Is this rim fixable? Pic inside.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Waco TX
Is this rim fixable? Pic inside.
I bought a set of 97-99 C5 rims to use for autocross on my 94 LT1 for a couple hundred bucks. The guy that sold these to me said they have 76k miles on them off a 98 Corvette and he had never noticed this until they took the rims off. For all he knew, the crack could have been there for years. He told me the C5 had runflats, but that he had never had any problem with the tires holding air. Even runflats have to be aired up, right? You can't drive them with low pressure forever, right?
He was very open and honest about them. He even told me that he would fully refund my money and even let me keep ther rims since if it is useless, that it would be useless to anyone and he doesn't have room to put them anywhere.
I didnt know if a machine shop or welder could fix this or not. If it is fixable, where/who would I take it to?
My intention was to put some Kuhmo Ecsta 710s or some kind of autocrossing tire like that on it.
This will only be an autocross wheel. I wouldn't drive it on the streets. So safety shouldn't be too big of a issue. If this was going to be my daily driver, I wouldn't hesitate in just replacing it for safety reasons.
Thanks.
Last edited by CStewTAMU; Jul 11, 2009 at 04:13 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon MO
I am by no means an expert on this. Just filling in the gap would work, but it's not going to be true and straight unless you close the gap. But if you do get it fixed and it fails while you are racing, you are going to kick yourself for risking a couple thousand dollars damage to your car for a $100 wheel. If the seller is offering a refund, I would hit him up for at least what another wheel from a salvage yard would cost. He did sell you 3 good wheels, so some compensation to him would be a good gesture. IMHO
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,689
Likes: 4
From: Yucaipa CA
call this guy, seems they have fixed rims worse then that one.
http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm
http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,046
Likes: 2
Try a local alignment shop. Not Midas or some of those that "we also do alignments" places, but a specialty shop. They may be able to repair it, or know someone trustworthy that can. You might not be able to find anyone in Waco, but the Dallas area would surely have one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
First and foremost that guy^^is correct. Why bother???
No alignment shop will do it...but these guys
http://www.wheel-repairs.com/
Will fix it and recondition the whole thing. It'll look and perform like new. Sad thing is, it'll cost well over $100
As TA stated, you could buy a whole set for $200.
No alignment shop will do it...but these guys
http://www.wheel-repairs.com/
Will fix it and recondition the whole thing. It'll look and perform like new. Sad thing is, it'll cost well over $100
As TA stated, you could buy a whole set for $200.
Last edited by jhammons01; Jul 12, 2009 at 12:52 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
junk, just seen a basicly brandnew set taken off right away go for $100 but just the wheels. you can sell those and buy a better set of 4 for another $100-$200 . Some people still pay like $100 a rim but anyone who knows better and watches won't.
good luck, and IMO DO NOT FIX THAT RIM!!!!
good luck, and IMO DO NOT FIX THAT RIM!!!!
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 466
Likes: 1
From: Laguna Niguel California
First and foremost that guy^^is correct. Why bother???
No alignment shop will do it...but these guys
http://www.wheel-repairs.com/
Will fix it and recondition the whole thing. It'll look and perform like new. Sad thing is, it'll cost well over $100
As TA stated, you could buy a whole set for $200.
No alignment shop will do it...but these guys
http://www.wheel-repairs.com/
Will fix it and recondition the whole thing. It'll look and perform like new. Sad thing is, it'll cost well over $100
As TA stated, you could buy a whole set for $200.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Thanks for the compliment, I helped Jeff launch that place years ago...2003ish?
I need to make it clear from my earlier post. The OPs wheel can be fixed without issue...it's just a cost justification issue in this particular case.
That wheel is in no way junk, trash, etc.......it's just a money and supply and demand thing.......when you have plenty lying around it makes no sense to spend the money to fix one.
I need to make it clear from my earlier post. The OPs wheel can be fixed without issue...it's just a cost justification issue in this particular case.
That wheel is in no way junk, trash, etc.......it's just a money and supply and demand thing.......when you have plenty lying around it makes no sense to spend the money to fix one.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,131
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
^^Sorry, I just want to clear it up.....There is no "Chance" involved in an outer rim crack.
