Coating on Aluminium Nudge Bars ?

Submitted: Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 19:54
ThreadID: 48597 Views:2460 Replies:2 FollowUps:0
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Hi,
My wife had the misfortune to roll her car into a Toyota Tarago in the street. (Left the handbrake off).

There are a few rub marks on the bumper bar on her car, which will polish off, so nothing to worry about there.

TheTarago has an Aluminium Nudge bar. There are a few rub marks to the surface, no gouges, no dents etc. I think that they will polish off.

However, the owner is insistant that the nudge bar needs to be replaced at a cost of $495.

The reason given is that the Nudge Bar has a "coating" that would be removed if any attempt was made to polish the marks off. As a result of removing the coating, the aluminium would no longer be "sealed" and will "go white" if exposed at some later date to salt air.

I know about aluminium rust (oxide), but is this "sealing of the aluminium" some marketing hype that the owner of the car has listened to and is trying to use to extract some cash from us ?

I am quite happy about fixing the problem for the owner, but it seems over the top to replace a nudge bar because it has a few rub marks.

Your learned comments would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Mal58



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Reply By: Doggy Tease - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 20:30

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 20:30
There is actually a coating available for aluminium. Or i should say for aluminium wheels.
Try a beaurepairs centre that deals with trucks alot, specifically trucks that run aluminium 10 stud wheels.
These wheels are often coated to protect them a bit better. The coating "dulls" the initial shine a little bit but does help protect the wheel.
I know there is a place here in Perth that does it at around $100 per wheel, but i dont know if there is anywhere over east. Again, Beaurepairs may be able to help find somewhere.
Here at least, if the coating is badly damaged, the wheel is simply stripped and the coating reapplied.
I would definately find out about this first before doing anything like handing cash over.
Hope this helps.

meow.

rick.
AnswerID: 256766

Reply By: Brian (VIC) - Saturday, Aug 11, 2007 at 00:24

Saturday, Aug 11, 2007 at 00:24
purely speculation but would the"coating" simply be a layer of clear coat sprayed over the bar assembly (and possibly baked on)? Aside from that get a friendly panel beaters opinion or tell them that the "damage" shows character etc.
Brian T
AnswerID: 256785

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