If Your Wheel Rims Aren’t in Great Shape, Then You Could Use This Information
Brake replacement and oil changes are fairly common tasks that most car owners know to expect, if not how to do so for themselves. Rim refinishing, on the other hand, is a little less common, and few people could tell you exactly what it entails if you stopped them on the street. If you find that you know that rim refinishing, to one extent or another, is required for your vehicle, then it’s likely that you’ll have a few questions. Hopefully this QandA will clear up any confusion, and help you get whatever work needs to be done on your rims.
How much does rim refinishing cost?
The final cost will depend on whether you are getting rim repair, or rim painting, and what kind of rims are on your car. Higher quality rims (not alloy) will come with a higher price tag. On average, rim repair might cost between $50 and $250 for each wheel that needs repair. Rim painting averages between $60, and upwards of $100, for each wheel that needs painting.
What is the difference between rim straightening and balancing?
This is a good question, and important to know if you are having wheel issues. Rim straightening will take bends out of the rims. You can usually see a bent rim, because the metal that is closest to the tire will look as though it has been pulled up. A bent rim will not usually cause a wheel to wobble, but it can weaken your tire. Rim mounting and balancing is necessary when a wheel wobbles because it is out of balance. If the faster you drive, the worse the ride disturbance gets, then you probably need balancing. This issue is fixed by either adding or removing weights to the inside of the rim. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency reports that more than 20,000 tons of lead wheel tire weights are used worldwide for this purpose.
Do my wheel rims need rim refinishing?
When cars need rim refinishing, it’s usually due to a combination of aesthetic and functional issues. If your wheels are badly damaged, or they just look terrible, then rim refinishing of one form or another can help you to restore them to their original appearance and strength.
If you have other questions about repairing and restoring wheel rims that were not answered by this article, then your next step should be contacting a specialist. They will have the first-hand experience necessary to help you find a solution for your faulty rims. In the meantime, if you suspect that you have a cracked rim, then it’s important to get it repaired as soon as possible. Damaged rims can compromise the safety of your vehicle. Whether restored safety or improved aesthetics are your aim, rim refinishing is the key. See this link for more references.