If the hub or spokes are compromised, recycle the wheel for scrap aluminum.
A cracked or bent rim lip can easily be fixed and it's primary purpose of holding the bead of the tire is not compromised.
If the hub or spokes are compromised, recycle the wheel for scrap aluminum.
A cracked or bent rim lip can easily be fixed and it's primary purpose of holding the bead of the tire is not compromised.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
^^OK....Stop already......The misinformation is not appreciated.
As I said, I helped launch the business I posted earlier.
We readily and steadily went to performance shops and picked up $1000 wheels and repaired them for folks that were cracking them up on the race tracks.
I highly doubt that you have seen the inside of a wheel repair shop much less spent any time studying the effects of certain types of wheel damage.
Thousands of.......Hundreds of thousands of cars running the road today that have been in an accident have had the wheels reconditioned with worse damage that what is posted.....and these wheels are experiencing no failures.
So please, opinions are great when talking about what color is better, but unless you know something about a subject, posting misinformation is spending CF members money needlessly. But I guess that is OK if it is their money.
If that wheel wasn't readily available as a "Take off" a factory replacement would be $400-$500 dollars at the dealership.....if that was the only option, guess what Polo?? You just advised a fellow Corvette Forum member to throw away a perfectly repairable wheel and spend 4 times the amount he could have by having the wheel repaired by a professional.
Think about it.......
As I said, I helped launch the business I posted earlier.
We readily and steadily went to performance shops and picked up $1000 wheels and repaired them for folks that were cracking them up on the race tracks.
I highly doubt that you have seen the inside of a wheel repair shop much less spent any time studying the effects of certain types of wheel damage.
Thousands of.......Hundreds of thousands of cars running the road today that have been in an accident have had the wheels reconditioned with worse damage that what is posted.....and these wheels are experiencing no failures.
So please, opinions are great when talking about what color is better, but unless you know something about a subject, posting misinformation is spending CF members money needlessly. But I guess that is OK if it is their money.
If that wheel wasn't readily available as a "Take off" a factory replacement would be $400-$500 dollars at the dealership.....if that was the only option, guess what Polo?? You just advised a fellow Corvette Forum member to throw away a perfectly repairable wheel and spend 4 times the amount he could have by having the wheel repaired by a professional.
Think about it.......
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Waco TX
Wow...it seems everyone is strongly opinionated one way or the other. not much in between.
This is the lip on the inside of the rim...the side away from the spokes. There are not cracks anywhere near the spokes or hub. The crack narrows into a hairline fracture about 1 inch on the inside of the rim after turning the 90 degree turn towards the side with the spokes.
Finding a single rim is a pain...most sellers won't just sell one.
This is the lip on the inside of the rim...the side away from the spokes. There are not cracks anywhere near the spokes or hub. The crack narrows into a hairline fracture about 1 inch on the inside of the rim after turning the 90 degree turn towards the side with the spokes.
Finding a single rim is a pain...most sellers won't just sell one.
Last edited by CStewTAMU; Jul 12, 2009 at 11:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
so what you are saying is that you have opted to try to fix this one? If so let me know.
Keystone is the National chain that fixes wheels, they may have a facility near Waco.
That wheel should be roughly $125 to recondition, and if you drop in at the right time, they may have a wheel like that already to go......you just swap and pay...they fix your at their leisure.
If no one is local, let me know, we'll talk to Jeff and see what it takes to ship the wheel to Orange County.....or maybe he has one...if he does He'll sell you a single without blinking.
Keystone is the National chain that fixes wheels, they may have a facility near Waco.
That wheel should be roughly $125 to recondition, and if you drop in at the right time, they may have a wheel like that already to go......you just swap and pay...they fix your at their leisure.
If no one is local, let me know, we'll talk to Jeff and see what it takes to ship the wheel to Orange County.....or maybe he has one...if he does He'll sell you a single without blinking.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
I understand this, but its hard to justify spending $150 to fix the wheel when you can buy a set of four in the C5 for sale section for $120 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...on-wheels.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...on-wheels.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
I understand this, but its hard to justify spending $150 to fix the wheel when you can buy a set of four in the C5 for sale section for $120
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...on-wheels.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...on-wheels.html
We'll get this Texan squared away sooner or later......
