Is this rim no longer useable?

[gsxonthebeach]

So a friend of mine forgot to tighten down his lug nuts after a frustrating control arm replacement and had his front left wheel come completely off. The lug holes are all fine except for one. Can he still use it?

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v286/idontcare236/?action=view&current=oblonged.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v286/idontcare236/oblonged.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[NeMiZiS]

I would take it to a tire shop just make sure.
I suppose it depends on if the nut can still seat properly, when tighten down.

 

[SpawnedX]

QuickSilver it to fill the hole and grind it down and then you can reuse it.

 

[Texas gst]

Just my .02. I've done tires for 12 years now and IF that is the ONLY one messed up, than you should be fine. I personally would not try to repair or fill it or anything. You can take it somewhere, but they will prob. say no, just because it is damaged. I think you'll be fine as long as there are no other problems except that one hole. When you get done, drive to any tire shop, Firestone, Discount, Wal-Mart, or whoever and just ask them to torque all the wheels for you. Takes about 1 min.

The only reason I say don't try to repair it, is if the repair does not hold it could cause it to come loose again.

 

[SpawnedX]

The only reason I say don't try to repair it, is if the repair does not hold it could cause it to come loose again.

I am not trying to be a dick, but it's probably going to happen. I don't see any logic in this statement, don't try to repair it, or it may come loose again, just keep it loose to begin with? WTF?

If the repair holds, awesome, if it doesn't hold you are back where you started. Sorry, bro, but this is like one of those expert, non-expert comments.

Fill it with QuickSilver, grind it down and go.

Edit: Sorry it's called QuickSteel.

http://www.aerostich.com/quicksteel-epoxy-putty.html

 

[Texas gst]

Not trying to argue in any way. The only reason I say that is that if that one is too high or not level or however you want to look at it, and then you torque them down. It torque's down but not the wheel is not truly flush with the hub and the piece breaks that you repaired, it could shift. In turn that shift could be enough for the wheel to not be tightened correctly anymore. Just remember, whatever you do, if that wheel comes off on the highway when driving. It was nice knowing you. Hopefully nobody else gets killed either.

And the picture looks like more than one hole damaged.

 

[SpawnedX]

That's not how our rims work. Once that surface is sitting flush on the hub, it will not matter if that piece breaks, the other 4 lugs will keep it pressed on the hub. Whether that piece is there or not, it will not sit differently. We are hub centric wheels, we are not lug centric, the worst that would happen is a wobble. Though as a mechanic myself, I have QuickSteel'd my fair share of similar issues and they have held for years.

 

[Texas gst]

Wobble??? The only wobble you would get is>the wheel about to fall off. I'm just saying be careful no matter what you do. A wheel falling off could easily kill you and/or somebody else.

And it may hold great. I'm just saying be very careful.

 

[ramsack]

Umm...so much bad information. Our cars ARE hub-centric. If they were lug-centric then the lugs would not go through the wheels, but rather clamp the wheel down, just like a spare tire gets bolted down. The spares still center on the hub, though. I really would not worry about it. I had a wheel fly off on the highway already and it looked the same if not worse, and on all 5, and after that I never had a problem. Someone must have tried stealing the wheel or wanted to kill me. Pretty much every car has been hub-centric for decades.

 

[Texas gst]

Just put it on and torque them, or have them torqued.