Bent Aluminium Rim

[GMAN]

A few weeks ago I had a tire blow off the rim on my step deck. It turned out that the rim was slightly bent along the edge. I had to replace the rim with a steel wheel since the garage only carried steel wheels. I have heard that aluminum wheels can be repaired or rebuilt, but have not found a source as yet. I was wondering if anyone has ever had one rebuilt and who might have done it? I would prefer to do that than buy a new aluminum wheel as long as it will hold up like new.

[COLT]

Petty sure it's junk, even the slightest imperfection, especially along the bead will make the rim junk.

[Roadhog]

I just googled the Knoxville area and found lots of shops that will repair wheels.
I forget where you live.

I'd fix this myself, if you were just up the street.
My sister owns a large machine shop. They are an Extrusion Tool shop.

You can heat these and straighten them, use a tig welder to add material if needed, then run them on a lathe to true them up. Take it over to the polisher, and make it look purdy.

[COLT]

It's aluminum hoggy

[COLT]

From Alcoa's site. They don't even repair them in Mexico man!

SERIOUS RISKS FROM REPAIRING WHEELS AND RIMS FOR TRUCKS AND BUSES

Unlike processes used to increase the life of tires, wheels should never be repaired where repair and retreading are expected.
No wheel manufacturer, whether of steel, aluminum, or special band, recommends any kind of process of wheel repair for breakage, cracks, bulging, or ovalization.
This Bulletin was prepared by the Latin American Tire and Rim Association (ALAPA) of which Alcoa is a member. The purpose is to alert users to the dangers of this practice, which may lead to very serious or fatal accidents.

Alcoa Wheel Products: South America: Technical Data: Care and Maintenance: Repair

[Roadhog]

I'm just sayin'

It depends on the extent of the damage. But I hear you...most shops won't take on the liability.
Some shops do specialize in aluminum wheel repair and restoration.

From what GMAN describes, this is a slight bend in the bead. You don't want to see a crack, but this doesn't sound that messed up.

This is my sisters shop > Extrusion Tool Manufacturer and Design : MasterCraft Extrusion Tools

I've worked there off and on. Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.



Bragging rights...
They built the worlds largest seamless die.
It was for the Space Shuttle. See the photo > Extrusion Tools & Extrusion Dies : MasterCraft Extrusion Tools

[Roadhog]

From Alcoa's site. They don't even repair them in Mexico man!

I don't blame Alcoa... I've seen Mexican work.

[Windwalker]

I was once told that if you have an Alcoa Rim and it goes bad, the replacement is free. Never had the chance to try it.

[COLT]

Warranty, do you have any idea how many curbs that poor rim has endured ?

[Windwalker]

Warranty, do you have any idea how many curbs that poor rim has endured ?

I don't know about anybody else's truck (and rim), but I do know that when I had my truck, the worst the rims got were the hiways in AK and LA.

[GMAN]

I'm just sayin'

It depends on the extent of the damage. But I hear you...most shops won't take on the liability.
Some shops do specialize in aluminum wheel repair and restoration.

From what GMAN describes, this is a slight bend in the bead. You don't want to see a crack, but this doesn't sound that messed up.

This is my sisters shop > Extrusion Tool Manufacturer and Design : MasterCraft Extrusion Tools

I've worked there off and on. Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.



Bragging rights...
They built the worlds largest seamless die.
It was for the Space Shuttle. See the photo > Extrusion Tools & Extrusion Dies : MasterCraft Extrusion Tools

You can't tell that it is bent by looking at it. The only way the garage could tell was when they rolled it. The rim went to one side. It isn't cracked. Thanks for the references. By the way, I live in Chattanooga.

[Roadhog]

From the repair methods I've checked out, most would use a hydrolic press to straighten the wheel, and a dial indicator to check for true.

These shops have a machine set up for that job.
At our machine shop, I'd be able to set up to use our press to straighten, then I'd have to mount to a lathe to check with the dial indicator. Probably have to go back and forth several times, before I got it straight. But still, I'm sure I'd do it for myself or a friend.
(I love fooling around in that machine shop on weekends with my own little projects)

I have a project sitting out back half finished right now. A nice heavy duty single axle work trailer, with electric brakes.
(I built 3 double axle trailers w/elec. brakes in the past and sold them... this one is for me.)
Before that I made some sweet hunting knives out of D2.

I still want to design a better mouse trap. Like a mini-claymore trip, or a guillotine.
But right now, I spend most of my time picking splinters outta my butt from sitting around pining for Elizabeth Hurley.

[GMAN]

If we lived closer I would consider having you to try to repair it.

[Kranky]

Anything can be fixed if you want to throw enough money and time at it.

That said, unless you can get the machine shop to work for free, why spend money fixing something that can probably be replaced with a new one for not much more money?

With a new wheel, you know it's true, and you know it's not metal fatigued from being bent and then pressed straight again.

If it was mine, I'd put a new rim on it and be done with it.

Besides, the price of aluminum scrap is up right now.

.

[GMAN]

The last aluminum wheel that I bought cost about $400. I was told that the scrap value is about $18.

[Maniac]

A repaired aluminum wheel usually won't run true anymore, will eat the tires............scrap it, A new polished wheel is under $300, unpolished is even cheaper


http://4statetrucks.com/index.aspx?s...XP=Y&iABSP=M_1

[Jackrabbit379]

I didn't know you could repair an aluminum wheel. I thought they were junk, once they got bent, cracked, dented etc.

GMAN, it's pretty said, isn't it? You buy a wheel for $350, and then you have to scrap it, and only get $15 for it.

[GMAN]

I didn't know you could repair an aluminum wheel. I thought they were junk, once they got bent, cracked, dented etc.

GMAN, it's pretty said, isn't it? You buy a wheel for $350, and then you have to scrap it, and only get $15 for it.

Yep. It is a shame that you can only get about $15 for a used aluminum rim. I had a driver who bent one a couple of years ago and I believe that it cost me $400 to replace it.

By the way, the only way that you can tell the rim is bent is by rolling it. When you look at it you can't tell that it is bent. That is one reason that I would like to salvage it, if possible. That and the $350-400 for a new aluminum rim.

[Bigmon]

I got $37 for mine. 24.5". Depends on the price of aluminum.

[repete]

I used to sell auto parts and the Co had a nation wide distribution system for "remanufactured wheels" now I no these were car / pick up wheels but the process would be the same. One of the "rules" were it couldn't be bent or cracked in the hub area. So if the damage is on the flats by the lug nuts... sorry buy a new one. We had some specialty wheels repaired that had some large chunks out of the bead area and when they come back you had to look real close to see the welded area. Check out having it repaired but I'm sure it's gonna cost at least $200 that's getting close!