DIY Straightening a bent alloy rim in your driveway

This DIY video shows a procedure used to carefully take a dent out of an alloy wheel. The dent was on the inside of the rim and the final result was not dependent upon any scratches or other blemishes in the rim. If that is a concern to you, you should use a heavy rubber mallet instead of a steel hammer. The rim did not crack, it is pretty near perfect shape and does not leak air anymore. Be safe and use gloves so you don't burn yourself on the hot rim.
2 years later owner reports tire balanced easily, does not abnormally wear tire, rides smooth and does not leak air.
Check my other videos:
"DIY Breaking Stubborn tire bead off a rim using a 4,000LB press"
"DIY Marathon of techniques to getting a tire to stop leaking against the bead"

[@VictorNolochemical]

When he drops the wood and just gives'er !! 😂😂😂😂 Made my day lol

[@sebastianvansabben3029]

Yes!!!!!!!

[@sebastianvansabben3029]

Made my monday morning

[@ZG1018]

Buddy went to townnnn

[@br9760]

Bambam lol

[@A_Sound_Soul]

🤣🤣🤣 I had to PAUSE ⏸️

[@dreko_tv]

I’ve been watching diys all morning but this one here has to be the funniest 🤣

[@philwaters9751]

Nice. The truck parked on the boards holding down the tyre and acting as an effective vice/anvil was the best bit that really will make a difference when I start beating on mine in a few minutes. Cheers Lads. thank for sharing... xxx ;-)

[@matthewmckinney6745]

I don't know why there are so many negative comments. I commend you because you got the job done lol. I Fixed my bent 26 inch chrome wheel yesterday with a large hammer, wood block, and a hydraulic jack. It's not perfect, but my truck rides 10x smoother now. Good job

[@travismilligan8883]

Matthew Mckinney I was thinking about using a jack but how did you do it

[@BEA5T5IDE]

Thats the whole reason im watching this. Bent 26s FML

[@mnunyabiz1913]

I've done it with a 20 on jack between two formed wooden blocks. works great. No banging needed. just pump the jack until you get the movement you want.

[@DinkyDiTruBlu]

Nice.

[@bareegogingenandre]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and apparently it balanced well and keeps the air. To harden aluminium alloys you incure more than 10% deformation. Like you normally do with a dent, but you can also just hammer on it and it gets the same effect, smaller grains and less ductile. That is why you quite correctly heat it to aneal the metal to get larger grains and more ductile material. A hydraulic jack is more controlable than a sledge. The easyist way to make a support for the jack to fit the rim, is some mortar in a plastic bag inside the rim and leave it overnight. Hitting a hardened hammer with another hardened hammer is dangerous and it may explode almost like glass and throw splinters all over the plase. A+ for effort and initiative

[@JB-tb1zr]

Banging 2 hammers does nothing. Thats just a myth. Was tested on myth busters! Glass lol

[@fuckingpippaman]

@@JB-tb1zr sure sure tell it to someone who lost an eye to that

[@kolbeybowen90]

*place*

[@teenice894]

It's a ball pein hammer, that's what you do with ball pein hammers

[@garyjay1774]

Your idea of a bag of mortar clicked with me. On the outside, I used our strongest ready-mix concrete to support the foot of my porta-power. It worked. No heat needed. Wheel and inflated tyre were still on the car.

[@darkside9129]

Looks like a good job to me. Big thumbs up and thanks for the ideas👍

[@Arr0gance42]

This is not the best way, but anyway it works. You are weakening the aluminum and causing minor cracks by meeting it with the iron hammer. Smashing it with the wood is the best way, as the wood absorbs the hit. And final thing , the rim is straight to the eye, but not on a machine,and it wouldn't "roll" good on the road.I mean if it's a front your steering wheel might vibrate etc. This is one of many ways to do it , but wooden block and bigger hammer are needed. Had fun watching overall. :D

[@mrdiyguy123]

thanks for the constructive feedback.

