Rims are important for a car because they connect the tyres to the axles. If everything went right, the rims would stay in great shape. Our rims get bent or damaged sometimes because we drive badly or because the roads are bad.

You can fix a bent, dented, or scratched rim and get it back to the way it was before. Depending on how bad the damage is and where it is on the rim, you can clean it, weld it, or put new metal where the damage is.

Accidents can happen because of worn tyres. Worse, if you don’t fix them, your car might break down and cause an accident. This article talks about how to fix scratched and bent rims and how much it costs to do so.

Can Bent Car Rims Be Fixed?

Yes, you can fix bent rims.

The key is to fix them as soon as you can after you bend them. But it’s unlikely that bent rims will ever be fixed in a perfect way.

Even though your car’s wheels are made of steel, aluminium, and chrome, they can still be damaged by things like curbs, potholes, and speed bumps.

Even though the cost of repairs is high, the damage to our car’s tyres and wheels makes the new look useless.

How Do I Know My Car Rim is Bent?

If you can feel or see a bend in the wheel, that’s a clear sign that the rim is bent. We can also tell when rims are bent because they use more gas or make the ride rough.

But these signs can also be caused by problems with how the tyres are balanced. So, the best way to be sure is to have a car expert look at them.

Can Scratched Car Rims Be Fixed?

The dents and scratches on our wheels make them look old. Even though the scratches don’t look good, there’s no need to worry because we can always fix them.

Steps to Repairing Scratched Car Rims

Step 1: Cleaning the Rim

checking for damage on the rim

You might need to look at all the damage on the rim before we start fixing it. We should clean the rim well if we want our repairs to last a long time.

Getting the Rim Clean

Scrub the rim with a washcloth and a mild wheel cleaner to get rid of all the dirt and grime. If all of our car tyres are dirty, we might want to clean them before fixing the damage.

Use thinner for paint.

Paint thinner helps get rid of any dust or dirt that might still be on the rim. Put pressure on a washcloth that has been soaked in paint thinner and rub the rim until all the dirt comes off.

As a safety measure, you should always wear a mask and gloves when you work with paint thinner.

Clean the edge

If you dry the rim before you start fixing it, your repairs will last longer. Use a cloth without fur to dry the rim, or if you have time, let them dry in the air.

Step 2: Filling the Rim

Masking tape should be put on the tyre.

Masking tape should be used to cover the tyre behind the rim. It stops things from getting into our tyres.

Getting the Dings Out

Sand the dented area with 240-grit paper. Rub back and forth on the dented surface until it is completely smooth.

Use a dry cloth to wipe away the dust from the sandpaper.

Putting in the Holes

With a putty knife, remove enough spot putty and apply it to the damaged area. Smooth and shape the putty over the dent with your fingers to keep the rim from coming up.

Keeping the putty in the damaged area will keep it from leaving bumps on the area that wasn’t damaged.

Let the goop dry.

Most of the time, it takes thirty minutes to two hours for the putty to dry. How long it takes to dry depends on the brand and the size of the damage.

The putty’s directions will tell us more about how long it will take to dry.

Rough up the putty

Smooth out the remaining bumps with grit sandpaper. The area of putty should be the same size as the rest of the rim.

Step 3: Applying Paint and Primer

Wear gloves, eye protection, and a respirator.

Primer and paint can irritate the eyes, lungs, and skin, so we should wear safety gear. Also, don’t forget to paint in a room with good air flow.

Cover up the Wheel

Stains from spray paint are hard to get rid of. Cover the part we’re not going to paint with Kraft paper and tape it down.

Primer is sprayed on.

The primer will help the wheel look more like it came from the ground. Stand 15 to 20 centimetres away from the rim, and then use a sweeping motion to spray evenly.

When spread evenly over the damage, one coat of primer is enough.

Let your primer dry first.

It will take between 30 minutes and an hour for the primer to dry.

Using the metallic spray to make a base coat

Choose a colour that is close to the colour of your rim and spread it out in a sweeping motion. We should spray between 25 and 30 cm away from the edge.

Wait at least half an hour to an hour for the paint to dry.

Putting on more coats

Once the first coat is dry, we can add two or three more coats to get the colour we want. With two or three coats, the rim looks more natural.

Let the last coat dry before adding another one, and don’t touch the paint in between.

Spray lacquer on.

With the spray lacquer, the spray paint we just put on won’t flake or wear away. Also, spray it in a sweeping motion and let it dry.

Depending on the spray lacquer, it can take anywhere from eight to twenty-four hours for the paint to dry.

How Much Does it Cost To Fix a Car Rim?

Before you can figure out how much it will cost to fix your rim, you need to know what kind of material it is made of.

Types of Rims

Steel is a good material for rims because it stops a lot of damage and lasts for a long time.

Chrome wheel: If these wheels get broken, they can only be fixed by a professional.

The most common type of wheel is made of aluminium alloy. They look good, and any damage, big or small, is easy to fix.

Plastic clad: This wheel is similar to a chrome wheel, but it is lighter and less expensive.

Cost to Fix a Car Rim by Type

Steel Wheel

Depending on whether it is scratched or bent, fixing a steel wheel can cost between $50 and $150.

Steel wheels rarely break, but if one does, we will have to replace it completely.

Aluminum Alloy

If the wheel is scratched, we might have to pay $50 to $150 to fix it.

But if it’s bent or cracked, we should think about throwing it away and getting a new one, since this alloy can’t go back to its original shape.

Chrome Wheels

If there was a scratch, we might think about re-plating, but we could still fix it. However, re-plating might cost between $200 – $500.

The price of a bent rim can range from $50 to $105. If the rim is cracked, it might be cheaper to replace it than to fix it.

Plastic Clad Wheels

They are made of plastic, so any damage can’t be fixed. You have to replace the rim.