Steel inserts in Aluminum wheels

[Greg_B]

One of my aluminum wheels was messed up when I had a new set of tires mounted years ago... the guy didnt tighten the lug nuts up on one wheel and when I drove away the holes got messed up by the studs... basically there is not much of the taper left to seat the lug nut in. They bought me a new wheel so I have four good ones and I have carried the screwed up wheel as a spare for years but thankfully never needed it.

Anyway... I was wondering if there is a way to repair this wheel... I was thinking maybe someone could drill it and press some kind of steel insert into it with the correct taper...

I would just buy a new wheel but Centerline doesnt make this wheel anymore and I have looked Ebay, craigslist and everywhere else over for one.

It is the HTII in a 15 x 10 just for reference.

Any ideas?

Greg

 

[grs44310]

If you can find a place that does wheel restoration and repairs they might be able to help you. Up north in Ohio the road salt and weather raise hell with aluminum wheels and this place does good work http://www.motomotion.com/

Probably not much demand for this kind of service down south.

Greg

 

[Apogee]

I'm sure it depends on how messed up the holes are, but you can buy inserts for that sort of thing, although they're typically installed when the wheel is being manufactured.

http://www.prestigewheel.com/Imagewi510.asp#Cone Seat Inserts

You could machine something similar as well, but I can't imagine it would be cheap.

 

[Greg_B]

I contacted the company that makes those inserts posted above and they gave me the number of a company in Stome Mountain Ga who they say can drill and press in the steel inserts. Called Big Chrome ... sounds like some place that deals with the big 22 or 24 " wheels for the street crusiers....

I called them and was told that it would run about $35.00 per wheel. That sounds pretty fair to me.

Any of you Atlanta guys ever heard of this place? I have delivery trucks in the area every day... I could have them drop my wheel off for me.

For that price I may consider having it done to all of my wheels.

Who was the guy who polished wheels on here?

I may do that as well while I have them off.

Greg

 

[broncodriver99]

I don't know if I would do all of them. Weld Wheels used to put steel inserts in some of their aluminum wheels and everyone I know that has had a set had problems with them. Probably better off just fixing the one that is messed up.

 

[Greg_B]

Probably right...

All of the wheels have a small amount of galling (if I spelled that right) in the tapers. That was the result of using an impact wrench on them. I no longer use anything but a lug wrench to break them loose or tighten them.

I might "spin" the nuts off with an air wrench but that it. The friction that the air wrench creates is tough on aluminum wheels.

If I take it to a shop I require they do the same... some have told me they wouldnt do it that way ... so I left.

Greg

 

[Apogee]

Galling?

As for the inserts, I wasn't aware of the issues with the Weld wheels noted above, however I can say that Honda ATV wheels always had steel inserts for the lug nuts to seat against and I never had an issue with them. I actually preferred them over the non-reinforced holes prevalent on all of my spun aluminum racing beadlocks but never got around to adding them out of pure laziness.

I have a spare wheel/tire for my pickup like yours, waiting for some TLC to fix the wheel pattern due to a faulty torque wrench and loose wheel episode...yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what they say about blaming your tools, but it really was faulty (my fault for not calibrating it more often).

Tobin

 

[Greg_B]

Ressurecting an old thread...

Galling usually refers to adhesive wear and transfer of material between metallic surfaces during sheet metal forming and other industrial operations where relative motion is involved.

In engineering science and in other technical aspects, the term galling is widely spread and in recent years there have been attempts to standardize or redefine the word in coordination with greater understanding of the involved frictional mechanisms.

Galling or adhesive wear is often found between metallic surfaces where direct contact and relative motion have been in progress.
Sheet metal forming, thread manufacturing and other industrial operations, may include made parts of stainless steel, aluminium and titanium that are particularly susceptible or vulnerable to galling.

 

[backpain]

...as above, yes and yes

1. can have them drilled out and press in steel inserts, which is a great idea, adds some durability, etc.

2. can have a wheel resto shop simply add metal and re-drill/tap (but I'd recommend #1)

both of above are unless it is cracked at edge of hole, but that can be welded and refinished and then either 1 or 2 can still work

On cheaper cast alum wheels the steel insert thing really helps prevent cracks from hard use.

I have used inserts on redrilled (new bolt pattern) 8-10 lug wheels on 1 ton trucks; put 100k miles on them with good success

Good shop that does it here - and ships all over the US regularly, but you may find closer

 

[Greg_B]

Send me their contact info... I cant find anyone near here that anyone will reccomend.

Greg

 

[backpain]

Send me their contact info... I cant find anyone near here that anyone will reccomend.

Greg

sent you a PM

Hubcap Depot. Houston, TX. 281.464.7100. For Houston folks, they are right over by Ellington Field (ex AFB) near Clear Lake. For everyone else, they ship to and receive work from all over the US.

On reflection - I cracked one of those alum rims with steel inserts once (hitting a hole in the road at 50mph) - cracked the outer rim/hub. The lug mounts and inserts were fine. They fixed the crack and refinished the wheel - could not tell.