I have a dilema that I need some help with. I got curb rash on one of my rims (17" mini-lites) the other day and would like to take it somewhere to get fixed. The problem is that I believe that sort of fix usually takes a while. I was reading some posts about a shop in Elkridge, Md...."Ye Ole Wheel Shop", and although I heard good things about them, the down side is that it usually takes them a few weeks. I only have the one set of rims and therefore cannot be without one for weeks on my daily driver. Any suggestions?

 

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I had a bent Volvo rim fixed there a long time ago, and he did it while I waited. If you call first and explain that you have only one car and that you can work into their schedule if they will accommodate you, they might fit you in. He has much more demand than he needs to stay in business. At that time (late 90s) it was mostly Corvette and Jaguar wheels; he must love the 17" MINI wheels! I don't remember what he charged me, only that it was a fraction of the cost of buying a new rim.

It was actually quite fascinating. He dismounted the tire, secured the rim on a block, and heated it. Then he went at it with mallets and hammers, literally eyeballing it as he worked on it. It was like watching an old time blacksmith. After it cooled, he did a spin test to make sure it was true, and it was spot on. Then he remounted the tire and put the wheel back on the car. I think I was in and out in under two hours (much of which is the time required to heat and cool the alloy to the right temperature for all the banging).

There is not much to do in Elkridge, and the shop is not centrally located. So bring a book, your iPod, or knitting, or whatever. There is (or was anyway) a laundromat next door so if you do your laundry that way you could pass the time doing that.