Slightly dented rim...repearable?

beepbeep · 02-14-2002, 06:05 AM

@!!@##!!"#!

It's so typical, i just bought new tires for 500$ just to find out that one of my old-style 15-inch split rims is slightly bended and thus not prefectly round. (I tought it was one of weights that was missing.)

It's not too excentric, just a milimeter or two but it can be felt when driving between 120 km/h and 140 km/h as vibration.

Is this something that can be repaired? Can a rim be heated and bended back??

Otherwise, i did a very bad investment. A set of wheels in that dimension (10.5 inch back, 9 inch front) costs an arm and a leg!

Thanx!

Superman · 02-14-2002, 06:10 AM

Well, I sure hopw you don't have "split rims." That would be a wheel that comes apart into at least two pieces. That is, instead of stretching the tire bead over the whel rim, you take the wheel apart and put the tire between the two parts and then lock them back together.

If they are Fuchs, then yes, they are quite repairable. It sounds like Wheel Enhancement does a good job.

dtw · 02-14-2002, 06:11 AM

http://www.wheelcollision.com/

Between my dad and I, we've given these guys a LOT of business. They are amazing- and I've sent in wheels damaged to what I thought was beyond repair. One of the oldest names in the business and reasonable pricing as well. I've been to their shop- the owner has got degrees from Cornell and MIT if I remember correctly...

beepbeep · 02-14-2002, 07:59 AM

It's just a tad excentric, like two milimeters...i was driving it up on the car-lift that is used to inspect the car underneath. Car is very low so it slided back and one of side-plates hit the rim *exactly* where it sticks out from the tire, bending it slightly. There are no marks on the rim, but i felt slight "bumping sensation" when i drove away...

It all happened a while ago and i didn't reflect over it as i changed to my Fuschs a day after it happened (thinking it was just some weight that has fallen off that was giving me vibrations).

Superman:

Well, i think they are split BBS-wheels. Middle-part (hub) is held to outer part with many bolts, and i think outer part is also made of two parts hold by bolts.

Superman · 02-14-2002, 08:23 AM

beepbeep, for what it's worth, I think you have what's called "two-piece" wheels. There are also "three-piece" wheels, I believe.

The term "split rims" is usually used to describe the wheels on big trucks. They actually come apart as part of the tire changing process. They've been in the news at times because if the two pieces are not properly mated, then when the technicial puts air in the tires, they can separate suddenly. I am told that split-rim wheel halves can go well over 100 feet in the air, causing serious injury or worse. So, they are inflated in huge roll-bar type cages, just in case.

beepbeep · 02-14-2002, 08:32 AM

Hmm...

In that case they are two-piece wheels! :-)

Kevin Stewart · 02-14-2002, 08:50 AM

If your BBS wheel is older it is probably a three piece, in that case i would not send it to be straightened, first you needto take the wheel to a tire shop discount tire tire america etc, they can tell you where the wheel is bent if say the center and a lip is bent get another wheel it would be to expensive to repair, but in any case i would send it to someone that does 3 piece wheels like say BBS, They simply take the wheel apart toss out the part thats bad and puta new part on like say a wheel half, and it probably just a wheel half but it will be expensive, you could actualy do it by haveing the tire taken off(after you decide where the damage is) take all the bolts out and order another part most bbs parts have numbers, most of the companiesuse tons of silicone to put them together, many wheels are self trueingbecause the holes are real tight and part of the bolt shank is smooth, anyway send it out to have the parts replaced i would worry about straightening the wheel half as they do break, Kevin