Argh! One of my 10-spokes got damaged!

[ktl711]

Argh! I drove up to East Lansing this morning to pick up some 4th Gen parts from Peter (alone_and_insane), and while we're standing around my car talking about Camaros, I looked down and saw this:





I've had the wheels on my car for about a week and a half, I've had them stored inside my house all summer, and I've cleaned them a couple of times now, and I've never seen this before today! I don't remember hitting anything hard enough to bend a rim, but -- it is one of the rims that I took into a local tire shop to have the BFG G-Force Sport tires mounted on them.

Don't know how long it's been like that, but it doesn't seem to have affected the steering or balance or air pressure retention.

Questions:

1. Are 10-spokes notoriously easy to bend or something?

2. If this bend is not affecting any factor of performance, do I need to worry about it?

3. How easy is it to fix this?

[nascarnate326]

I cant really help you but I think I seen you. Towbridge? I was in Okemos this morning.

[ktl711]

Around 8:30 this morning, I was headed west on Service Drive, went south on Harrison to the old MSU Federal Credit Union, headed back north on Harrison, and then turned onto eastbound Trowbridge to get over to Farm Lane. If you were in that neighborhood at that time, then it was the Red Beast that you spotted.

[Darren]

I am no help to you either Kevin, but I would venture to assume its not hurting anything if it is still holding air and not affecting the ride at all. But I do not know if driving with it like that will cause any further damage. I am sure someone knowledgeable like Jeff or Todd or someone will chime in.

[WMCCjames]

If you've never hit anything with these wheels it had to be there when you had the tires mounted and I'm shocked that they didn't say anything about it at the tire shop.

[Derek]

I wonder if the rubber hammer mod could fix that a little bit? Looks like you nicely graised a curb...

[ktl711]

I wonder if the rubber hammer mod could fix that a little bit? Looks like you nicely graised a curb...

Like I said above, I haven't hit anything this past week and a half -- if anythng, I've been extra-extra careful because I know that I don't have a 50-series cushion anymore, and there is no protection of the rim from curb rash.

Does anyone know a local shop who can fix this?

[98blackbeauty]

detroit wheel & tire I think is their name they can refurbish and true up rims.

[Lucky SOB]

Like I said above, I haven't hit anything this past week and a half -- if anythng, I've been extra-extra careful because I know that I don't have a 50-series cushion anymore, and there is no protection of the rim from curb rash.

Does anyone know a local shop who can fix this?

What about that place in Ferndale on woodward with the car sticking out of the second floor? Wesleys (?)

[bri2203]

I wonder if the rubber hammer mod could fix that a little bit? Looks like you nicely graised a curb...

I would not do this, you have a greater chance of cracking the rim.
Detroit wheel and tire on 14 and John R would be glad to sell you/fix your wheel but if the wheel doesn't have much run out and it holds air, I would let if be until you have find another wheel at a reasonable price.

[ktl711]

To my knowledge, Wetmore's doesn't straighten rims, they only do wheel alignments and general car repair.

[MP81]

Oh man, that SUCKS!

[ktl711]

The cavalry arrives...



Turns out the seller is a guy whose parents I used to work with at the GM Wentzville van plant! Will prolly use this to replace the shaggy looking wheel with the really bad plating, and see if I can get Detroit Wheel & Tire to massage the bend in that one wheel.

[s.reef]

sweet! glad you found a replacement