OUR UNIQUE SERVICES

On-site repair of any kind is an extraordinary value to customers.   Our wheel repairs provide the customer with a hassle-free choice and a satisfactory result for the price.   We provide quick and appropriate cosmetic enhancement to curb rash or other damage to alloy wheels at a location and time that is convenient to you or your customer.

HOW TO EVALUATE WHEEL REPAIR COSTS

Some wheel damage, which appears extensive, can be relatively basic to repair.   In contrast, what appears as minor damage to a wheel might require many hours of labor to restore.  

Heavy damage is always most labor intensive.   In addition, cosmetic repairs that require filling will take extra time for curing and priming.   If the damage is extensive the wheel might require welding.  If this is the case, the wheel will most likely need to be repainted.  If, after inspection, it is determined that the safety of the wheel has been compromised, we will recommend that it be replaced.  Even minor damage can sometimes be very tricky to repair.   In all cases, the factors that determine the difficulty are the DESIGN of the wheel, the LOCATION of the damage, and the FINISH of the wheel.  

DESIGN OF WHEELS

Three piece, two piece and wheels that have numerous spokes or multiple surface areas require the most labor.   The areas between bolts, assembly and other tight areas require repairs by hand and are very labor intensive.

LOCATION OF DAMAGE

In general, if the damage is confined to the outer areas of the wheel, the repairs should be basic.   Damage on or between the spokes, face damage, or damage to assembly areas, or lug nut holes all require added labor.  

WHEEL FINISHES

The amount of labor required to make acceptable repairs is also highly dependent on the finish of the wheel.   Wheel finishes vary and the section on this page that deals with wheel finishes identifies the most common.

STANDARD REPAIRS

Considering the above factors, it stands to reason that the most basic repair would be light damage to the outermost portion of any type wheel.  This type of repair would therefore be the cheapest.  The cost of the repair increases as the damage extends to more areas of the wheel.  Needless to say, the most expensive repair involves total surface reconditioning.  We refer to thest repairs as non-standard.

NON-STANDARD REPAIRS

Even if the damage goes beyond the outer portion of the wheel, some repairs are still relatively basic.  For example, one-piece painted wheels with large spokes require much less labor than polished or machined wheels with small intricate spokes and multiple surfaces.  Repairs to face damage on these type of wheels are also much more difficult and get progressively harder if the wheel is two piece with assembly bolts. 

The amount of labor required to do certain repairs is exactly the same, whether the replacement cost of the wheel is $150 or $1,500.  In addition to replacement cost consideration, all of the aforementioned repair difficulties must be considered before you decide to replace a wheel or have it repaired.

WHEEL FINISHES & DAMAGE

PAINTED WHEELS

These type wheels are most favorable to repair, if silver or a variation of silver.   Repairs to painted wheels most frequently results in a like-new appearance.

If the wheel color is unique or uncommon, the repair will require color matching, which could cause a delay.

POLISHED WHEELS

Most polished wheels are also clear coated.   Therefore, in order to repair the damage, it is necessary to sand through the clear coat to the bare metal.   If the damage is confined to the outermost portion, the wheel can be re-polished or painted and re-clear coated.   Repairs confined to the bead areas of these wheels will usually result in a more than satisfactory appearance.

If the damage is to the spokes or to the face of the wheel, the repairs can be very tricky and time consuming to complete.   In some cases, the entire wheel must be stripped in order to make adequate repairs.   Then a special bonding agent must be applied under the final finish clear coat.

MACHINED WHEELS

These type wheels are usually difficult to repair.   The entire surfaces of these wheels are first painted at the factory with a base coat.   Next, they are put on a CNC lathe and a light contour cut is taken across the fact of the wheel, which removes the base coat, exposes the bare aluminum, and leaves light v-shaped machining lines, resembling those on a CD.   The wheel is then clear coated to give it a deep shine and to prevent the bare aluminum from oxidizing.   Although attractive, machined wheels present a unique problem when they become damaged.   In order to repair the defects like new, the wheel must be welded and then remanufactured exactly as done in the factory, which, as mentioned, involves the use of a CNC lathe.  

Needless to say, there is no mobile service that could make such repairs on-site.   However, our mobile units are equipped with a tool that can make “reasonable facsimile” lathe lines on repairs to some machined wheels.   In other cases, the machined look cannot be satisfactorily restored.   Either way, repair of machined wheels is typically more labor intensive.

CHROME or "BRIGHT" WHEELS

When a chrome wheel becomes damaged, there is only a limited amount of cosmetic repair that can be done.   This is because there will be a separation line evident between where the chrome ends and the repaired portion of the wheel.   In some cases, the repair will be quite satisfactory.   However, in other cases there is no satisfactory procedure to repair the damage short of stripping and re-chroming.   This process takes about three weeks and the cost is about $200.00 per wheel, not including shipping.

OTHER WHEELS

Powder coated, Carbon Fiber, Magnesium and other exotic alloy wheels can be repaired adequately.   Anodized wheels will most likely need to be de-anodized in order to be repaired.   

BENT, CRACKED OR BROKEN WHEELS

We can repair and straighten virtually all aluminum wheels.   However, we can only straighten about 75% of bent wheels on-site.   Severely damaged or cracked wheels require much more heat.   When this is the case, it is necessary to take the wheel to a more controlled environment, where more appropriate repair measures can be utilized.

For repairs favorable to on-site procedures, we apply heat and use several thousand pounds of hydraulic pressure in progressive applications, to commence the straightening process.   We then dynamically measure the wheel runout after each adjustment with a specially designed jig and indicator.   We repeat the process progressively until the straightening is achieved.  

We can typically straighten a wheel to under .030", which is usually adequate for balancing.   Depending on how the wheel was bent and the type of bend, microscopic cracks could be present in the area of the bend.   If this is the case the crack will be exposed and widened as the repair process takes place.   As a result, there is always a risk that we will need to take the wheel with us back to our shop.   So the availability of a spare is very important before the straightening process is attempted.

We will not attempt to straighten wheels that are damaged to the extent that the structure of the wheel itself has been compromised.   If, upon inspection, we believe that the wheel is damaged too severely to repair, we will recommend replacement.   There is no charge for our analysis and recommendations.

GUARANTEE 

We do not profess that our repairs are the equivalent of a total remanufacture.   No repaired wheel will ever be as good as the original product.   In order to totally restore alloy wheels to the original factory specs, the entire wheel must be stripped to the bare metal and the original manufacturing process must then be repeated.   We guarantee our work 100% against inferior workmanship.   If the customer is not completely satisfied, we will redo the wheel free of charge.  

Part of the responsibility of keeping repaired wheels in good condition rests with the owner of those wheels.   Good care and maintenance is the key.   Certain procedures are required to insure that the finish of the wheels remains in good condition.   In order to maintain wheels properly, we offer the same advice to customers as do the manufacturers of premium alloy wheels.  

EXCLUSIONS

SUMMARY

FOR THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK

•  Consider repairing mainly rare or expensive wheels

•  PAINTED wheels can be repaired on all surfaces and will afford the best results.

•  For maximum results on POLISHED and MACHINED wheels, repair mainly those where the damage is confined to the outermost portion of the wheel.

•  Other than bends, repairs to most CHROME wheels is time consuming and costly.