Thruster87 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Ian, if this post shouldn't be in this forum, just delete it :)I know this is a long shot but I figured I'd try... I am hunting for a replacement rim for my car. I managed to damage it in a pothole on my way to the airport on Saturday (sigh) and it is dented in two places and cracked and apparantly completely unrepairable. The style is Discovery Wheels Virus 5 20". I have contacted a few tyre shops and have been told that this style stopped being made about 6 months ago, so I'm hunting everywhere I can think of for a replacement. I just need a single rim. I have attached a couple of photos of the rim (apologies for the bad quality). If anyone out there happens to have one of these to sell (what are the odds?) or knows someone with one or anything, please tell me! Cheers :) You could call an aviation welder to see if it repairable [did the same thing a couple of years ago on tha BMW and the alloy mag is still going strong after 40,000 k's Cheers T87
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Really? I went to an alloy wheel repairer and they said it wasn't repairable, is an aviation welder likely to say different?
Thruster87 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Really? I went to an alloy wheel repairer and they said it wasn't repairable, is an aviation welder likely to say different? It really does depends on the alloy used,but aviation welders are the experts when it comes to welding Al alloys.Even they may not give you warranty on the job but it may stay together like mine.Just keep the speed below 120klm's.There is always a concern the repairs won't match the strength of the original.Cheers T87
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Yeah, the strength is what I'm wondering about, but I never go above 100km/h so I can't see why it'd matter. I'd also have to take it to a wheel repairer of some sort though because the rim is dented in two places so I'd need to get it...'re-rounded' (I'm sure there's a technical name of some sort:laugh:) I'm thinking I might take it to a wheel place and ask, if I got it welded somewhere else, would they bash the dents out. I actually went to the airport again today and went down the road where I hit the pothole. I couldn't see the pothole anywhere and if it wasn't for the fact that my rim is damaged, I'd think I imagined the whole thing!
Tomo Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 You could call an aviation welder to see if it repairable [did the same thing a couple of years ago on tha BMW and the alloy mag is still going strong after 40,000 k's Cheers T87 You would want to just check if that is Ok to do first... Because generally speaking it would have to be done by someone willing to certify it roadworthy after welding. So if you have an accident or something, and the insurance company notices it welded... ether you won't get any insurance, or the guy that welded it get nocked on the head... so to speak! I know I wouldn't weld an on the road vehicles rim if I got asked to, I have been too! Agricultural, yes easily! Just something to query on anyway when asking around.
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 *considers trying to find a 3-wheeled car instead*
Guest drizzt1978 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 *considers trying to find a 3-wheeled car instead* Just get a big Tricycle Landing gear plane, and put mags on it.!!
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Just get a bif Tricycle Landing gear plane, and put mags on it.!! That would actually be awesome to see
turboplanner Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 You could call an aviation welder to see if it repairable [did the same thing a couple of years ago on tha BMW and the alloy mag is still going strong after 40,000 k's Cheers T87 Don't even think of going down this path; it's a good rule never to structurally repair a safety related item such as steering, suspension brakes etc. because the integrity is no longer there. You can't apply a fictional speed like 120 km/hr, because a failure may occur at a much slower speed depending on the amount of stress applied, or vibration over time. Putting it another way, it's a concern that this wheel failed just through hitting a pot hole indicating the design may be on the light side, but a welded wheel will fail at a lower impact. You can be sending someone to their death doing this.
Guest drizzt1978 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 There are lots of places that import used Aftermarket parts for cars, like alloy wheels... Having a suped up silvia ive done the internet trawl and no love. Sorry but you might have to get a new set! Maybe a used set? Or contact a company like Japanese Motorsport in Adelaide and see if they can help you find one. Also these Guys believe they are the best in Australia at finding rare wheels. You might Have tried them, they offer trade ins for people in youre situation as well... Canterbury Tyre & Mag Supamart (Melbourne,VIC) Or try contacting the company that makes them? By the Way, You fly, have a hot car and a law degree on the go, No wonder this thread is 4 pages long Of guys trying to help!!!! Me included.....
slartibartfast Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 By the Way, You fly, have a hot car and a law degree on the go, No wonder this thread is 4 pages long Of guys trying to help!!!! That's so cynical and wrong. Even ugly old men like Geoff get help on this forum.
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Also these Guys believe they are the best in Australia at finding rare wheels. You might Have tried them, they offer trade ins for people in youre situation as well... Canterbury Tyre & Mag Supamart (Melbourne,VIC) I popped in on Saturday with the wheel and they took a photo, and I have also emailed them, but so far haven't heard back from them so it doesn't sound promising. I've also emailed the wheel company but haven't heard back from them either (sigh) I think on the weekend I'm going to take myself to a few more wheel repair shops (I've only been to one so far) and just see what they say. I've been told that it won't matter so much if the wheel is slightly weaker if I swap it over and put it on the back...I'll have to check that too I guess. By the Way, You fly, have a hot car and a law degree on the go, No wonder this thread is 4 pages long Of guys trying to help!!!! Me included.....
Guest drizzt1978 Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Ive used these guys 2 or three times.. (I swear to god those curbs get wider every year!) Professional and specialised alloy wheel repairs, refurbishment and restoration in Moorabbin, Victoria
DarkSarcasm Posted October 21, 2009 Author Posted October 21, 2009 Ive used these guys 2 or three times..(I swear to god those curbs get wider every year!) Professional and specialised alloy wheel repairs, refurbishment and restoration in Moorabbin, Victoria Yeah those are the guys I went to (well, sent my Dad to ), and they said it couldn't be fixed. They're prolly right but I've found a couple of places in Lilydale and Heidelberg I thought I might try before giving up and buying new rims... I've found some rims on eBay (18" this time) but now I'm trying to work out whether they'll fit my car, plus then I'll need to get new tyres. I'm seriously wishing I'd never left home on Saturday!:baldy:
Thruster87 Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 Yeah, the strength is what I'm wondering about, but I never go above 100km/h so I can't see why it'd matter.I'd also have to take it to a wheel repairer of some sort though because the rim is dented in two places so I'd need to get it...'re-rounded' (I'm sure there's a technical name of some sort:laugh:) I'm thinking I might take it to a wheel place and ask, if I got it welded somewhere else, would they bash the dents out. I actually went to the airport again today and went down the road where I hit the pothole. I couldn't see the pothole anywhere and if it wasn't for the fact that my rim is damaged, I'd think I imagined the whole thing! I bent two rims and bashing the dents by a rim repairer using round steel plates about 1/2" thick which were the correct diameter for the rim and also putting a bit of heat while bashing out, one ended with a crack about 20mm at the bead.Which he wouldn't/couldn't weld so I got an aviation welder to do it.I ground and polished the weld and you can't tell where it was repaired, looks good as new and is on it's second lot of rubber Cheers
DarkSarcasm Posted October 23, 2009 Author Posted October 23, 2009 Well, today I took the pesky thing down to Eastern Wheel Works in Lilydale in a last-ditch attempt to get it repaired. They've taken it, they're going to take the tyre off and see if they can fix it. The main thing they seemed to be worried about was potential damage to the chrome when banging the dents out but apparantly I can pay $350 or so to get it re-chromed if that happens. As a note, they said that they were the only place in Melbourne who would deal with the crack (which is about 3-4 inches long), so if you end up cracking your wheel, might want to try them So yeah, going to see how they go... :)
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