98 GTV V6: re-rolling teledials; tyres?

[darkstar]

hi all,

this is kinda related to another thread I started, but I thought it best to start a new one...

I've been getting a bad vibration through the wheel of my 98 GTV V6, that starts at 80 km/h

I took it to a mechanic who's told me I have two buckled rims on the front (the vibration only started after the wheels were rotated at the last general service). Ultratune checked this out, and didn't charge me anything for the trouble, so credit to them.

rang up WheelFixIt  (www.wheelfixit.com.au), who told me that Italian alloys (including Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa) like the teledials I've got on my car are hand-forged. He says that with rims like this, there's a 70% chance that re-rolling the rims will fail, and the rims will crack. The bloke really sounded like he knew his stuff, I have to say.

so if what he said is right, then of course I won't get them re-rolled, however from what others have said here previously, I expect opinions on this subject differ.

I'm thinking what I'll do is just get the wheels rotated again, so that the buckled rims are on the back again (the reason the mechanic rotated the wheels at the last service was that the tyres on the back were near-new whereas the ones on the front were very much the worse for wear). So that would involve getting two new tyres, which I need anyway.

longer term, if what I was told be WheelFixIt is right, then I'll keep an eye out for a couple of secondhand teledials

but just wanted some views on whether re-rolling the rims is actually an option...and while I'm here, I'm interested in what tyres people would recommend - I'm a bit price sensitive, but don't want to buy rubbish either...

thanks all...have gotten some good advice here in the past, so I expect I'll get it again...

[colcol]

If you are in Melbourne, try NEWAY in Heidleburg, i have had several Speedlines re-rolled there, they were off my 33, but the 156 JTS also has Speedlines, i would get them re-rolled and then have them crack tested, and if they come out crack free, maybe have them re-painted, they usually bend because the alloy is soft, so they bend on a pothole, rather than shatter, it all depends how bad they are, mine were about 3mm out, if they are up to 25mm out, it will be a big ask to bend them back, now if you get them all back into shape and they are still vibrating, then its the tyres, there are thick and thin spots in the tyres, and when they spin at high revolutions, the thin parts of the tyre expand more than the thick parts of the tyre, and therefor it goes out of round, Colin.

[TFJ100]

What size wheels do you have now? What size tyres are you looking for?

Looks like someone was smart enough to pick these up recently...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Tyres-/111003056419

Unbelievable price...

Torben

[scott.venables]

I haven't had a close look at the GTV teledials but I would be astonished if they are forged.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

I haven't had a close look at the GTV teledials but I would be astonished if they are forged.

Yep, I'd agree with that.

[colcol]

I didn't want to say it, but if they were hand forged they would be $2,000 each, they would be  cast, and then machined to ensure balance and roundness, they have to be soft and malleable, so that they don't shatter on a bump, Colin.

[dehne]

Father in law had 2 rims re rolled and they are fine I would get some one who knows what they are doing though

[John Hanslow]

Went to Bob Jane for the usual annual wheel alignment and balancing. 

As I have purchased a new car (for me) 916 Spider, I wanted to make sure all was well in that regard prior to any judgement about scuttle shake etc .

Two 16" standard spider wheels needed re-rolling as the alloy is a bit soft on modern Italian cars. You really have to avoid those potholes for sure.

Bob Jane said that they would take care of it and swap the wheels over with some spares that they had so I could still drive the cars.
But an Alfa Specialist in Thornbury - Il Bolide Rosso gave me the contact (as per Colin above) for Neway Wheel Repairs in Heidelberg as they do a lot a Alfa work.

I live in the bayside area and have not called Zagames in Brighton so do not have direct contact details of a repairer but think that it is best to take it to someone who knows. 

I will give Neway a call today.

Cheers

[colcol]

Lowering the car and stiffer springs sure help to buckle rims, as there is less 'give' in the suspension, when it hits a pothole, quite a few of the Falcon and Commodore owners get their rims re-rolled at Neway, especially when they have thin straps of rubber wrapped around the rims posing as tyres, Colin.

[Cool Jesus]

What does re-rolling cost? My spider ha one wheel which needs work.

[colcol]

Hi cool Jesus, i checked my receipts and it was $35 each, receipt date was 1988, most likely a bit more now and Neway are in Melbourne at Heidleburg, check to see what you can get a good second hand one for, the wreckers seem to have a good supply of rims, car has to have a massive prang before the wheels get damaged, Colin.

[Cool Jesus]

Yeah well, giving the car its weakly clean and found that one of the rear rims had a small buckle on the outer lip (both sides) as though a gutter or pothole had been hit. I started pointing the finger at my daughter, when the misses fessed up to having climbed a gutter when turning into her work driveway. So, I've been watching a few posts that have come up recently of others getting their rims re-rolled, but now one is talking $$$. I take if the damge is repairable, its a one price fixes all?

[poohbah]

I'd be keen to hear how you go with re-rolling Darkstar. I've been told the teledials on my 156 are also buckled (I get the same shimmy around 90kmh). I was given the name and number of a local Perth firm that could do it, but I think I might wait to hear how you go. I was told it would cost ~$180-$200 a corner, or about half the cost of replacing the rims.

Cheers
Poohbah

[colcol]

Poohbar, you could try a wrecker, they always seem to have sets of rims for sale on ebay, or find someone wrecking a 156, and go and have a look for gutter rash and give them a spin to see if they are buckled, Colin.

[John Hanslow]

If you are in Melbourne, try NEWAY in Heidleburg, i have had several Speedlines re-rolled there, they were off my 33, but the 156 JTS also has Speedlines, i would get them re-rolled and then have them crack tested, and if they come out crack free, maybe have them re-painted, they usually bend because the alloy is soft

I have dropped off my car today at Neway.  I told them to check, re-roll and balance as needed.  I understood only 2 wheels need rolling but with a spider,  I want the best outcome with wheels so I know what the actual scuttle shake is and not 2nd rate wheels. 

Many Alfa specilists have commented that the wheels can easily be damaged with potholes etc and I am sure not many people would get their wheels balanced and aligned annually.

Update later.