The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk old rim repair

the old dually rims that are off my '57 are rotten and in need of some serious repair my local shop they aren't able to fix them does anyone know where is a good shop able to repair such rims ?

Attempting any sort of rim repair is flirting with deadly consequences. About all that should ever be attempted would be a thorough cleanup with a powered wire wheel buffer or maybe a bead blaster to allow a detailed inspection. Any wheel that's found to be damaged or severely rusted needs to be torch-cut in such a way that it can never be used again. If you just discard it, someone else might decide to try to use it.
Jerry

That's some durn good advice right there.

Well it would be pricy but if you must have the factory rims this shop restores and repairs rims. They can cut it and make you rims that match the factory if needed. Check it out and good luck on your restore.

http://www.kwicksilversac.com/

Thank-you all for the advice i had decided to purchase new rims all around for the truck, just have to decide on the style

I concur, but have a question. What about straightening bent rims? Is that considered repair? Can that be done safely?

Thanks, Jeff

I have straightened steel rims, as long as they're not badly bent or creased. I don't think it would be a good idea on a sectional rim like a 2 or 3 piece.

Alloy rims- - - -that's another story. There are places like the one mentioned in the link above that specialize in alloy rim repair, but I'm sort of spooky about it. Trying to straighten a cast rim will probably result in hairline cracks and a possible rim explosion somewhere down the road. I think most of the repair/rehab places cut out damaged areas, weld in patches, and re-machine everything. That's probably safe.

Just for grins, figure out how many square inches of sidewall area a tire has, then multiply that number by 35, 45, 50, or whatever pressure the tire is rated for. It comes out in the tens of tons. That's the force pushing out against that rim flange. A cracked alloy rim, or a rusty multi-piece rim is a disaster waiting to happen. If your big rig with 2 or 3 piece rims runs 110 PSI tire pressure like most do, the force is a little over 60 tons, if I remember the math correctly.
Jerry

Thanks for the insight Jerry.

I certainly agree with you on the cracks, welds, etc., and as mentioned alloy wheels would make me nervous as hell if bent.

I did seem to recall that bent steel rims could be straightened as my '53 has all four originals tweaked, just enough to not balance properly but certainly not enough to feel it while driving.

As for larger rims, I would be scared at what would happen to bend the larger wheels in the first place. The wheels on my COE are stout as wheel and I wouldn't attempt it either if damaged.

Thanks, Jeff

Thank-you all for the in site and comments, i will be purchasing new rims, well used but still in great shape rims