[@kevinmontoya7318]

Isn't his rim alloy

[@DUB-sential]

The wood seemed to disagree

[@davidoff59]

@@mrdiyguy123 never hit a hammer off another hammer. High risk of flying shrapnel

[@TrueBlueEG8]

@@davidoff59 that's a myth

[@DaBinChe]

Next time use a bottle jack and use that wood for the base of the jack.

[@speedria]

graceful precision smack!

[@badtoyz5458]

this is how i fix my rims, i got one right now needed to be done,i will video it and post it....

[@seussyyy]

This video make my whole week

[@theoverlyingTRUTH_NINJA]

caveman voice: Heat & Hammer best hack of all time!!!!🔥🔥🔨🔨🔨

[@22kpar1xcyberdyne9]

😂 omg, too funny! Use an air or hydraulic jack and slow pressure to avoid this comedy sketch.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Good idea!

[@HighlanderJosh]

Lmfao... *tries to use perfectly cut wood as a base to properly fix the rim* *drops the wood and procceeds to HULK SMASH*

[@janes-e378]

Totally wreck yr rim in under 2 mins 😱😱😱

[@Cokie907]

@@janes-e378 in the vid I watched, the rim was already screwed by hitting something (took 1/2 sec). Lol

[@francismarion4450]

Yeah he probably spent 2 hours making that pretty finger trap.

[@Stealthcricket]

This comment had me laughing out loud 😂

[@cavemanjoe7972]

I get what you tried to do, but it would've been much easier to clamp down the wheel and use a big adjustable wrench to straighten the edge of the rim. A dead blow hammer and a body form would've worked much better to round out the inside section, too.

[@rileyandikeysplaytime5936]

You did well removing the bend, however the inside bead where the rubber tire bead meets the aluminum wheel needs inspection and possibly a rasp file or emery cloth rubbed completely around the repaired area otherwise mounting a tire on an uneven and rough surface e will surely create a slow leak that will empty the air in your tire in a couple days!

[@mrdiyguy123]

In my case, the rim did not lose air after the bend was straightened but I agree what you say is good advice.

[@ryangiddens8774]

They make a micrometer for that that way you know your wheel is true but I guess if you're doing it yourself and to shade tree job hey you get what you get right LOL I'm just happy to see it didn't crack on you because most of the time they do when you hit them with a steel hammer

[@douglas9607]

I learned even more watching your vid. Thanks. Subbed/Likie

[@WarScythe_XD]

When he started hammering away I fucking lost my shit.😂🤣☠️

[@dandahmann128]

Good job, very creative, and very economical. Thanks for the idea.

[@hl3369]

Question : Anyone had any experiences in working on chrome wheels ? Can you heat it up at all without turning the chrome blue ? What's the best approach in fixing dented chrome wheels?

[@slick408]

If it's the wheel face then it always needs a refinish after. I know chrome likes to flake off.

[@mrred8294]

This video should be called “cowboy smacking the shit out of alloy”

[@badassnovass]

I just back over the pothole about 35mph and it fixes it everytime

[@baptizedbyfire13]

Best solution imho.

[@kingvltage6059]

This man is a visionary.

[@Opiti72]

our boy does not hesitate, yep, it took just one drop...to go full power on the 2 pounds monster...I feel so much better about some decisions that I made in the past... lol

[@dandahensley8561]

Precision BASHING! 😂😂😂 ahhh perfect lol!

[@rabee2040]

Awesome video guys. I doubt they did this before but they has knowledge and specialy characteristics of matterials had to work with.

[@mrdiyguy123]

I have since acquired an oxy/acetylene torch. If I had a do over, I likely would heat it up with the new torch to reduce the amount of banging.

[@mattbanack7942]

A little crude with a sledge hammer and the end result shows. Rather than a sledge hammer, stabilize the back side of a bottle jack against the rim opposite the bend with a similar piece of wood, heat the area with the bend and gently use the bottle jack to apply even pressure to bend. Its a far more elegant approach that is much easier to accomplish the same task.

