Bent Rims - fixable?

[sultanoswing]

Dang! The 'G developed a good vibration at 100kms (gone at 110, though), and on inspection it's due to bent front rims.

2 Questions:

1) Are bent rims fixable?

2) Should I take this opportunity to upgrade (as planned) to 14" minilite-type wheels?

3) 14" or 15" - your thoughts?

 

[SilentUnicorn]

sultanoswing

what makes you think all of a sudden the rims bent? Hit anything lately? Quite possibly could be a belt inside the tire that is broken.
or are we just lookin for a reason to get some new wheels?


1 i suppose anything could be fixed, but i have never heard of anyone doing, or that does this.

2 why not?

3 no clue

mark

 

[tony barnhill]

Think if it was bent rims, it'd be apparent at all speeds - vibration at some speeds, smooth at others usually points to tires

which Gt is it, the wire or Rstyle?

 

[sultanoswing]

I'm ALWAYS looking for an excuse to buy new bits /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The wheels are rostyles, BTW (no untuned spokes for me!)

I don't recall hitting anything - although I do have to get over a 6-7cm square concrete edge to get into my garage every day, albeit slowly (today I placed some steel ramps to ease the bump). The vibration seemed to start quite suddenly, which made me think it could be a wheel balancing weight which had come off. However, upon taking it to the wheel alignment/balancing shop they quite clearly demonstrated a couple of bent front rims which they felt were the cause of the vibration. More mildy bent rims would explain more vibration at higher speed, ...they're certainly most notable once I hit 60mph, and not when revving in neutral. I guess it could be tires...but there's nothing obvious externally, and all tires are fairly new and of good quality.

I've checked the wheel bolts, steering, drive shaft and engine mounts and all seems in order.

Luckily for my bank balance, there's a local guy who fixes bent rims...I'll get him to check 'em out this week & let you guys know how I get on.

 

[Steve]

I have heard that the Rostyles can get out of whack easily, but as Tony suggested, it's something which would be apparent at all speeds, and get worse the faster you go.

 

[tony barnhill]

Maybe its because they're upside down & are turning backwards.....hehehehe

 

[Guinn]

I don't think a bent rim would cause vibration all by itself. You would have to have an out of round WHEEL, like if you hit a curbing really hard, or some weight loss or addition. That could be a tire ply loose inside (not likely) or a lost balance weight.

After he fixes the bent rims, take it for a drive. If the vibration continues, swap the tires front to rear and try again. That might tell you something.

Guinn

 

[beaulieu]

some tirestores have a wheel balancer that works with the wheel on the car , you might try that ,
might be that a wheel weight fell off.....

 

[kennypinkerton]

Man, I don't think I'd be worried at all about the vibration at 100kms. That being equal to 223,700 miles per hour, I'd be more worried about hitting something or running out of road. Have you called guinness yet? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[sultanoswing]

kennypinkerton, you should see the lousy fuel economy I get going that speed

 

[Nunyas]

yeah, but once you reach that speed you can just coast to your destination and just pick up some fuel a couple of blocks away... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif