Frequently Asked Questions |
|
1. |
How long
does it take to repair a damaged wheel? |
2. |
Are your repairs guaranteed? |
3. |
How much
does Cliff Jacobs' Wheel Repair charge? |
4. |
Does Cliff
Jacobs' Wheel Repair refinish wheels? |
5. |
Are there
wheels that cannot be straightened? |
6. |
Can wheels be welded? |
7. |
What happens to
unclaimed wheels? |
|
How long
does it take to repair a damaged wheel? |
Cliff
Jacobs' Wheel Repair is committed to customer service and knows the
importance of quick turnaround. Wheels are repaired and
shipped in 1 business day. Severely damaged wheels may require
2 business days to repair, however customer will be notified. |
|
Are your repairs guaranteed? |
Yes.
We offer a limited guarantee. Our repairs are guaranteed to
deliver a wheel that runs straight within specifications, balances
with a quality tire and has no air leaks*. If we are unable to repair
your wheel, you will not be charged. *Promise
of no air leaks requires a quality tire. |
|
How much
does Cliff Jacobs Wheel Repair charge? |
Although
charges are based upon damage severity, repairs generally range from
a low of $80 to a high of $125. (13 inch to 20 inch wheels)
Additional shipping charges apply. Customers are provided a
price quote before repair begins. |
|
Does Cliff
Jacobs Wheel Repair refinish wheels? |
No.
Wheels are straightened, welded and repaired but not completely
refinished. In some cases wheels receive light touch up in the
damaged area. Complete refinishing often also
involves plating or restoring a wheels original finish and
machining. Our experience has shown that most wheels do not
require complete refinishing. Significant machining of a wheel
can also result in weak spots that jeopardize the overall integrity
of the wheel. Some customers have commented that refinishing
produces one wheel that is new in appearance, while the others
appear worn. |
|
Are there
wheels that cannot be straightened? |
Yes.
Wheels that are severely bent in the center (lateral bend) are not
candidates for straightening. The significant pressure
(measured in tons) required to straighten the wheel center can
damage the overall integrity of the wheel and is not recommended.
In some cases a wheel that is subject to a radial impact, such as
pot hole or running over an object, results in the wheel center
being pulled rather than bent. Wheels that have cracks in
their spokes are also not candidates for repair. A wheel with
light lateral run out can often be machined to remove this
imperfection. While Chrome plated wheels can be repaired, the
plating process used by most manufacturers can cause Hydrogen embrittlement. As a result, the wheel might be
susceptible to fracture during the straightening process. In
many cases these fractures can be welded. (see welding) |
|
Can wheels be welded? |
Yes, but
with restrictions. If the crack damage runs around the wheel
(circumference) it does not have a tendency to re-crack as easily if
hit in the same area again. Wheels with severe lip damage can
often be repaired by cutting and removing the damaged area and
splicing in a replacement section. A crack from the lip inward is
common especially on the large chrome wheels with extra low profile
tires (25-35 series). We drill and slice these cracks and weld
them root to root. These are more prone to re-crack if hit
again in the same place. There are many wheels on the road
that are welded. We suggest running them on the rear of the
car since the rear of the car is sprung softer and hits easier,
making them less likely to crack. If we weld a wheel we will
leave the weld on the outside of the inside barrel if possible to
give it extra support. We have seen many wheels that have been
welded and totally machined down (CNC). This process makes for a
weak spot because the welded area is softer than the rest of the
wheel. This is characteristic of welding aluminum. We
cannot guarantee a weld because of the above experiences, but will
weld if restrictions are observed. Our objective is to
straighten the wheel without cracking or compromising the area
damaged. We do have an eddy current test on site to use if
necessary. |
|
What happens to unclaimed
wheels? |
Wheels that
are not paid for or claimed after 45 days will be recycled.
All profits from the recycle of these wheels will be donated to the
Cincinnati Shriner's Hospital. |
Do you have a question that we have not
answered?
E-mail us your questions and we'll
respond! |