Ford has issued a number of positioning statements which we will publish over the next few weeks.
Remanufacturing or Refinishing of Road Wheels
Ford Motor Company does not approve the remanufacturing/repairs of steel, aluminium or alloy wheels when it involves re-machining, re-plating, welding, bending, straightening, reforming or adding new material other than cosmetic coatings, as this can compromise the structural integrity of the wheel and safety of the vehicle.
A repaired wheel, or any wheel not approved by Ford Motor Company, may cause unsafe vehicle operation and performance, including loss of control which may result in injuries to the vehicle occupants or other drivers.
Ford Motor Company approves repairs of steel, aluminium or alloy wheels only if all necessary repairs/reconditioning can be completed by cosmetic sanding or polishing that removes no metal and, instead, removes only the finish.
Any wheel that is a candidate for refinishing must be carefully inspected and discarded if the wheel contains any of the following:
- Cracks
- Damage that cannot be corrected with cosmetic sanding or polishing
- Repairs that change, or will change, the wheel’s shape, contour, style lines or other design features
- Repairs that alter, or will alter, the wheel’s rim flanges, wheel nut chamfers, wheel pilot holes or other functional surfaces
- Refinishing that leaves, or will leave, paint, clearcoat or other coatings on the wheel’s mounting surfaces or on wheel nut contact surfaces
- Refinishing that involves cure temperatures above 175°C
- Chrome plating (either re-plating or chrome plating a painted wheel)
Ford Motor Company does not warrant any remanufactured/refinished wheels.
Ford Motor Company vehicles are designed and built to provide optimum fit, function, safety and structural integrity. Ford Motor Company does not approve the use of third-party replacement parts. The quality, performance and safety of these parts cannot be verified and may result in substandard repairs, which can inhibit proper vehicle function and cause erroneous DTCs. Only by using Ford original equipment collision parts can you be assured of the part’s fit, finish, quality and safety.