[@mrdiyguy123]

You are absolutely correct. My method worked... but was crude.

[@angeloramen4138]

My dude is tryna kill that rim with that hammer

[@eduardopacheco1591]

very difficult to do this task without the proper tools. But, You did It.

[@iron60bitch62]

I love the way you check the temperature of the rim so many people just heated up and start wailing

[@rap9545]

Love it! Can't wait to try this

[@norakat]

Go on Ebay. You’ll be surprised how cheap you can buy a rim. My Lexus rim is $600-700 at the dealer. I got it for $90-100 on EBay used.

[@danieltenorio2109]

Thanks for the thermometer advice 150c° check

[@ryangiddens8774]

But for sure you've compromised the metal by doing what you did but it'll get you by and who knows it may hold up but all I know is that's a minor didn't compared to some of the stuff that I actually threw out to within factory

[@-MrRichBiker1967]

yikes!!!! now put on a wheel balancer, and see how straight it is! love to see that.

[@bigscrapyloc6814]

Question is if it'll still drive smooth with no bumpy ride.

[@crucial414]

A scissor jack with those 2 pieces of hard wood would have made it look better with less damage, but this is not a show car and it worked so who cares. Good job and better than paying a professional $100 or more to fix a rim that is barely worth that.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely try the scissor jack method next time.

[@aaronalbright4864]

Yep! Heat and 3 tonne bottle jack work magic! Shop wants $125 minimum to bump out 3/16 pothole dent in my $150 rim.

[@ex-spontaneous-spontaneous4134]

Good ideas guys, I was thinking that a hydraulic press type configuration with that rounded jig would work, but that bottle jack stuff sounds easiest

[@zappa916]

such a woeful repair.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Your autocorrect must have been active. It is spelled "wonderful".

[@sheelamiller7884]

I have a feeling we're gonna end up with a nice cozy bonfire 🔥 long before the rim is fixed lol. JK 😜. I'll bring the marshmallows:)

[@m66di]

I’m annoyed mines bent can someone had a rock on the road and my tire flat 😢

[@LordJasonKing]

Don't choose brain surgery as an alternative career. 😂

[@samspace81]

Beautiful work

[@tm2pusatpressmadiun577]

Good job

[@Sroor90010]

Wow that's a tough job, you should work in an area where there is no civilization otherwise they'll call cops for you 😂😂😂

[@petersheamorris4852]

Should've used a hydraulic jack and constant pressure it saves the surface of the rim

[@simonroyle2806]

look out videos on what happens when you hit two hammers!

[@orakelgottes]

I just hammered without heating the bent rims of my van and of my wife's sedan ... they become less bent but not perfect though.. I will see if they will run well on the road

[@shambles3458]

How'd it go

[@myrthocharles2525]

Where can i get a thermometer like yours ?

[@uncommonlegacy232]

Sir if you don’t mind what kind of tool are you using for the rounded edge

[@mrdiyguy123]

It was a piece of hardwood that i cut to fit the curve using a bandsaw. It was a good idea but unfortunately the wood broke up before the dent was removed.

[@kyore789]

Dumped my bike and it slide the front tire into a sign which left a small dent in my front rim, shouldn’t be too hard to fix.

[@KunjanChauhan]

its quite cheap to get it rounded again at a proper shop...! lots of potential issues w this approach. ideally, don't use low profiles...! This is also the very real issue, that once heat treated to re-round a rim, the rim will be structurally weaker.

[@allangomes2416]

is that a permanent solution or temporary?

[@mrdiyguy123]

Permanent

[@williamsandler1363]

With bunch of grades of sandpaper, elbow grease and patience can remove all those scratches maker look like new

[@teccmo]

Where did you get the rounded wood block? if you remember

[@mrdiyguy123]

I made it on a bandsaw. I was a good idea but unfortunately broke apart with the pounding.

