speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,279
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Bending back alloysspeedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Mar 21, 2012 13:38:47 GMT
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I have a set of pretty rare alloys (only 5 sets ever made). Unfortunatly the previous owner clouted one of them rally driving on the inner edge. The inner edge has dented in around 2 inches at a point and tapers off to effect about 5 inches of the inner rim (if you can't see what I mean, it's a fairly large dent).
Not only this but the outer edge of the wheel is buckled as it has been "pulled in" to the inside of the wheel.
It's not appalling - if it was steel it would be rescuable via a hammer. However, as they are alloy I know they are prone to extreme weakening.
It was just going to be chucked but chatting to a spanish rally driver we found that they just bend them back over there!
As it's a rare set (pretty sure this is the only surviving set of the 5) it's worth investigating. Is it possible? Is it legal? Is it safe?
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Mar 21, 2012 13:44:23 GMT
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It can be done . I was once reading a companies website where they had fixed a wheel that was buckled and had about 5" missing from the inner lip. Can't find it now though!
I was talking with the lads at the place where I get my tyres fitted, and a rep came along trying to sell them the equipment to straighten wheel, apparently it was basically just a jig that allowed them to lever on the wheel after heating it.
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Mar 21, 2012 13:56:13 GMT
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A friend of mine had a buckled alloy wheel straitened by a place in March Barton in Exeter a few years ago, but I'm not sure of the exact place. It looked spot on, and having been in the car after, there was no vibration even at very illegal speeds. It does seem to be do-able, but I guess it will depend on how far gone the metal is.
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,279
Club RR Member Number: 118
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Bending back alloysspeedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Mar 21, 2012 15:22:26 GMT
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Awesome! That's good news. Now to research places that'll do it near to here. Any suggestions or experience would be welcome  |
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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Mar 21, 2012 15:33:54 GMT
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ive bent rim lips straight again without issue. I just use a big hammer and some gentle heat, to avoid the metal being cold and brittle. you don't want to get the metal too hot, as this can alter its structure, causing it to have completely different characteristics to the rest of the metal the alloy is made from (i.e. you can be left with a spot which is more brittle, so at greater risk of cracking)
obviously pros will be using a machine to bend the lips back, not a big hammer, but other than that it's not so different
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Mar 21, 2012 15:47:40 GMT
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The Wheel Repari Centre in Bamberbridge near preston do it and haev a few pics on their site. www.wheelrepair.co.uk/ |
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,840
Club RR Member Number: 174
Member is Online
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Bending back alloysstealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Mar 21, 2012 19:14:31 GMT
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I've knocked similar straight before, then a quick go with the flapwheel to finish off.
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Mar 21, 2012 19:55:06 GMT
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we used to get motor cycle ones done pretty regularly when i was in the trade. Never had a problem apparently they would also rebuild up missing bits but we never had that done.
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Mar 21, 2012 20:30:52 GMT
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I have this bent wheel, if you look at about 9o'clock to about midday you can see the flatspot..  |
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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Mar 23, 2012 20:54:11 GMT
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you wont diy straighten that one, looks like its the barrel that is bent, rather than the lip
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marcmoss
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 114
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Mar 23, 2012 22:22:16 GMT
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My brother can repair wheels, it's not his job as he has a polishing company but he enjoys a challenge.. For example he restored a really nice set of rare J wheels From this    To this   and three weeks later this happened  So after a major but if love and a couple of special hours it was back to this  It was balanced and refitted in a few days Gimme a call if u want his number 07834183624 Marc |
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Mar 23, 2012 22:36:01 GMT
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Are they fake splits or real ones Marc?
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