Fixing a cracked wheel?

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RamFan

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Long story short, I noticed the wife's rear passenger tire was leaking a couple pounds over 2 or 3 days. Had her take it to Discount Tire to exam and they found that it was cracked. This are aluminum wheels from her Monte. Fixable or am I looking for another wheel?

And yes, the wheel is clearly bent to [censored]. As is her driver side rear. IMO I should just find a new set...
 
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Your wife AIMS for the curbs like mine does.


Ha, thanks for the laugh! She's genuinely a horrendous driver, I hate saying that, but it's the honest truth.

I actually think it may be her visibility. She's 5'2'' and recently disclosed that she can't even see half way up the hood. This was something I never considered a thing, but since she mentioned it I'm really starting to wonder if that's why she can't gauge distance well.
 
Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Your wife AIMS for the curbs like mine does.


Ha, thanks for the laugh! She's genuinely a horrendous driver, I hate saying that, but it's the honest truth.

I actually think it may be her visibility. She's 5'2'' and recently disclosed that she can't even see half way up the hood. This was something I never considered a thing, but since she mentioned it I'm really starting to wonder if that's why she can't gauge distance well.

my wife is 5 feet flat, she use a pillow as a booster, but since getting her prescription for contacts corrected, she has been a fantastic driver, before that? awful, you guys might want to get their eyesight checked, it truly makes a big difference.
 
Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Your wife AIMS for the curbs like mine does.


Ha, thanks for the laugh! She's genuinely a horrendous driver, I hate saying that, but it's the honest truth.

I actually think it may be her visibility. She's 5'2'' and recently disclosed that she can't even see half way up the hood. This was something I never considered a thing, but since she mentioned it I'm really starting to wonder if that's why she can't gauge distance well.


Get her the proper seat support she may need. Also consider disabling the airbag if her height causes her to sit too close to the wheel. There is a perfectly legal and documented way to do this. Friend of mine is 4'11" and she had this done. Seriously consider it if it has the GM "Claymore" airbags.
 
Get the rim repaired or replaced right away. Do not take a chance driving with a cracked rim.

My wife drives our 4Runner and I'm glad it does not have low profile tires because she occasionally uses the Braille method of locating curbs. She's just under 5 feet tall and that makes the hood an imposing sight while trying to fit into a parking place.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Its junk and any repair is illegal and unsafe


That sums it up for me.
 
Cheis142 is absolutely right. At my work we use Keystone Wheels when we need a new aluminum wheel. Don't try and fix that
 
Rim repair can be done, but for something that common, I just get a good used one from car-part. It is usually cheaper and if the others have minor rash it will match, and not stand out like a reman'd wheel would.

Crv, rav4, forester... they may all be ugly... to some... but they are like driving a greenhouse... just saying...
 
I would replace it. Get a reconditioned wheel from these guys:

http://www.wheelcollision.com

Perfect match, straight, refinished and use yours as a core.

I've bought many wheels from them. Good prices. Nice wheels.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the link, i have a couple of Pontiac Starfish wheels and a set of Infinity chrome wheels that need some work.

I have had luck with wheels from ebay, a got a couple of starfish for $70 that was perfect and true. The OE full polished ones are getting scarce.
 
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
It can be repaired, but for a common stock wheel, it's probably the same cost or cheaper to just find another one.


+1 for the above comment.
 
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
It can be repaired, but for a common stock wheel, it's probably the same cost or cheaper to just find another one.


+1 for the above comment.


For a crack like the OP posted I charge $50. Often my customers can't find a rim like their's or the cost is much more than they want to pay.
 
If a rim is otherwise in sound condition, and you can find a good welder who knows how to work on wheels, then a weld can be a feasible solution. I have a wheel on my car that was in that boat, and the weld I had done by an experienced aluminum/alloy welder has done very well on it...

.. but my wheel was otherwise completely straight.


YOUR wheel, however, is bent all to [censored], and I wouldn't ever consider welding that.

You need to get a new wheel, or new set of wheels. Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals are still in place at DT, as far as I know.. get a set and get $160 off/back.
 
Originally Posted By: SirTanon
If a rim is otherwise in sound condition, and you can find a good welder who knows how to work on wheels, then a weld can be a feasible solution. I have a wheel on my car that was in that boat, and the weld I had done by an experienced aluminum/alloy welder has done very well on it...

.. but my wheel was otherwise completely straight.


YOUR wheel, however, is bent all to [censored], and I wouldn't ever consider welding that.

You need to get a new wheel, or new set of wheels. Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals are still in place at DT, as far as I know.. get a set and get $160 off/back.


Actually, I have repaired rims that were cracked and bent much like the OPs. Pre heat to about 250 F and use a dead blow hammer to straighten, then grind out the crack and tig weld. Pretty simple fix.
 
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