[@mattwilliams9663]

Did that balance out good and work ok? Because I'm trying to straighten one myself.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Yep. No problem since. Whe balances and holds air.

[@254lele]

now is perfect

[@acetech9237]

I have this awesome method for this. I go on eBay right? I then click on a used wheel for sale and buy it. TAAAA DAAAA wheel looks like it was never bent 😂

[@psycho-nutkase9233]

Just seeing this i throw out some advice to add to this use copper mallet

[@unapologeticallypatriotic3853]

Should've used a bottle jack and bent it smoothly instead of pounding on it.

[@ourchanneluk7821]

Queen need this kind of scrapyard hammer man alloy wheel repair

[@yeahbuddy6852]

No Mercy on thats its man 👌👍

[@707_gato6]

2:37 He said f that wood 🤣

[@MrRDOTM]

😭😭😭

[@AdamAus85]

That escalated quickly. Found same size dent on the inside of front RHS style 66 BMW wheel yesterday. Hopefully not to expensive to have someone fix it.

[@k0rc]

For a rim you are just going to mount on a farm implement and not exceed 20 mph, I guess this would do.

[@JosePerez-by2zy]

flinstones repair 101

[@josephbohme7917]

Very true. Like they would on a remote 4th world road stranded miles from a hammer, or common tools or skills

[@Cokie907]

He's cold-working the material so it's actually getting stronger in that area due to grain alignment. The problem is that area of the rim also becomes more brittle so it has less impact absorption. No biggie, just don't hit the curb in the same spot on the tire next time. LOL!

[@mrdiyguy123]

You are absolutely correct. I wouldn't want to bend it back, then correct that bend, then correct it the other way for the very reason you mentioned.

[@Cokie907]

@@mrdiyguy123 The benefits of taking Material Science 34 years ago at Annapolis. It's actually one of the few classes that I enjoyed! Haha

[@lukehoisington4236]

I have a 2013 jetta gli and all 4 of my rims are bent and it's $95 per rim to repair 😭😭

[@ianbreyes]

Luke Hoisington lol just get new rims at around $100 each on the low end ones. Decent ones around 130-140 each.

[@Brendan125]

Luke Hoisington that’s cheap to fix mine just 1 rim they wanted 200 and it’s a 80 dollar rim so might as well fix it myself

[@golfish8589]

@@ianbreyes recent stories before covid 19 report 50% of families cant afford a $400 repair bill

[@ianbreyes]

TIM Flugaur-Leavitt what’s your point?

[@golfish8589]

@@ianbreyes if it was a $4000 dollar not 400 repair. Whould you try the repair yourself. Or is that still within your budget? Should people who cant afford 400 repair skip their next rent payment or just not eat for a month? You make the call. Did you know 20% of children in the US live in poverty?

[@francismarion4450]

Bigger block next time. Also smacking 2 hammers together is a good way to send shrapnel into your face, arms, and legs.

[@MrAranhaman]

Use a hidraulic jack instead of hammering...

[@golfish8589]

How many people have a hydrolic jack compared to a hammer?

[@Burt1038]

@@golfish8589 The type of person who would tackle this kind of job would have a hydraulic jack, 100% of the time.

[@Jay-zd9kx]

I think we used a old tube instead of the wood and it fixed it

[@garymorton7211]

Hitting one hammer with another, is a good time to have a face shield on. Also,. would I ever trust an aluminum wheel that had been pounded on that hard?

[@kylefee4822]

Shows the some of the inner hammering and none of the outer where we would need to see thanks

[@DinkyDiTruBlu]

Fucken legend .. out fucken standing

[@duranortiz6261]

Is it absolutely nessesary to heat an alloy rim for a small lip straitening? I need to do a repair on a chrome plated rim. Second oppinons please.

