Cheap fix 07 rim repair
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:53 pm
I was fixing up a 2013 SLS with 70k miles. It had a failed cvt transmission along with beat up rims and worn tires. While the tires were dismounted was the perfect time to inspect rim runout by chucking them up on the balancer, marking the low spots and straighten as needed. 
The original rims are alot more resistant to bending than most of the aftermarkets but still do get damaged due to the low profile sidewalls,rim width and vehicle weight. I’ve found that bending them back cold is best.
A few hits and then retest repeat as needed. Earlier I had a pr of rims someone thought it best to heat with a torch before pounding on the rim and now the bend seemed set and I couldn’t straighten them. On these wheels that that I’m currently working with, three of them needed some straightening . Two of them came back perfect and the last one was acceptable. Now it’s time to erase as much of the curb rash as possible. I use a 3m disc on die grinder.
All four of these rims are badly ground up on the edge and some places have pretty deep wounds so they won’t be perfect but at least greatly improved . You’d think It was used as a drivers ed car for a school for the blind.
After sanding on this one I got it to where I was happy with the edge and the moved on to going over the whole front surface with steel wool to prepare surface for paint.
I use Rustoleum aluminum color.
They came out very nice and look even better on the car
The original rims are alot more resistant to bending than most of the aftermarkets but still do get damaged due to the low profile sidewalls,rim width and vehicle weight. I’ve found that bending them back cold is best.
A few hits and then retest repeat as needed. Earlier I had a pr of rims someone thought it best to heat with a torch before pounding on the rim and now the bend seemed set and I couldn’t straighten them. On these wheels that that I’m currently working with, three of them needed some straightening . Two of them came back perfect and the last one was acceptable. Now it’s time to erase as much of the curb rash as possible. I use a 3m disc on die grinder.
All four of these rims are badly ground up on the edge and some places have pretty deep wounds so they won’t be perfect but at least greatly improved . You’d think It was used as a drivers ed car for a school for the blind.
After sanding on this one I got it to where I was happy with the edge and the moved on to going over the whole front surface with steel wool to prepare surface for paint.
I use Rustoleum aluminum color.
They came out very nice and look even better on the car
