How to fix bent wheel

**croslod** · 02-28-2011, 06:53 PM

Freaking pot holes!!!!! Bent the inside of both wheels on the right side. I removed them and beat the living crap out of them with my snap-on dead blow hammer, worked pretty well. Almost no vibration,almost. Anyway does anyone know a better to fix them better without sending them off to some wheel repair place?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 02-28-2011, 08:14 PM

Just had this exact problem.

First question is, is the wheel AL or steel?

If AL, you can try taking it to a fab shop and having them heat it up and bend it back to shape. Most likely it will crack though. If it does, they can weld repair it.

If it is steel, you can heat it up to the proper temp and pretty much beat it to whatever position you wish. Just Google fixing bent rims.

I had an AL wheel and opted to buy a remanufactured one for my Imapala LTZ for $160 since fixing the bent one via shipping it off was around $100+. Dealer wanted $470 plus tax for the OEM wheel. F that.

**croslod** · 03-01-2011, 06:24 AM

They are 18" aftermarket alum vette wheels. They are some of those cheepies off ebay, not a high dollar item. When you don't get a name tag you know they aren't high quality. Probably why they bent easy.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 03-01-2011, 07:42 AM

Well the wheel that was bent on my car was a OEM AL wheel from GM. When it was removed, it was bent in 3 places.

Damn 80/94....

**KMdef9** · 03-01-2011, 02:08 PM

I couldn't find anyone to fix aluminum, no one would back up their work. They aluminum can't be easily fixed if at all.

So I sucked it up and bought a new one, and avoid railroad tracks at all costs. Or at least know which crossing is in the best condition.

Michigan = worst roads in the country.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-04-2011, 12:27 PM

I had the same problem 10 yrs ago. I had Centerline Aztecs on and after a real bad spin out I had a little bit of lip damage on the inside of the wheel. No one would touch 'em.

Ended up buying a new one. It sucked real bad because Centerline stop selling them. Took almost 6 months to find one.

**Inscore SS** · 03-07-2011, 03:01 PM

I just had two rims straightened and re-chromed at a shop here in So Cal. Cost me $620. The cost to replace the rims were ridiculous though. They were 20" Mercedes Brabus rims. The shop did a pretty good job. They look perfect if you dont know what you are looking for.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-08-2011, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Inscore SS

I just had two rims straightened and re-chromed at a shop here in So Cal. Cost me $620. The cost to replace the rims were ridiculous though. They were 20" Mercedes Brabus rims. The shop did a pretty good job. They look perfect if you dont know what you are looking for.

Are they steel or aluminum? Makes a difference.