[@jrichie333]

By heating it, you make it a lot more malleable and less likely to shatter if you beat on it. The issue is that if it's already bent, the rim probably has a lot of stress there and makes it weaker, kind of like how if you fold a piece of sheet metal back and forth it will eventually come apart at the bend. Stick to heating it if you value the rim.

[@duranortiz6261]

Zer0- Thanks for the advice. And that's a good way to describe it.

[@deekay2]

Wonder if you damaged your tire smashing it down with that wood board?

[@mrdiyguy123]

It stii seems fine after 16 months

[@AndrewSilvaVlogs]

the sidewall flexes a lot harder during mounting and dismounting. its fine

[@KARR]

NEVER hit a hammer with a hammer! hardened steel on hardened steel can splinter and take your eye out.

[@inevespace]

hammers from hardened steel? Mmmm, interesting... Did you ever use a hammer?

[@reioXyhi]

Why didn't you heat it more...up to 380-400. Have you tried without heat...some says the heat is not any help on aluminium. That you must be very precise in the heat range .

[@jitnyc]

a small spring clamp would go a long way...

[@jackl8915]

Can you do this with the tyre on?

[@mrdiyguy123]

Yes provided you don't heat the rim enough to melt the tire.

[@jackl8915]

mr diyguy123 Thank you mate appreciate this 👍

[@rickgregersonmusic1059]

Bangbangbang!! you Will go back in to shape 😭

[@hl3369]

I wonder why none of these video ever uses a heat gun?

[@mrdiyguy123]

I don't think a heat gun would make a meaningful difference. A heat gun certainly could burn our skin... but may not make enough heat to help straightening metal..

[@e38.e46]

😂😂😂👌 that hammer made my day

[@mpowersmedia3219]

I can only imagine the damage done to the radial part of that tire after being pancaked and twisted into oblivion, holy shit. Lmao

[@rogerrrivera]

Anyone else waiting for the woodpecker to make an appearance 🤣

[@MM2009]

never hit hammer with hammer

[@mrdiyguy123]

The hammer could conceivably chip or crack but hammers exploding is a myth.

[@shawn0fan]

great craftsman

[@Taterhead3e]

Excellent vid

[@DirtySallysweetsally]

Funny how you didn't show you pounding on the on the lip of rim. Which is the reason i watched I want to learn how But you skip that part

[@atiluzun]

is this rim correction? :)

[@Brendan125]

Thank you this video helped a lot

[@TheLuca777]

He’s still living in the times where hammer was the only tool;)

[@KhyoteJinkens]

Great video! Mcguyver! From the heating to the truck on the fucking wood holding the tire out of the way! Thumbs up!

[@akhtarhussain4471]

Is it me or someone whispers’ its only inside of the rim lol

[@user-yd1vl9lj5j]

How about next time trying a bottle jack between 2 curved pieces of hardwood, while heating.

[@mrdiyguy123]

Great idea

[@RonaldJones_13]

Here's a good result with the Bottle Jack method. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4ebpmBuraefl8U

[@bpascalis]

I would not try this on my motorcycle wheel.

[@mrdiyguy123]

+Bill P91311 good advice. i would not try it on a motorcycle wheel either. I suppose taking more risk with a car is acceptable.

[@TeqGaming13]

If your reading the comments fuck the heat and wood just beat Mine with a nail hammer and it worked perfectly just use a micro fire clothes to avoid indents

[@joeyoung1498]

Thanks for posting. This made me realize that it's more work than I care to do. I'm too lazy. Oh and is that a Scion TC wheel?

[@mrdiyguy123]

Joe Young thanks for the feedback. It was a Ford focus

[@gunnslinger7774]

Ah.. the get a bigger hammer theory...

[@jonanderson6532]

Porta power would allow a controlled repair.

[@mrdiyguy123]

I'm in complete agreement. I had a porta power years ago and regret selling it during a move.

[@jonathanabrown8497]

Ima get my hammer an torch. Bet I fix that dang wheel of mine!!