Bondo on rim?

[dsmzoom]

Last month during a snow storm I swerved to avoid an accident and slammed my rim into a curb at 15mph. This was the aftermath:

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After some work with the die grinder it now looks like this:

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My question is, has anyone ever put bondo on there rim? Is there a special type that I should use? I plan on bondo-ing it up, sanding it and painting all my rims black so it doesnt draw attention to it.

 

[king_of_HTX]

Just call Motegi and tell them you want to purchase one wheel. Their wheels aren't that expensive. Bondo + Rim sounds like a recipe for fail IMO.

 

[cruisintalonawd]

there is people that can fix those the right way I wouldn't use it

 

[4G63_Attack]

Try to take it a shop and see how much work its needed to repair is Vs. buying a new one.

 

[bane3d]

You could use jb weld to fill but it would look different. I think anything that you use will end up making that lip look off color. If you were going to paint the lip and the rim, I'd say jb weld it, otherwise, as someone said before, see if it can repaired or purchase one rim.

d

 

[dsmzoom]

Yeah I bought jb before your post, Im painting both lip and rim..As for buying a new rim, discontinued and they dot have any stock. When the accident happened I had 3 shops come look at the wheel to see if it was fixable, they all said no, so I'll just do it myself.

 

[gotitjr]

If you did bondo or JB Weld it would it be able to be balanced again? That would be one of my concerns.

 

[bmoha2]

My friend smacked a rim hard on a curb and sent the wheel to me to get it repaired by the local shop. They did a terrific job. They welded in new aluminum and did it right so the wheel was as strong if not stronger than new. The wheel was again able to be properly balanced. it cost about $175. Ouch kinda steep but if you have a wheel set with one dinged or damaged wheel that is discontinued, it would be the only good option. The wheel was also balanced sans tire, then stripped and re powder coated. Turned out better than new, it looked better than his other three wheels but color matched perfectly so what can ya do?

 

[bmoha2]

the same as aluminum to be able to keep the same dimensions and be balancable without huge balance weights.

 

[dsmzoom]

Its already got the jb weld on, waiting for it to cure so i can sand it down..Ill balance them once I get the paint on.

 

[Defiant]

Holy crap, I'd be surprised if that thing's still round. Anyways:
AudiWorld Tech Articles

 

[chris712vt]

Hey man, I know you're already doing JB weld but for what it's worth I bondo'd mine and they look great, balanced out just fine, and haven't chipped/cracked/anything in about... 6 or 7 months now that they've been on the car. So you should be fine.

I picked up a set of rims for $60 last year because all 4 had major cub rash like that (well only one was as bad as yours, but all four were damaged). Anyway, I ground them down with an angle grinder, sanded the surface and started applying layers of bondo, curing and sanding between layers. Took many cycles of that to build back of the lips but eventually they were good as new and ready to paint.

 

[thom2white]

We use a 2 part material called "Metal Lab" get it from Car Quest. It's hard as can be but sands well. It also is conductive, so that powder sticks to it when we coat them. Just be easy on it when you mount a new tire. Let us know how the JB works out for you.

 

[meliketoball]

Those rims are horrid, no offense but, you can use this for an excuse to get new ones and possibly some snow tires.

 

[dsmzoom]

The jb weld was a pain to work with, I could have gotten the rim 100% perfect but I was impatient looking at the other rim outcomes. I would say it is 90% fixed and alot less noticeable, I would definitely do this again if it happens in the future. After I painted it, got it balanced and it didn't take any heavy weights.. GREAT SUCCESS!
Note: The top spoke is the one with the two deep gashes, as you can see Its hardly noticeable now, again I could have done a better job but I just wanted to finish it.

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[bmoha2]

It would have to be proven to me how strong JB weld is for me to drive on that wheel... I'm skeptical. I would say your damage is too bad to not need serious work; welded in material. I wouldn't trust that wheel. The damage was very deep. I am not bashing you. I don't want to see that lip give way under cornering loads and destroy/damage another more and more rare DSM. there are less of these cars every day. I would retire that wheel if you don't want to get it repaired properly. There was a lot of deep damage. A lot deeper than the wheel in that post. I would say it goes past cosmetic to structural. Just some advice from an old guy who has a PHD in breaking shit. If you don't fix it right, take it off and admire it on the wall in the garage.

 

[spinninfwdlaser]

No offense in any way.... But that was not a very good fix. A band-aid to a permanent problem. That JB weld will not hold up to the test of time. The first time the rim gets good and hot from brake radiant heat, and the JB cools at a different rate, and lets say you hit a puddle.... It will crack out probably. OR, the first time you accidently curb it, it will come out.
I do hope it works out, and proves me wrong. But otherwise, a guy may need and hunt a new wheel.

 

[dsmzoom]

I doubt the lip will give, It may look bad, but it really is just a serious cause of curb rash. I will tell you that safety is a main concern and I would not second guess myself If I didn't think the rim was unsafe. This is just to hold me over for a couple months till i get my 5zigen GN+'s.

On a better note, before and after pics..opinions welcome

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After:

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[spinninfwdlaser]

Sexy car. Lose the rear tailight covers, and she would be real nice.
Not a big fan of the wheels, but if you like them, it was worth the time.

 

[dsmzoom]

Really you dont like my tails? I did them myself, I usually get nothing but complements. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[spinninfwdlaser]

No doubt Zoom. I am very old school DSM, even know I am a young guy.
For example, my idea of a body kit on a 2g is a 99 front bumper, .
I love DSMs exactly the way they are, maybe a OEM carbon bubble hood, nice wheels, and some nice HID headlights.
Nothing wrong at all with the tails, just not my taste.

 

[talon4lifetsi]

You could use jb weld to fill but it would look different. I think anything that you use will end up making that lip look off color. If you were going to paint the lip and the rim, I'd say jb weld it, otherwise, as someone said before, see if it can repaired or purchase one rim.

d

bEET me to it thats what i wasthink also. But im not sure how well the paint is gion to hold up on the JB WELD. I know that this off the subject but I love black wheels but on your car you should keep the rims silver.

 

[dsmzoom]

Time will tell. I'll bring this thread back from the dead if the jb weld decides it doesn't want to hold up any longer.

 

[XSNRGGST]

I like the look of your car now with the black rims. Goes really well with the Road Warrior/Knight Rider/Super Spy look. Bad-A$$ and functional at the same time.

 

[dsmzoom]

what ya think about a red led strip between the hood and bumper ...maybe ill install one for giggles at meets