Grantham's narrow town centre streets and country lanes are hard on wheels. When a kerbed alloy can be refurbished, when it cannot, and what it costs.
Kerbing a wheel on Watergate or on a narrow lane out towards Colsterworth is one of the most common jobs that comes through the door. The good news is that most damaged alloys can be saved.
Cosmetic damage is nearly always repairable. That includes kerb rash on the rim edge, lacquer peel, corrosion round the valve, and faded or flaking paint. The wheel is stripped, the damage filled and shaped, primed, colour matched and lacquered, then baked so it hardens properly.
Buckles, cracks and hairline splits in the barrel are a different matter. A cracked alloy that has been welded and put back into service is a safety risk at motorway speed, and on the A1 that matters. If we find structural damage we will tell you the wheel needs replacing rather than take your money for a repair that should not be done.
A standard painted or powder coated wheel is the most straightforward. Diamond cut wheels, where the face has been machined to a bright finish, need the face re-cut on a lathe before lacquering, and there is a limit to how many times that can be done before the wheel is too thin. Expect diamond cut to cost more and to take longer.
Painted alloys are typically £65 to £130 a wheel depending on size and condition, with a discount for a full set of four. Diamond cut sits higher. A colour change to gloss black or anthracite is popular and is usually only slightly more than a straight refurbishment because the wheel is being stripped anyway.
A single wheel is often a next day job. A full set usually needs the car for a day, or you can drop the wheels in loose if you have spares. If you are handing a lease car back, get this done before the inspection. Lease companies charge far more for kerb damage than a refurbishment costs.
Send a photograph of the worst wheel to us through the Grantham estimate form or call 07956 786622 and we will tell you straight away whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Contact ASAP Crash Repairs Grantham for professional vehicle repair services.
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