it well-cared for and in good condition. Appearance isn’t everything, but a clean, tidy, well-maintained body shop is a sign that the technicians and owners have a high standard of professionalism.

Parts — Before you hand your car over, ask about the parts used. Are they going to install after market parts (manufactured by a third party, usually lower in quality), or will they install the Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts (manufactured by the company that built your car, top-notch quality)? You want to find a body shop that will install only the best-quality parts in your vehicle!

One of the best ways to find an auto body repair shop in Los Angeles that you can trust is by calling your local dealership and asking for a recommendation. Dealerships are usually very choosy about the body repair shops that they recommend, so you can be certain that they will send you to a facility that does quality work (though the price may be a bit high).

Your goal is to find a repair shop that gets the job done right, and if it takes a bit of work to find that shop, so be it! In the long run, your vehicle will be better off for it.