wheel straightening
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 572
Likes: 2
From: Carol Stream IL
wheel straightening
Does anyone know a good shop that can straighten an out of round 19" C6 5 spoke wheel, preferably in the Chicago area?
The wheel is out of round on the rear face. There is no sharp bend in the perimeter, the rear face is just somewhat oblong. Measuring in one direction compared to the other direction (90 degrees apart) shows a difference of about 1/4-3/8".
The front face is true.
The wheel is out of round on the rear face. There is no sharp bend in the perimeter, the rear face is just somewhat oblong. Measuring in one direction compared to the other direction (90 degrees apart) shows a difference of about 1/4-3/8".
The front face is true.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 965
Likes: 13
From: turn 12 at Road America or TX
in Elk Grove Village:
http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...-Locations.php
The San Antonio guys refinished a couple of my aluminum wheels - looked better than original. I can only assume they can straighten a wheel too ...
http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...-Locations.php
The San Antonio guys refinished a couple of my aluminum wheels - looked better than original. I can only assume they can straighten a wheel too ...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 8
From: Whitehall PA
Wheel Collision Center in Bath, PA
This shop has a patented method of straightening wheels. When done, the wheels are perfect and just as strong as new. Very few, if any, other shops can do this. Much of their business is out-of-state mail ins. Check them out here and give them a call: http://www.wheelcollision.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,002
Likes: 2,703
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
GM's position is that aluminum wheels can be refinished, but not straightened.
Their attitude is that if it's bent, replace it.
That may be unreasonable, but...
I was able to buy two sets of 2009 painted split spoke wheels for our car, in like-new condition, for $300/set on Craigslist; about three years ago. Local sellers, I inspected in person, paid cash, threw 'em in the trunk of our beater and drove home. Total time about 2 hrs/set, not counting some waiting for the desired wheels to show up on Craigslist. Chicago area.
If your wheel is the standard painted one, you might be able to buy a good used one cheaper than having yours straightened.
Their attitude is that if it's bent, replace it.
That may be unreasonable, but...
I was able to buy two sets of 2009 painted split spoke wheels for our car, in like-new condition, for $300/set on Craigslist; about three years ago. Local sellers, I inspected in person, paid cash, threw 'em in the trunk of our beater and drove home. Total time about 2 hrs/set, not counting some waiting for the desired wheels to show up on Craigslist. Chicago area.
If your wheel is the standard painted one, you might be able to buy a good used one cheaper than having yours straightened.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,002
Likes: 2,703
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
GM is full of lawyers, so I don't know what the standards really should be.
I've heard of aluminum wheels that were straightened and then failed, sometimes soon and sometimes much later. That's bad.
But we all know people who had aluminum wheels straightened and lived happily ever after. I suspect the secret is partly in evaluating whether the wheel can indeed be straightened safely, and partly in using the right technique. Whether a particular wheel service is good at doing both of those things, could be hard to tell.
I've heard of aluminum wheels that were straightened and then failed, sometimes soon and sometimes much later. That's bad.
But we all know people who had aluminum wheels straightened and lived happily ever after. I suspect the secret is partly in evaluating whether the wheel can indeed be straightened safely, and partly in using the right technique. Whether a particular wheel service is good at doing both of those things, could be hard to tell.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
GM's position is that aluminum wheels can be refinished, but not straightened.
Their attitude is that if it's bent, replace it.
That may be unreasonable, but...
I was able to buy two sets of 2009 painted split spoke wheels for our car, in like-new condition, for $300/set on Craigslist; about three years ago. Local sellers, I inspected in person, paid cash, threw 'em in the trunk of our beater and drove home. Total time about 2 hrs/set, not counting some waiting for the desired wheels to show up on Craigslist. Chicago area.
If your wheel is the standard painted one, you might be able to buy a good used one cheaper than having yours straightened.
Their attitude is that if it's bent, replace it.
That may be unreasonable, but...
I was able to buy two sets of 2009 painted split spoke wheels for our car, in like-new condition, for $300/set on Craigslist; about three years ago. Local sellers, I inspected in person, paid cash, threw 'em in the trunk of our beater and drove home. Total time about 2 hrs/set, not counting some waiting for the desired wheels to show up on Craigslist. Chicago area.
If your wheel is the standard painted one, you might be able to buy a good used one cheaper than having yours straightened.
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 572
Likes: 2
From: Carol Stream IL
in Elk Grove Village:
http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...-Locations.php
The San Antonio guys refinished a couple of my aluminum wheels - looked better than original. I can only assume they can straighten a wheel too ...
http://www.wheelsamerica.com/Wheels-...-Locations.php
The San Antonio guys refinished a couple of my aluminum wheels - looked better than original. I can only assume they can straighten a wheel too ...
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Carol Stream IL
I was planning to use these rims for R compound track tires. Now I'm not sure this wheel was repaired to the extent that it will be safe and that tread wear would be uniform (excluding uneven outside to inside wear from track use). Does anyone have any insight if this variation in diameter is normal?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
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From: Southern Utah
Due to the properties of aluminum, it's just not something that I would do. Once aluminum has passed its' yield strength, (in other words, bent permanently) it will not be as strong as it was before if it is bent back into shape. Bending a wheel back to shape is completely different than refinishing a ding or scrape. Those wheels are very inexpensive to buy used, why not do that?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 572
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From: Carol Stream IL
Well the shop I took the wheel to, Wheels America, didn't do such a good job. I'm going to take it back to them to see if they can do better. If they can't, I'll be looking for 1 polished aluminum 5 spoke rear wheel (19x10). If you have one in very good condition, let me know.