How to repair damaged rims.

A Rim Repair is a machine used to correct defected rims/mags. It corrects and levels the rims and makes the surface smooth using the lathe. The lathe unit is designed to clean crusty sections of the repaired rim surface.

Did you know that rims can be repaired?

• It depends upon the case and the situation, but rims can very often be repaired.

• If you find that your wheels are damaged, they will have to be either repaired or replaced. Your mechanic can generally repair a bent or broken rim most of the time.

• If your rim is bent, getting it straightened shouldn’t be an issue. But if it is cracked or the lug holes are damaged, you may not be able to repair it.

What is a curbed wheel?

It’s a colloquial term used in the car world to describe the situation when a vehicle’s wheel or hubcap has sustained damage from being rubbed along a curb, often referred to as curb rash. The process to repair a curbed wheel also can vary but typically involves removing all dirt, paint and protective finishes. The damaged area has to be sanded down, patched with filler if needed, and sanded or buffed to a smooth finish to remove scratches.

Alloy wheel damage happens to almost all alloy wheels during their lifespan, replacing your alloy wheels can be a costly thing to do which you may not have the funds for.

A Rim Repair machine can help you restore your wheels to their original OEM factory condition so you don’t have to replace your rims. By using a Rim Repair machine you are able to restore and repair almost any alloy and standard rims in no time.

There are multiple reasons why your wheel may have been damaged…

Curb & cosmetic – This type of rim damage occurs when you scuff your wheel on a pavement or also known as curb rash other reasons may include driving your vehicle on a flat Tyre or from road debris. Damage is usually found on the lip, spokes or face of the wheel.

Bent wheel – Bent wheel damage occurs on the inner lip of the mag but can also sometimes occur on the outer lip, spoke or face. Bent wheel damage to the vehicle’s rim is usually caused by potholes, roadside curbs or other road hazards.

Corrosion & delamination – Corrosion to the motor vehicle’s mag wheels are generally caused by roadside chemicals, salts, dust from the brakes and tire sealants however there are also many other external elements that can cause wheel corrosion

Warning signs

• Rim issues can often be easy to notice. Depending on the damage, you may hear a thumping sound when you drive or feel a constant vibration through your steering wheel. If you miss these cues but notice problems with your car’s handling or changes in your fuel consumption, take a look at your wheels.

• Look for unusual wear on your tyres and check each wheel if it’s cracked, broken, dented or bent.

• On top of causing uneven wear on your tyres, damaged wheels can make your car harder to handle and may reduce your fuel consumption. 

• In a best-case scenario, this means that you will need to replace your tyres sooner; in a worst-case scenario, you risk a potentially deadly tyre blowout. Avoid these risks altogether by being proactive about rim maintenance.

• If you find that your wheels are damaged, they will have to be either repaired or replaced.

How to straighten A damaged rim

Safety first! Make sure you are using the appropriate PPE, safety shoes, safety glasses & gloves.

The rim is attached by means of the center spigot adaptors and wheel nuts. Select the proper wrench for the wrench holes. • Fasten the rim by using the proper tools,• Loosen nuts which fix flanges. • Attach the metal pointer

Turn the rim by hand and determine the defected sections and mark them with the help of the metal pointer.

Start the hydraulic pump motor and select the proper press tip for the section to be straightened. Insert the selected axis/tip into the piston.

The damaged area is heated with a blow torch. After the defected part is heated, you can then apply pressure to straighten the rim. After you have applied enough pressure, check the repair with the metal pointer. Con-tinue with the same process until the rim is completely repaired.

Start by cleaning any dirt off the rim and removing all the weights. Put the wheel onto the spigot of the flange and fasten it with the nuts. Special nuts is needed for certain wheels

Safety first! 

• Wear your gloves and goggles while levelling rims. This precaution avoids your hands from cuts and protects your eyes from flying metal particles.

• Wear your goggles while lathing but NEVER wear your gloves! (Gloves may wrap around flanges and injure you)

• Be sure that  working area has enough space• Piston should fit exactly onto the rim and supports. Be

sure that  your clothes will not  wrap around flanges.-(ties, shirts cuffs, coat buttons, etc.)

• Do not put your hands between the rim and piston during operation

• Fit the piston exactly onto the supportive channels. If not  it may slide and injure you.

Rim repair products available

RMS2200 Rim repair without lathe RMS2400 Rim repair with lathe

Rim Repair Kit with Tyre changer

RPK-Rim Polish Kit