When your alloy wheels get damaged, you need to know whether you’re dealing with a dent or a crack. Both types of damage need fixing, but they’re very different problems that need different solutions.
What’s the Difference?
Buckled Wheels (Dents)
A buckled wheel means your alloy wheels have been bent out of shape. This usually happens when you’re hitting a pothole or scrape against a kerb. You’ll feel your car shaking, especially when driving fast. The damaged wheel wobbles and makes your steering wheel vibrate.
Signs of buckled alloy damage:
- Car pulls to one side
- Steering wheel shakes
- Tyres wear unevenly
- You can see the damaged areas wobbling
Crack Damage
Cracks are splits in the metal. Think of it like a crack in a wall – the metal has actually broken. This type of alloy wheel damage is much more serious because it affects the structural integrity of your wheel.
Signs of cracked or damaged alloys:
- Air is leaking from your tyre
- Visible lines or splits in the wheel
- Sudden loss of tyre pressure
- Strange noises while driving
How We Fix Buckled Wheels
Our repair service for buckled wheels involves straightening the damaged wheel back to its original shape. Here’s how we do structural repairs:
- We remove the tyre completely
- Heat the alloy to make it easier to work with
- Use special machines to slowly straighten the buckled alloy
- Check the wheels repaired are perfectly round
- Apply new finishes like powder coating or diamond cut alloy
At Alloy Fix, we can repair alloy wheels successfully 99% of the time. This cost-effective approach means you don’t need to buy new wheels.
After fixing the damage, we offer alloy wheel refurbishment services. All our work comes with a 3-year warranty – something no other company offers.
How We Handle Crack Repairs
Crack repairs are trickier structural repairs that need special welding skills. Our process includes:
- Finding all cracks – even tiny ones in damaged alloy wheels
- Cleaning the damaged areas properly
- Using crack stitch welding to seal the damage
- Reshaping the repaired section
- Testing to make sure the structural integrity is perfect
We use expert techniques and quality materials for these repairs. Our repair service includes a 1-year warranty on crack repairs because we know how important safety is.
Safety First
Driving with Buckled Wheels
You might be able to drive carefully to our repair service with buckled wheels, but don’t wait too long. The damage will get worse and become dangerous.
Driving with Cracks
Never drive on cracked or damaged alloys if you can help it. Cracks can grow quickly and cause your wheel to fail suddenly. If you see damage to alloy wheels that looks like cracking, stop driving straight away.
Common Causes
Most alloy wheel damage happens from:
- Hitting a pothole at speed
- Kerbed alloy damage from tight parking spaces
- Road debris and obstacles
- Under-inflated tyres that don’t cushion impacts properly
Cost and Time
Buckled wheel repairs are usually quicker and more cost-effective. Most buckled alloys can be fixed and refinished in one day.
Crack repairs take longer because of the complex welding needed. Some badly damaged alloy wheels might need replacing instead of repairing.
Our High Standard Service
Every repair we do meets the highest standards. Whether it’s a kerbed alloy or major damage, we make sure all repaired wheels are safe and reliable.
Our alloy wheel repair services include:
- Professional checks of all damaged areas
- Structural repairs using the best materials
- Diamond cut alloy and powder coating finishes
- Full testing of structural integrity
Loan Wheels
We know you need your car, so we offer loan wheels while we repair alloy wheels. This means you can drive away the same day, even for crack repairs that take longer.
Quick Questions
Can I drive on a cracked wheel? No, cracked or damaged alloys are dangerous. Even small cracks can grow fast and cause your wheel to fail. Get help immediately.
How do I know if my damaged wheel can be fixed? Our team checks all damaged alloy wheels professionally. We only repair when it’s completely safe.
Why not fix it myself? Professional repair services have the right tools and knowledge. DIY repairs for structural damage can be dangerous.
Final Thoughts
Buckled wheels and cracks are different problems that need different solutions. Buckled alloy damage is usually fixable and less dangerous right away. Crack damage needs urgent professional help because of safety risks.
At Alloy Fix, we’ve fixed thousands of damaged alloys back to perfect condition. Our cost-effective repair service comes with our 3-year warranty, so you know the job’s done right.
Don’t risk driving on damaged wheels. Contact us for professional help you can trust. For all your alloy wheel repair services, choose Alloy Fix – your safety comes first.
