bent steel rims!!! What the heck??

[rraulston]

just bought the truck about 2 mos ago. Started going through it. Used @ 40K mi. Had a little vibration and decided to have a bal and rotate. 3 of my 4 rims had wobbles in them . The guy told me they were bent. OUCH so i called him a liar and told him he used the wrong cone on the spin balancer. He got ****** and hooked up an adapter to the balancer and lug nutted my rim to it. Same thing. He couldnt believe that the morons at dodge would put a 6. 5 inch rim on a truck that big and i cant believe they are bent. What a day, he's bent and i got bent and my rims are still bent!! So i found a set from a 2000. Aluminum for $600. 8 inch and they are NOT bent. MINE. RRR

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I have 2 bent factory wheels. I think it's the weight of the engine that does it.

 

[The patriot]

Mine are somewhat oval. It took 4 guys over an hour to balance the tires. They kept having to dismount them, re position them on the rim, and remount them. When they got the best they could, they balanced them on the machine.

This isnt that rare on these trucks.

Eric

 

[willyslover]

guys . . they are very flimsy steel... mounting/dismounting can bend'em... especially if the clerk doing the work is low expierence level and doesn't pay attention to the cone in the center of the rim when he applies air to the bar... not uncommon at all in the shops. . but easy to say it was like that !!

 

[pathaymond]

I had three bent rims on a previous cummins I owned it appeared just after a new set of tires well I understand now that tire shops and there equipment are not the same never let a shop dismount a tire on the type machine where the rim is held down tight to the table It will bend rims very easy the bead takes alot to break always use the machine thats breaks the bead by pushing the tire free not putting pressures on the rims. . Hope this makes sense. . any good tire shop will use the right method. . good luck

 

[willyslover]

phaymond... you'd be amazed how many don't know /care

the maching is a Euro machine meant for small tires/specialty rims. . a lot of tire shops won't want to use this maching do to the fact is is very tuff on them to do truck tires. . very poor logic as the very low profile tire are also very tuff on them

 

[pathaymond]

It seems the older I get the less confidence I have in shops ability to care for my hard earned equipment. am I getting wiser or is service getting very slack?? I am so glad we have this site to share and help our fellow humans. if we cant help each other what good are we? Take care all and thanks for the information always freely shared here Patrick

 

[Cooker]

Do you have the new alloy wheels installed yet?



I don't think they will fit without some modification. The rear drums will likely have to be turned down, and double check that there is not interference in the front at full turn w/weight on the tires.



As the others have said, the steels wheels are pretty poor quality. It's not uncommon to have a bent one from the factory. Dodge cheaped out again on us. Hopefully the alloys will be better, although there have been some that have had a bad expereince w/ a few of them too.

 

[RottnDogue]

Originally posted by HEMI®Dart

I have 2 bent factory wheels. I think it's the weight of the engine that does it.

Bill there is a place near the Airport that straightens rims I think for $75 or $100? If it's worth it????? But he is there.



Darren

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If 16x7" is OK, and you get tired of the hassle, get Alcoa forged wheels. A very strong wheel at $110 each from www.southwestwheel.com (plus lugs and center caps--stock lugs work but aren't as good looking as the Alcoas with caps on them)

 

[JWhitcomb]

I guess the lesson here is put a indicator on my rims before I let someone wrench on them. Then repeat when I get them back.

 

[willyslover]

JW... if you go to that type of docimentation be sure to use your dating/digital camera to doc. it that way no arguments to be had.

 

[Barry]

FYI: I have a set of 2002 steel wheels, caps and lug nutz if you need them... ... ... ...

 

[Extreme1]

Would some of you folks with slightly bent 2500 wheels like to donate a pair of them to our TDR Chapter? We would like to mount up some slicks to use for dyno runs. I'll pay the freight to get them here.

 

[rraulston]

well i tried the new alloy wheel and it wont fit. You do have to turn down the rear drum. In the front , they dont fit either. You have to grind down the steering nuckle. Align the flat side of the castle nut, adjust the brake line and screw with the tie rod end. Forget it. The guy at the shop let me take it home. It can be done, but not worth to me..... RRR

 

[chrgr446]

I've got the Alcoas and love them,they look great after two winters, just a good cleaning about twice a year. My question is this, if I install the inner steel wheel from a 2001+ will I get any more clearance to run a 255 tire on my 3500? thanks

 

[Extreme1]

You will get more clearance, probably enough to safely run 235's.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

Before you guys run out and buy new wheels, make sure the morons at dipstick tire company balance your wheels using the 8 lug adapter. As it turns out, the center hole in those steel wheels isn't round. When they mount the wheel on the balancer using the conical nut, the goofy center hole makes the wheel wobble. It appears to be bent and it throws the balancing machine way out of wack. It took me 3 or 4 times before I went to a different store and the guy there did it right.



I have over 120k miles on the stock wheels and the truck is still running smooth. I overload the thing all the time, ocasionally use it off road, and have a lot of "enhancements"



Happy Balancing!

 

[chrgr446]

Originally posted by Extreme1

You will get more clearance, probably enough to safely run 235's.

I'm already running 235s at 8900# and towing a 5000# trailer, with 5 people in the truck no problems. I'm looking for 255s now.

 

[Extreme1]

Originally posted by chrgr446

I'm already running 235s at 8900# and towing a 5000# trailer, with 5 people in the truck no problems. I'm looking for 255s now.

I don't run loaded much and I can't lower the air pressure in my 235's without them rubbing (rough roads). When I switch back to 215's I'll be able to run 40 psi and stop tearing up the truck. See this.