Oops...

So, you were driving your new car or your weekend car, enjoying music, possibly getting Starbucks or going through a bank. You started to leave and take the corner just a little too tight... CRUNCH! Then the feeling in the pit of your stomach hits. You know what happened and dread the moment when you stop and look.

Yep, there is a nasty ground up gash in your wheel. The beautiful pristine finish is marred or chipped up from that split moment of contact with a curb or other surface. Don't feel bad, honestly don't. I have been repairing wheels/rims for nearly 18 years and I have hit a couple curbs in my time.

You now have a damaged wheel, what are your options? Do you replace the wheel? Who do I need to talk to?

Let me tell you that this happens daily to thousands of individuals. They hop on their phones and search the internet for answers. You will be bombarded with advertisements and offers, my goal with this article is to equip you with knowledge, so you can wade through all the information out there.

Alloy wheel repair is the process of removing the cosmetic damage on your car's wheel. In a basic description of the process. You either drop your vehicle off at a shop or they will concierge to your home or work.

Once there, depending on the company and their processes there are two predominant methods of repairing your wheels, powder coating and painting. I will describe the process of painting your wheel in this article.

The steps of the actual process:

1. Grinding out/removing the large scars

2. Using an orbital sander, continue to smooth and prep the wheel

3. Wet sand and feather out the repair

4. Clean and prep the wheel for primer or basecoat

5. Paint or prime the surface

6. Seal the finish with clear coat

After the wheel has had time to cure some and become "rain fast" (about 30 minutes to and hour), you should be able to drive or move the vehicle. The technician will inform you of short term after care for the wheel. Generally, the next day would be ok to wash or detail the vehicle.

You can find companies readily on Google and other search engines, that can do mobile wheel repair or have a shop local to your location.

There are varying levels of service, again company dependent. The prices can range from around $125 - $200+, per wheel on average. Comparing the cost of replacing a wheel vs a repair, is borderline "no brainer." Average replacement cost per wheel starts around $500 and only goes up, depending on make and model of your vehicle.

If you don't trust your ability to search or the information you are finding on the internet, then you are welcome to contact your dealership service department and they will have a company they use for their dealership. The service writer may or may not provide the name of the company, because they want to sublet that work through their shop. That way they make money on the work done, it is a business and your paying for their connections and network, plus the convenience and trust.

Overall, it is far more economic to repair your wheel over replacement. IF, your wheel is cracked or bent, then please see a professional shop that can do cracks and bends. There is a safety risk if either of that type of damage is present in your rim or wheel.

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