Bent wheels

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Mar 22, 2012 | 09:57 PM

Kdr358

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Joined: Jan 2012

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From: West of Chicago

Bent wheels

So, I have been tracking down my mystery wobble and I have pin-pointed to a suspected bent wheel. This "discount" tire shop..hint hint.. I feel has been giving me a run-around. I bought 4 OE wheels of an F250, (the 8 large hole ones) and I had tires put on them at that place. They neglected to note or inform me I had a bent wheel until I came back a week later asking why there were 6 1.5g weights one one side causing all this rear end axle blah blah blah thing. So yesterday I picked 3 more of the same wheels to replace the bent one, So after I pay the "discount" tire shop to swap them out where he and 2 others "adjusted" the machine where he brings me over and shows me the that the 3 wheels I brought were all bent! He was very quick to offer me a price on aftermarket wheels that looked similar, My question is are these wheels prone to bending? or is there a chance that they could have "adjusted" the machine to appear bent? I am getting a second opinion tomorrow, I am just looking for 4 straight wheels, I have 7 now I think theres at least 4 good ones!

Mar 23, 2012 | 06:44 AM

Smokeispower

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 176

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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Perhaps he does not have the correct adapters and the wheel is crooked on his machine? Trying to fix that with weights will make the wheel unbalanced on your truck - you could maybe get further towards a solution by asking him to put his "suggested" wheels on his balancer and see if they run true? Or like you're thinking, he makes them wobble purposely. That's bad business.
Are they up/down wobble or side/side wobble? I've never heard of anyone bending an 8 bolt wheel, not to say it's impossible, but it sure sounds unlikely.

Mar 23, 2012 | 09:32 AM

Tylus

MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 11,594

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From: SE Georgia

sounds more likely that he doesn't have the proper adapter for the rim to his machine

Mar 23, 2012 | 10:03 AM

Firefighter 1406

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2004

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From: Northern Indiana

I am with the other guys that they are not doing something right or don't have the right tool.

Mar 23, 2012 | 05:45 PM

Lou Braun

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 1,372

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From: West Cornwall, CT

You can check for a bent wheel easily enough. Jack up one front wheel and install the rim/wheel on the hub. Spin the wheel by hand and check to see if the bead section of the rim runs true (no wobble). Check both the inside and outside of the rim.

If you have or can borrow a dial indicator, you can get exact measurements - probably better than a tire shop's equipment would give.

I tend to agree with Smokeispower. It is very tough to bend a stock rim let alone all of them!

Lou Braun

Mar 23, 2012 | 06:39 PM

jmahle67

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Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 119

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From: Prospect, OH

r u putting large tires on? perhaps off road tires?

Mar 23, 2012 | 06:53 PM