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Thread: Bent wheels - straighten or replace?

  1. #1
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    Bent wheels - straighten or replace?

    Gentlemen,

    This past Monday I blasted a pothole with my RF wheel and ruined a perfectly good Michelin Pilot Alpin 3. The good news is that the spare tire worked great despite never being used before, and that despite being discontinued, Tire Rack had three PA3's left and shipped one to my work the next day, in the middle of a snowstorm no less!

    The bad news is my wheel is now out-of-round somewhat, because I now get a vibration at 50-55mph. When I had the winter tires mounted two months ago, my technician friend noted that two of the wheels were slightly bent, and I could see this when he put them on the tire balancer. We put those wheels on the rear of the car. Before hitting the pothole there was a very slight vibration at speed; more of a minor nuisance than anything.

    What I'm wondering is if it would be worthwhile to spend the $3-400 to have them straightened and the curb rash repaired, or to look for a different set of wheels. There is an alloy wheel repair specialist less than a mile from my work. The wheels aren't visibly bent, meaning there's no nasty bends when you look at them straight on; you only notice it when you put them on a balancer and spin them. If this were a cheap econobox I probably wouldn't even bother fixing or replacing them, but this is a high-performance car designed to travel at high speed, and while I don't really want to shell out for new wheels, I also don't want to half-ass anything. Thoughts?

  2. #2
    Registered User Corbett's Avatar
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    If there are no nasty bends or cracks then have them repaired. Much cheaper and will look like new

  3. #3
    Registered User Jimmy's Avatar
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    I don't know man. If your guy is going to charge 3-400 to fix one rim, then it's high time to find another guy, sorry, just IMO.

    Curbed and bent rims are fixed here and re-finished in CT for $125-175 a rim. Yours doesn't even sound like a bad bend. 'The Wheel Shop' in Windsor Locks by Bradley Airport. Rob is the man to speak to.
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    $3-400 to fix all four. $75-100 each wheel.

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    Registered User kvicen's Avatar
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    I would fix all four. They will be straight, repainted, and look new. Best of all it's usually a 24 hour turnaround.
    #1 RS6 Mugello/Silver, RNS-E, Revo Tune, Sold. #2 RS6 Avus Silver/Silver, SE Exhaust. 08 Suburban LTZ 4x4. 09 Cadillac CTS-V 670 hp. Sold. 2000 BMW Z3M Roadster Dinan Supercharged, 2008 BM3 m3 Coupe, 2011 BMW M3 sedan, 1990 Spec Miata.

  6. #6
    Registered User ttboost's Avatar
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    Yep..fix 'em. I've already fixed 2 of my BBS CH-R's on my Benz, and they were bent AND cracked. They are now for sale, because they will just bend and crack again with these New England roads...
    2013 Audi S8

  7. #7
    Registered User Jimmy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Turbowned View Post
    $3-400 to fix all four. $75-100 each wheel.
    Gotcha...that is a great price then !
    SOLD ! 2003 RS6 Mugello/Silver -MTM
    2001 allroad 6-speed (300K+), 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E, 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63, 2010 BMW X3, 1986 16V Scirocco, 2005 Mercedes E55 Wagon

  8. #8
    Registered User nistah's Avatar
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    Turbowned Can pls you post a pic of the RF's? Would love to see what they look like
    Current: Black Pearl Metallic Effect/Ebony, RNS-E, Euro + pedals, oCarbon, Hotchkiss Front & Rear Sway Bars, Koni Yellow's

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    Registered User ben916's Avatar
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    A temp fix would to use the fold-a-flat spare tire rim and mount the MPA on it until spring.
    There is a Audi specific website that has spares of the OEM rims ($200-$250 IIRC).

    I found that website while surfing/searching for OEM RS4 rims in 19"; the website was listed on Audizine. (yeah, not much help but better than zip)
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    Quote Originally Posted by nistah View Post
    Turbowned Can pls you post a pic of the RF's? Would love to see what they look like
    Oh no, "RF" stood for "right front", I do not have BBS RF's on my car (which is what I assume you're referring to?)

    Turns out it was a bad outer tie rod end with a lot of play in it. Ordered a Lemforder replacement that should be here this week. Still going to re-finish the wheels eventually.

  11. #11
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    I use a company called alloy wheel repair, the come to you in your driveway and fix it if it is fixable. 125 per rim, I have had them work on my hartmanns rs4 forged piece of shit multiple times. Looked into investing in a territory.

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    Registered User JSRS6's Avatar
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    Just found out I have a bad inner on the driver side. Gonna order and replace ASAP. That shits annoying.
    Quote Originally Posted by Turbowned View Post
    Oh no, "RF" stood for "right front", I do not have BBS RF's on my car (which is what I assume you're referring to?)

    Turns out it was a bad outer tie rod end with a lot of play in it. Ordered a Lemforder replacement that should be here this week. Still going to re-finish the wheels eventually.
    Avus RS 6, RNS-E/BT/RVC, Eurocharged/MTM, SuperSports, PSS9/Hotchkis, SS Lines/EBC Reds, FMU/BMC, Sportec vents, 007's, 9500ci, Black Optics/Headlights/Trim/Rims, CC; coming soon: stage 3 snow meth

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    Quote Originally Posted by dab View Post
    I use a company called alloy wheel repair, the come to you in your driveway and fix it if it is fixable. 125 per rim, I have had them work on my hartmanns rs4 forged piece of shit multiple times. Looked into investing in a territory.
    Same company out here. Right down the street from my work and I work at a dealership that uses them so I get it done a little cheaper, thankfully.

  14. #14
    Registered User 4everRS's Avatar
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    Josh, what sound are you noticing? I used Meyle HD's for tie rod ends and was very happy with them.

    Quote Originally Posted by JSRS6 View Post
    Just found out I have a bad inner on the driver side. Gonna order and replace ASAP. That shits annoying.
    Avus Silver RS6 - Viper Stage 2 ECU/TCU - Water/Meth Injection - Frozen Rotors - Hbars - clear corners - Hella smoked tails - gutted precats

  15. #15
    Registered User JSRS6's Avatar
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    Not really any noise to speak of, Kyle. It is the subtle vibration and poor tracking of the car that is a bother. My shop checked all the control arms and tie rods and concluded the driver inner has play. So the culprit has been ousted! Haha!
    Quote Originally Posted by 4everRS View Post
    Josh, what sound are you noticing? I used Meyle HD's for tie rod ends and was very happy with them.
    Avus RS 6, RNS-E/BT/RVC, Eurocharged/MTM, SuperSports, PSS9/Hotchkis, SS Lines/EBC Reds, FMU/BMC, Sportec vents, 007's, 9500ci, Black Optics/Headlights/Trim/Rims, CC; coming soon: stage 3 snow meth

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    Josh I want all your mods. Jussayin'

  17. #17
    Registered User JSRS6's Avatar
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    Bbbbbbbut they're mine......

    hahahaha. But seriously. Thanks for compliment. Don't forget though, your car is a direct reflection of you. So make it uniquely your own. You'll be happy you did. But definitely spring for the 9500ci. It's saved my ass plenty of times.

    Quote Originally Posted by Turbowned View Post
    Josh I want all your mods. Jussayin'
    Avus RS 6, RNS-E/BT/RVC, Eurocharged/MTM, SuperSports, PSS9/Hotchkis, SS Lines/EBC Reds, FMU/BMC, Sportec vents, 007's, 9500ci, Black Optics/Headlights/Trim/Rims, CC; coming soon: stage 3 snow meth

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