splitting and re-building BBS splits

[fender182]

So today I started to split my BBS RS's as they look a little tired, gonna order up some new bolts and valves, have the centres re sprayed but polish the lips and spray the barrels myself just to keep the costs down.

As for buying new bolts and valves, I would like the BBS bolts (if still available) not some cheap ones that will look shit after a week or two. Wheres the best place to buy them? anyone got a link?

Cheers,
Jamie

[dooce]

Why order new bolts? If you've got original BBS bolts, I would just send them off for polishing. Not worth doing yourself unless you have one of those polishing tumblers. If you MUST order new ones, they can be found here:

http://store.blackforestindustries.com/bbsrsparts.html

I'm not sure they have the BBS on them like the originals do though.

[harry_p]

I agree, you'll struggle to find genuine bbs bolts anywhere. And if you do they'll cost a small fortune.

If yours aren't snapped you're better off getting them refinished than trying to find new.

[Jozi]

Anyone know where/how to refinish them?

I got lucky and got my hands on some used OZ bolts that I want to refurb but not sure who to go for or where would do it?

[dooce]

The bolts or the wheels? I havent used him yet but I will be sending my bolts, lips and caps to this guy.

http://the-polisher.tripod.com/index.html

[Jozi]

Just the bolts. I'll be getting stainless lips for mine and getting the centres and barrels painted by the painter.

Anyone know do they re-plated them (zinc/chrome) or just polish them till they shine?

[dooce]

mine are getting polished

[mrLEE30]

if the paint on the bolts was good to start with then they can be polished in a tumbling polisher using wallnut shells or similar, however if the finish on the bolts is damaged then they will need to be re-finished after polishing or they will rust within days.

For a home polish throw them in a jar of vinegar for a few days then put them ina drill chuck and polish against a brillo pad to start, and then later a buffing pad...but this WILL remove the finish so they will need re coating either with chrome for a shiney finish, or at worst clear coat.

basically its not really a home job unless you ahve all the gear, and if you did you probably woudl not need this sort of advice!!

for info this is how i did mine, i just painted the entire middle section bolts an all, and polished the lip. easy peasy and low maintanace.



and five years later...

[Jozi]

Reason I ask is because I can zinc plate them myself but there's a lot of prep work involved because there's 140 bolts. I think I'd gladly ship them of to someone to get it done but I've no idea what you would normally do as you can get chrome or zinc plated bolts brand new (not to mention stainless).

[bss325i]

I got my orginal BBS rs bolts re chromed and the nuts zinc played by theses guys

http://www.collinschemicalblacking.co.uk/

Think I paid a pound a bolt and 50p a nut.

[bss325i]

From this,



To this



I also bought new lips because a, I wanted to go wider and b, I didn't fancy spending hours tediously rubbing them down.

[fender182]

mine have been split before and the bolts aran't original BBS.