Bent wheel repair - who does it?

[Jeff A.]

I have a set of original 1967 Rallye wheels.
2 out the 5 are bent and not true.
Does someone repair these?

[Kurt B.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

I live in Massachusetts and there is a place in Waltham Mass
I have no connection with them but they advertise in AutoWeek Magazine
They are called Rim & Wheel Works 800-261-0495 or try them at www.aftermarketwheels.com and also at www.rimandwheelworks.com
They claim they do wheel straightening and repair
I have not used them but saw the ad in AutoWeek
You might also try Hemmings Motor News
Kurt

[Steven S.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

I have used Stockton Wheel Service http://www.stocktonwheel.com/widen_straighten2.htm on one of my '66 steel wheels and was satisfied with the results.

Steve

[Jeff A.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

I talked to Stockton - they seem nice.
Unfortunately they are in CA, I am in Florida.
Shipping is as much as the repair - was hoping to find someone closer.

[James W.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

TruDesign Wheel Inc. in Denver Colorado does excellent work. Call 1-800-621-6436 and ask for Jim. Thay have done work on both steel and aluminum wheels for me in the past and it has always been top notch.

Their website is at http://www.trudesignwheel.net/

Hope this helps.


James West

[Jack H.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

There are many places around the country where wheel repair & truing is performed. Ask around your neck of the woods (auto repair shops, yellow pages, Etc.)...

When you get a 'hit', it's time to go visit face to face. Expect the average shop to try and dismiss you when you show them/talk about a steel wheel!

They typically work on exotic alloy wheels that are rare and expensive and will try to 'blow you off' because they think you won't want to pay the freight for their services (typically $75-150/wheel). Why?

Well, you can buy a service replacement steel wheel for less money and they'll sense you and your request are simply an 'exercise' that won't produce business...

So, get the cost issue addressed up front and then you can talk seriously. The exercise of truing a steel wheel that's out of round is labor intensive and manual in nature.

Mount, measure, dis-mount from their fixture, lay down on a rubber pad and strategically WACK da sucka. Now, repeat as necessary until the wheel regains factory spec in terms of concentricity...

[Tom D.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

Around 50 bucks per wheel in MI. No shipping. If interested I will dig up the guy's name in Plymouth (I think).

td

[Greg C.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

Jeff, check with the used car manager of a local high volume used car lot. He can tell you where he sends his out to be straightened. Best of luck

[Jeff A.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

Not a lot of luck finding anyone local for this.
Aluminum wheels - easy. Steel wheels - not so much

it seems that most of the wheel guys will not do steel wheels as they are very labor intensive -- all said it was cheaper to buy new - and charged accordingly.
I sent 2 lightly bent wheels out to Stocton Wheel in California - they seemed very nice and reasonably priced at $55 per wheel.

Will see what happens - but they sound very reliable on the phone.
Thanks for the advise.

[Dennis O.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

Just a heads up. If any of you know of the "HAMB" (the traditional Hot Rod board on the 'net), you will see a lot of negatives about Stockton wheel. The have a guy over there ("wheelkid" I think is his name) that does great work and is an "Alliance" vendor (worth a discount). Lot's of "cross-pollenation" between these boards, which helps us all out.

Denny

[Jeff A.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

now you tell me.

edit: i read through all the posts over there on the Hamb.
Seems the major concern was slow delivery, or poor communication with the custom made wheels.

I have had these wheels sitting in my garage for over 10 years - I am not in a hurry.
Also - it is just a straightening job - nothing special.
Don't want them painted, or anything.

I shipped them out already, so, I am going to keep a positive attitude.

[Dennis O.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

If it's just a simple straightening job, you shoud be all right. It seems that the main problem is special orders; they make all kinds of promises, and then take forever to follow through, if they do at all. The "HAMB" is a great resource; they have ton's of posts everyday and there are some real old time experts over there. I "lurked" there until I started building a "T" tub with a flathead. They are VERY unforgiving about "off-topic", non-traditional stuff, through.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Bent wheel repair - who does it?

Got my 2 wheels back from Stockton Yesterday.
Very nice job.
They were trued, and the few scuffs and bends were removed from the edges.

Their return freight quote was pretty high, but I was able to provide my own UPS shipping labels, and that saved me a bundle on shipping

All in all - very satisfied with their service - no problems