New Alloys Or Refurbish ?

[cumbrialass]

I am happy with my 53 reg rav 4 but the alloys are rubbish... bibbling and starting to corode in a few places. I thought I had a slow puncture but am told it is air leaking due to corrosion.

Do I pay for them to be refurbished or buy some new ones? Are the Toyota replacemnets better quality.? Anyone had the same problem?? I don't plan to swop the Rav for a while.

[firemac]

I am happy with my 53 reg rav 4 but the alloys are rubbish... bibbling and starting to corode in a few places. I thought I had a slow puncture but am told it is air leaking due to corrosion.

Do I pay for them to be refurbished or buy some new ones? Are the Toyota replacemnets better quality.? Anyone had the same problem?? I don't plan to swop the Rav for a while.

Hi Kath,

I'm certainly not an expert but I think that if the wheels have already become porous, it might be too late for refurb. I must admit that whilst Japanese cars have generally excellent build quality, their alloys leave something to be desired compared to European ones. I found that the alloys that I had on a Mazda were pretty awful & they ended up being replaced under warranty. The alloys on both our 4.2 RAV's had to be refurbed last year - cost about £70 per wheel by www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk in Burton on Trent with 12 month warranty. Excellent job & still looking good. Conversely I've never had any trouble with any European alloys.

You will find that buying alloys from a franchised dealer (any marque, not just Toyota) to be horribly expensive. Might be better to try to pick up some 2nd hand ones on e-Bay; even if they are cheap & cheerful, as long as they aren't porous, you could have them refurbed & the cost would probably still be reasonable -vs- new OEM's from dealer.

[Big Kev]

Hi Kath,

Just had a look on your behalf at eBay listings.....look at PX Wheels in Blackpool who do an exchange of your 4 wheels for 4 same refurbbished. About £250.00. Worth a wee look anywayhowz....?

Big Kev

[Feral Rabbit]

You may find that the slow puncture may be caused by the corrosion, if so I am sure that once the wheels are refurbed this will remedy this problem.

I would get some advice and quotes from some refurbers.

Worth keeping your wheels if you are happy with them and refurbing would be a lot cheaper and you can have them refurbed in a colour you like too.

[firemac]

Hi Kath,

Just had a look on your behalf at ebay listings.....look at PX Wheels in Blackpool who do an exchange of your 4 wheels for 4 same refurbbished. About £250.00. Worth a wee look anywayhowz....?

Big Kev

Nice one BK. That's less than Mr.T charges for one new OEM wheel.

[Tony Barnsley]

I Had a look around the stock at PX wheels and the quality of the work was very excellent . . . Shame they didn't have a set of 17" rims for mine . . . although I could have had some 16's . . .then I could get a set of winter tyres . . .Still they are looking out for a set for me :D

[cumbrialass]

Thanks. There are 2 people who do refurb in my town. I'll get a few quotes. I will also check with Toyota just to see the difference in price . Not sure about second hands re fit . i could have the same problem

[cumbrialass]

Well I am going for reburbishment. [Toyota said they'd be "about £150 a wheel" if they could source some. Have had some good comments on a local guy who does a good refurb job... wheels dipped in acid, then bead blasted, then powder coated. £65 a wheel. The ones I saw were as new, actually looked better then new. They're not being done for a few weeks but once done I will put my comments here. [ hopefully good comments!!!!]

[Davrav]

They're not being done for a few weeks but once done I will put my comments here. [ hopefully good comments!!!!]

With 'before and after' photos too? That would be good :)

[cumbrialass]

Yes a good idea. Will do

[Big Kev]

Well I am going for reburbishment. [Toyota said they'd be "about £150 a wheel" if they could source some. Have had some good comments on a local guy who does a good refurb job... wheels dipped in acid, then bead blasted, then powder coated. £65 a wheel. The ones I saw were as new, actually looked better then new. They're not being done for a few weeks but once done I will put my comments here. [ hopefully good comments!!!!]

Wee something to look out for.....if your wheel balancing (current) weights are the LEAD type mounted on a STEEL clip (which hammers on to very rim of alloys), these sometimes react with the alloy to cause corrosion at the rim, but even more likely the heavy handed wee work experience guy in the Blue Uniform (quicker than whom you cannot get.....) has chipped a wee bit of yer alloy rim whilst hammering the blessed weights on in the first place....!!!!

Worth getting yer refurbicator to check, or at least make him aware you suspect air loss "somewhere".

Klevver Kev....all imparted to me by an operative....in a Blue Uniform.......

[Davrav]

Well I am going for reburbishment. [Toyota said they'd be "about £150 a wheel" if they could source some. Have had some good comments on a local guy who does a good refurb job... wheels dipped in acid, then bead blasted, then powder coated. £65 a wheel. The ones I saw were as new, actually looked better then new. They're not being done for a few weeks but once done I will put my comments here. [ hopefully good comments!!!!]

Wee something to look out for.....if your wheel balancing (current) weights are the LEAD type mounted on a STEEL clip (which hammers on to very rim of alloys), these sometimes react with the alloy to cause corrosion at the rim, but even more likely the heavy handed wee work experience guy in the Blue Uniform (quicker than whom you cannot get.....) has chipped a wee bit of yer alloy rim whilst hammering the blessed weights on in the first place....!!!!

Worth getting yer refurbicator to check, or at least make him aware you suspect air loss "somewhere".

Klevver Kev....all imparted to me by an operative....in a Blue Uniform.......

And when the wheels are done and you have the tyres replaced, insist on the sticky onny balance weights that go on the inside of the rim...............

Well balanced Davrav

[cumbrialass]

Thanks Kevin and Davrav. Interesting you should say that! [Got my tyres from the man in blue uniform !! Price was good but......] Refurb man who looked at the wheels yesterday pointed out the same thing you said , that the alloys rims were damaged due to heavy handed wheel balancers! His thoughts were that garages don't take much care if they think your wheels are old. He also said that he always makes sure that the balance weights will be put on the inside and made a point of telling me to tell any future service engineers. Which makes me feel more confident he'll do a good job. I didn't even realise that the balance weights didn't have to be on the outside.

[Big Kev]

Does that mean ah was actually correct for once, Kath.....?

You have TOTALLY ruined my reputation on here for talking absolute gibberish....ah hope you are proud of yursellf !!!!

LOL,

Big Kev

[Parts-King]

Most good quality tyres require little in the way of balance weights, but cheaper budget tyres often do, and thats when you often have to put weights on the outside as well as the inside. As always, you get what you pay for

Kingo

[anchorman]

Does that mean ah was actually correct for once, Kath.....?

You have TOTALLY ruined my reputation on here for talking absolute gibberish....ah hope you are proud of yursellf !!!!

LOL,

Big Kev

No she hasn't

[Big Kev]

Does that mean ah was actually correct for once, Kath.....?

You have TOTALLY ruined my reputation on here for talking absolute gibberish....ah hope you are proud of yursellf !!!!

LOL,

Big Kev

No she hasn't

Farsh but Hair.........