Powdercoating Aluminium Wheel nuts?


AlexEKnine

AlexEKnine

1997 EK9
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
210
Ive got a set of Rays DuraNuts and the anodized finish has been worn off over time.

Im getting a set of wheels powdercoated next week and wanted to know if its ok to powdercoat aluminium wheel nuts, as if it ruins the strength etc of them then i dont want to take the risk!

Cheers for any help, cant find any info :(
 
Powdercoating does exactly what the name says. You coating the wheel nuts, so should not, in anyway, alter the properties or strength of the wheel nuts.
 
i dont think the temperatures reached during powdercoating would be enough to effect the alloy structure of duraluminum

alluminium alloys melt around 800-900*K

powdercoating usually bakes at under 500*K
 
Yup. Temperatures are dead on.

My uncle powdercoated his wheels and his intake manifold if that helps?
 
I wouldnt powdercoat the wheel nut.
Unless you scrape the coat of the taper.
 
Hat treated alloys start to artificially age at 200deg ish, so heating them to anything over 200deg won't melt them but they will lose strength if they are heat treated as part of their manufacture process. A non-issue on something like an inlet manifold, but there is a reason why Rota invalidate your warranty if you powder coat your wheels, be especially wary of people that bake them to outgass for extended periods.

personally I wouldn't touch alu nuts especially if powder coated.

EDIT: Saying that I powdercoated my SSRs, but I kept temps down as low as possible, its fine if you know what you are doing, I just think alu nuts are a bit of a compromise already, get them anodised maybe?
 
Last edited:
I would not recommend.

it may look good when its done, but the coating will come off when you use your wrench to tighten....the coating will definitely not bond as good as it would on wheels...

tried it already with my Rays red Duranuts.
 
Ali wheel nuts aren't great at the best of times. Powder coating the is just goin to make them softer! Obviously it won't melt them but it will undo some of the hardening they go through during the manufacturing process.
 
Say you should just get them anodized again. Look way better and you could DIY it if you tried.
 
If you get them powdercoated they may be too thick to fit in the socket and would be ruined on the first fitting id imagine
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top