Why You Should Choose Bent Rim Repair Over Replacement

For as long as there have been cars on the road there has been a need for bent rim repair and replacement options. If you take a look at the average series of obstacles your car has to traverse in a lifetime it is no wonder they don't need to be fixed more often. So whether you need a chrome rim repair, dented rim repair or your alloy rented rim repaired, you can find someone who can do it for you or you can follow these steps and do it yourself.

Wheels and rims are notoriously expensive, but leaving one bent rather than fixing it can lead to further damage to your car's alignment. Meaning you may, over time, have to replace your car rather than just the rim. It is possible to repair a rim at home with some mechanical aptitude and the right tools. If you're not one of those people take it to a local shop for a professional assessment and repair. To get started on your repair you will need the following tools: a hydraulic jack and jack stands, a blanket or floor mat, a propane torch (yes you better know what you're doing now!) a mallet, and a wood plank.

Your first challenge is going to be getting the wheel off the rim. This is difficult as they are designed to fit snug, my Dad had a machine in his shop that made this easy, but you may not. If you feel confident in the fact you won't damage it further get out a crowbar and start prying. This is a tricky road to go down, be sure you're not doing more harm than good, a quick stop at a local garage can pop that wheel right off for a small price. Your peace of mind could be well worth that small amount of money.

You know, I haven't mentioned yet that the wheel and rim should be off the car, let's not skip that step. Take it off because this is where things get serious. In order to repair this bent rim you are going to have to heat a small portion of it with the blowtorch and then use your mallet to hammer it into shape against the wooden plank. Make sure your plank is level; it will be your guide to the straightness of your wheel. If you want to get good at hammering metal before going after your rim, which I recommend, find another piece of thick metal and practice heating it up and hammering it into shape.

With protective gloves on get the blowtorch up to its highest setting, then direct it at a small area of the rim for about two minutes. With the rim hot hold it against the plank and pound on it with the mallet in order to start smoothing the bent areas out. This may take a few periods of heating and hammering before you get it straight, but with some patience and work almost anyone can do a bent rim repair job on their wheel.