Question - I want to get a wheel of mine checked out (there is vibration coming from the back right tire) When I took it in to get it balanced, they told me that the wheel itself it bent. So I called a couple places around town. First person I called says it will cost 45 bucks to straigten...but sometimes they break (?!?) I called Hubcap Express, and they tell me that they send it out to get the work done, and it will cost 100, or 135 to restore (which I need anyway). Does anyone have experience in straigtening a wheel? I have the OEM 17" 9-spokes on my 2001 A4 (w/sport package.)
Thanks in advance!
Kevin

 

Did they check the tire(s) to be sure that its not out of round?? Did they even try to balance the wheels??? It would have to be pretty messed up to feel a bent rim, especially if its on the rear. Do you have a spare?? My spare is a full size rim that matches my other wheels.

 

There is a little more to the story - A few weeks after a bought the car (this winter) I hit a patch of ice and popped it up on a curb. I took it in to get it aligned (for piece of mind, and also there was some vibration at the front right tire). They took the tire off of my front right wheel, put it on my spare, and put my spare (which they said was bent - just not as bad) and put it on my back right. I still have vibration coming from the back right. Thus I asssume my spare was bent when I bought the car (there is curb marks on the outside of the wheel). I am under the impression they did try and balance it.

I hope that wasn't too confusing.

When I cut (at ~5-10 mph) to the left it seems to increase slightly, I assume due to the added wieght on the wheel.

 

are you fwd or quattro?
If you are dealing with bent wheels and cant afford new one's, it might be best to have them fix it. I think all they do is heat it up and bent it on a machine. If they do it right and its not TOO fucked up to begin with it wont break, but will will make the wheel less durable and might be more suseptable to future cracks/bending. I dont know if you can get a used wheel from a junk yard for less than $130, and it might take a while to find one that matches and is in good shape.

 

Quattro

 

-stupid sig...


I called another place (Transwheel) and they quotted me a 155 bucks/wheel for refurbishing it (straightening, paint..etc) I think I'm going to have it done on the two wheels....what do you think?

 

I'd check around and see if you can get a new wheel that matches the ones you have. Actually... I have a spare one, but I live in Canada so the shipping would probably equal what it would cost to get a new one. You could probably get a new one for under $100 US.

 

A new, refurbished wheel costs a little over 800 bucks... I've heard a wheel costs over/around a grand new.
Unless, of course I buy differant wheels, but I like the OEM wheels. I"ve thought about it, because I could get all four wheels/tires for less then 900...but if itss only 300 bucks to get the car back in shape, it makes sense to keep what I have.