Automotive Rim Repair

Repairing damaged rims has always been a cottage industry in the automotive world, but it has come to the forefront in the last decade since the proliferation of extremely low profile tires. Rim damage can take many forms, and each has its own means of repair.

Type of Damage

Bent wheel lips are the most common and can render an otherwise perfect wheel completely useless. Surface marring is also very common.

Repairing Bent Lips

In many cases, bent wheel lips can be repaired by the owner, but this approach requires a great deal of skill and comfort with a torch.

Repairing Scratches

Many scratches in polished rims can be buffed out using a high-abrasive quality metal polish and working down to finish polishes. Painted or powder-coated surfaces might be needed to be stripped and refinished.

Cuts in the Metal

Because of side-impact damage, some rims might develop deep scratches that cannot be polished out. The best approach is to fill the scratch with Techno-Weld, and work it back down with a grinder and polish.

Professional Help

Professional repair shops generally return acceptable results, but make sure the shop of your choice has a good reputation and does not use plastic body filler to fix rims.

References

• Rim and Wheel Works
• XTreem Systems

Resources

• Repairing a Bent Rim (Video)