buckled alloy wheel.
Discussion
king sunken drains) Can buckles be knocked out, its only very slight. Pretty sure he was being sarcastic about the chisel...
Most the time, you would be better off buying a new wheel if possible. My Lexus has a slight buckle which causes a minor vibration at 60mph. After discovering that it's nigh on impossible to find a replacement aftermarket alloy (which I'm rather fond of!), i've now decided to live with it until I find a set of replacements I like...Deepdish BBS' anyone?
Most the time, you would be better off buying a new wheel if possible. My Lexus has a slight buckle which causes a minor vibration at 60mph. After discovering that it's nigh on impossible to find a replacement aftermarket alloy (which I'm rather fond of!), i've now decided to live with it until I find a set of replacements I like...Deepdish BBS' anyone?
I've paid £35 to have an alloy straightened before (or should that read rounded?!), although I honestly don't know how effective this was. The wife was busy buckling the other 3 wheels whilst it was being repaired.
My advice is to move the worst wheels to the back - you don't feel it so much there - and keep an eye on ebay for spares. I picked up a spare for our MPV for £85 shipped - brand new (RRP £450). I also got a refurbished spare for the Volvo for £45 and spent around £160 on a set of five 16" alloys to put winter tyres on - 4 in one lot and one on its own. Set up a search on ebay and be patient.
Unfortunately this does mean I have to accomodate 7 spare wheels in the garage which took a bit of organising, but on the positive side I don't have to drive round on a space-saver for a few days when the local roads claim yet another tyre and I want to choose the replacement.
My advice is to move the worst wheels to the back - you don't feel it so much there - and keep an eye on ebay for spares. I picked up a spare for our MPV for £85 shipped - brand new (RRP £450). I also got a refurbished spare for the Volvo for £45 and spent around £160 on a set of five 16" alloys to put winter tyres on - 4 in one lot and one on its own. Set up a search on ebay and be patient.
Unfortunately this does mean I have to accomodate 7 spare wheels in the garage which took a bit of organising, but on the positive side I don't have to drive round on a space-saver for a few days when the local roads claim yet another tyre and I want to choose the replacement.
If you're in the North East then visit-
http://www.alloyfix.co.uk/
He does an excellent job and doesn't use a hammer to get the buckle out. The wheel is instead heated a lot whilst on a hydrualic jig and the buckle is literally pressed out of the rim piece by piece. I can say with experience that he can get them out the front and rear faces of the rim.
Transformed my E39
http://www.alloyfix.co.uk/
He does an excellent job and doesn't use a hammer to get the buckle out. The wheel is instead heated a lot whilst on a hydrualic jig and the buckle is literally pressed out of the rim piece by piece. I can say with experience that he can get them out the front and rear faces of the rim.
Transformed my E39
NateWM said:
Pretty sure he was being sarcastic about the chisel...
Nope. My dad used to knock out buckled wheels years ago in his motor mechanic days. His weapon of choice is a massive chiesel which is very, very blunt. it's tip is probably about 30mm long and 10mm wide and has a useful radius to it. Not a chiesel any more then, I suppose, but just right for fitting inside the lip of the wheel and delivering quite a bit of welly. Westy Pre-Lit said:
gtidriver said:
Very bad quality wheel refurb.
I find that very surprising indeed 
, what was the extent of the bad refurbishment ?As you haven't replied, I take it you are referring to said wheels which you had issue with in this thread. Unfortunately you didn't reply to the remarks made in that thread either.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As I understand it ( and I'm no expert ), White worming is due to water ingress through the Lacquer and like a mould takes approximately 6 months or there about's to form. So quite how your white worming effect happened within a week is a bit mystery tbh.
Which begs the question why, if you were not happy with the finish, you did not return the wheels to Lepsons ( if that is who your VW dealer actually sent them to in the first place ) in the first instance for them to sort the problem ? Lepsons reputation has been built on first class customer service and quality of work. Granted like all companies, I include my own in that, Lepsons is not perfect and will inevitably experience problems and difficulties at times, but given the opportunity will always try to solve a problem to meet a customers satisfaction. I can personally testify, as others regularly do on PH's, Lepsons is not the cowboy outfit you try to paint...excuse the pun.
Another question, is why the other refurbers you say you took them to, told you they have been ruined. Strange really because when refurbered correctly with the minimum about of material removed for refurbishment, the Monza wheel can be reburbished up to 5 times. I'm a bit confused tbh.
I have watched Lepsons establish from one single unit 12 years ago ( they had already been running a few years prior ), to now 7 units including a tyre centre and a franchise venture to be one of the best and well known in the country. Again not achieved by cowboy practices, wouldn't you agree ?
As to the white worming effect and to further improve methods and quality, Lepsons has recently invested around £120k in the business. For the past 4 years, I believe, they have been using a new type of Lacquer and are the only firm in the country to employ it's use. As I understand it they have had no returns due to white worming since the introduction of this Lacquer.
Would I use Lepsons ? Yes and I have done so on a few occasions and the finish was better than original.
Actually I must correct myself in a previous post. They are now refurbing in the region of 700+ wheels per week and due to their investment and capable of plenty more.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As I understand it ( and I'm no expert ), White worming is due to water ingress through the Lacquer and like a mould takes approximately 6 months or there about's to form. So quite how your white worming effect happened within a week is a bit mystery tbh.
Which begs the question why, if you were not happy with the finish, you did not return the wheels to Lepsons ( if that is who your VW dealer actually sent them to in the first place ) in the first instance for them to sort the problem ? Lepsons reputation has been built on first class customer service and quality of work. Granted like all companies, I include my own in that, Lepsons is not perfect and will inevitably experience problems and difficulties at times, but given the opportunity will always try to solve a problem to meet a customers satisfaction. I can personally testify, as others regularly do on PH's, Lepsons is not the cowboy outfit you try to paint...excuse the pun.
Another question, is why the other refurbers you say you took them to, told you they have been ruined. Strange really because when refurbered correctly with the minimum about of material removed for refurbishment, the Monza wheel can be reburbished up to 5 times. I'm a bit confused tbh.
I have watched Lepsons establish from one single unit 12 years ago ( they had already been running a few years prior ), to now 7 units including a tyre centre and a franchise venture to be one of the best and well known in the country. Again not achieved by cowboy practices, wouldn't you agree ?
As to the white worming effect and to further improve methods and quality, Lepsons has recently invested around £120k in the business. For the past 4 years, I believe, they have been using a new type of Lacquer and are the only firm in the country to employ it's use. As I understand it they have had no returns due to white worming since the introduction of this Lacquer.
Would I use Lepsons ? Yes and I have done so on a few occasions and the finish was better than original.
Actually I must correct myself in a previous post. They are now refurbing in the region of 700+ wheels per week and due to their investment and capable of plenty more.
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Thursday 31st May 22:12
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