Alloy Wheel Straightening - Your Experience

[ChimpOnGas]

Hi guys,

I've been the victim of a pothole, given the cost and availability of buying a new 16" Imola I'm researching alloy wheel straightening.

Obviously success is largely dictated by the severity of damage, I also appreciate the wheel will need to be assessed in person by a professional before the viability of a repair can be established (no prizes for stating the blindingly obvious here).

I'm looking for comments and advice from people who've gone through the alloy wheel straightening process and their experiences both good and bad.

• Did your wheel crack during the straightening process making it scrap?

• In you opinion was the wheel left softened and so more susceptible to future damage/buckling?

• Did you suffer any burning of the wheel's paint/powder coat?

As you can tell I'm a bit skeptical of the process and how successful/permanent it is, but I must say some Googling and YouTubing shows alloy wheels much more severely buckled than mine being successfully saved... which is encouraging.

Thanks in advance, Dave.

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Wednesday 28th June 20:34

[Englishman]

I've used these people http://platinumalloys.com/ on several occasions, most recently to correct buckles on my Cerbs wheels. They can just straighten if no damage to the outer part of wheel or straighten and powder coat. The finish is very good.

Other companies recommended to me but which I haven’t personally used are http://www.myalloys.co.uk/ and http://www.lepsons.com/

I must have had 6 or 7 sets done over the years and never had a problem with any of the repairs.

[ChimpOnGas]

Excellent Englishman, that's encouraging.

Turns out my local guy in Hemel Hempstead offers alloy wheel straightening, I had him strip & repaint my wheels two years ago, the job was good and has lasted well so I'll run the wheel up there tomorrow and see what he says.

https://maxpowder.co.uk/pricing/

Hopefully he can save the wheel.

[KEVS500]

I used these people in Kent:
http://www.automotiverepairsystems.co.uk/alloy-whe...
Happy with price and result
They bothered to ask for another wheel to be sure to match finish, and charged very little over the standard refurb base price to straighten the buckle.

[citizen smith]

For Safety, I would have the wheel professionally crack tested, because there can be under surface stress cracks, that can develop into something more serious when under load.

[ndtman]

Interesting article about alloy wheel repairs


http://www.materials.life/view-material/?imageId=5...

[Speed 3]

Not sure how Imolas compare to Spiders (known chocolate tendencies) but I had all 4 of mine done by Lepsons whilst the Tuscan was in for a full respray. Apparently two were buckled (knew about one after a blow out on the M61 and the struggle to balance it afterwards) and another one had non-alloy filler in it when they stripped it. The latter had to have an alloy weld repair (or plasma spray, not sure which as I got the news second hand through the bodyshop).

Gotta say the finished result is superb and whilst I don't have a lab report, I'm pretty sure they managed to resolve the buckling looking at the new balance weights. Also not had any porosity issues. I can recommend them (as several others on PH do), give them a call and see what they say about crack checks.

[RobXjcoupe]

renowheel have done my wheel repairs for the past 4 years including pothole damaged wheels.
I did actually ask if heat is used and it is but depending on how hard the original alloy is. The sets of wheels I've had repaired have also had a full strip down to bare casting first.
I would say though if you want a good repair the wheel will need to be stripped first of its paint/powder coat then once repaired re-coated accordingly, but for a perfect match have the whole set of wheels refurbed.

[OleVix]

The Imolas are pretty soft and easy to straighten out. I've straightened at least 5000 wheels... it's what I do...

[ChimpOnGas]

OleVix said:

The Imolas are pretty soft and easy to straighten out. I've straightened at least 5000 wheels... it's what I do...

Super Ole, that's great news mate

I couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable comment than that, shame you're so far away or you'd be my first choice to save the wheel.

Thanks again, Dave.

[Bluebottle]

Does anyone have any experience of these guys in West Hampstead?

First Aid Wheels

[ChimpOnGas]

I'd also be interested in any recommendations for wheel straightening services in the Herts/North London/Middlesex areas.

[jazzdude]

Roads no better here, had two straightened without any problems.

They did say when I got them back that they were a little soft, so par for the course I guess.

[ChimpOnGas]

Ok just to wrap this one up this morning I went to my local alloy wheel refurb guy in Hemel Hempstead who offers alloy wheel straightening, and this afternoon I returned to collect the wheel.

https://maxpowder.co.uk/pricing/

Taylor commented the wheel was badly buckled and needed quite a bit of correction, apparently it was distorted in two directions, fortunately he managed to sort it so that's another 'never to be made again' TVR Imola saved

The cost?.... just £45.00...Happy days

[Speed 3]

Result !