Warning: I'm about to ask a very stupid and paranoid question

[Stu]

Consider me a hypochondriac when it comes to my car.

There was a bee in my car and I was trying to swat it away. I accidentally ran my front right wheel off the road, which has no curb and kind of a hard dropoff. I knew my inner wheel must have contacted the asphalt. I was going about 40 mph.

I'm gonna check it at high speed for any vibration after class, and if there is none, I'm assuming it's good.

Does anything seem bent or wrong with the wheel? I see that curb rash and it is a little not smooth when I run my finger along it, but nothing feels really bad at all. I'm just worried about things like my tire falling off or something.

Yeah, I know. I'm a car hypochondriac.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7429/photocnv.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/100/photocnv.jpg/)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5964/photo2hx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/photo2hx.jpg/)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7166/photo3lsi.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/photo3lsi.jpg/)

[kayger12]

Looks fine to me, buddy.

[BRGcoopahS]

Coming from numerous bent rims, it looks like that rim has a long, slight bend to it. It could just be the angle and what not though. Take the wheel off the car and inspect it. Ive personally driven with bent rims on my MINI alot of times. If the bend isnt enough to cause a flat the instant it happens, chances are it wont get flat at all. (unless you happen to hit a pothole in the same spot where its bent). I've had my rim reshaped a few times and while it fixes the problem, it really just weakens the rim and causes it to bend easier. Its like bending a fork until it snaps.

There has been 2 or 3 times where I've gotten a flat from a bent rim, filled it up with air, and voila it was fixed. Actually the last time I got a flat all I did was fill it with air and ever since its been holding air. This was atleast 3 months ago.

[midlandtech]

Coming from numerous bent rims, it looks like that rim has a long, slight bend to it

+1 especially in pic 1 and 2 starting at the top and going down almost to where the wheels begins to go parallel to the road.... But may be seeing things... Only so much u can tell from a pic


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stu]

I took a look at an undamaged rim section. The pictures I took make it look like there is something wrong with the rim. But, I compared it to a good part of the rim and ran my fingers along until I got to the bad side, just looks to be a little curb rash and some very minor indentations along the rim. The inside edge part and all of that are just fine :)

No wobble or anything at highway speeds. Rolls just fine.

[iZHP]

It could still have a slight bend and drive alright. If it is bent, it's probably repairable.

[brettbimmer]

:idea If you have access to a jack, could you raise the wheel off the ground and spin it by hand in place on the car, watching to detect any movement/bent rim wobble? This would in effect give you the same results as you would get getting it spun at a wheel shop for the visual test anyway. Best if you can watch the inside edge of the wheel in relation to some other suspension part to make sure you don't see any "side-to-side" wobbie/wiggle. That is how I found out that I had a couple of bent rims, and it is how we often look to see if a boat propeller is straight and true.

Hope that you got the bee! :fistpump

[Stu]

Yeah, I'll give it a good inspection when I take my wheels off at the meet. For now, everything seems totally normal. I'd say this is just as bad as some curb rash, but not viewable :). If I gotta repair it, I know the perfect guy for the job.

[Stu]

Just jacked it up and spun it. Spins straight and true. Looks like I'm good :D

[brettbimmer]

Just jacked it up and spun it. Spins straight and true. Looks like I'm good :D

EXCELLENT! :waldo

Back to enjoying the ZHP on the road!

[M0nk3y]

If you want to confirm, go and get a road force balance.

Road force isn't just turning the wheel for weights, it applies a force to the tire and can detect bent wheels. Might give you peace in mind.

[Stu]

If you want to confirm, go and get a road force balance.

Road force isn't just turning the wheel for weights, it applies a force to the tire and can detect bent wheels. Might give you peace in mind.

Absolutely plan on it next oil change, I think. Or at least a few thousand after. Import Motor Werks has one. I've heard a good number for balancing is about every 6-10k miles, or if vibration develops.

Video (http://tinypic.com/r/b8lpqb/5)

All of the tread looks straight as it turns, and nothing seems to be wobbling either up or down on the wheel. Tire looks good on the inside, everything is seated just fine, I'm guessing it's just a case of unseeable curb rash. AKA, doesn't matter ;)

Totally fucked up that bee, though.

[llll1l1ll]

Freakin' bees! They are annoying.

[midlandtech]

Freakin' bees! They are annoying.

Could have been worse

BEES!



~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[llll1l1ll]

Hahahhaha THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!!

[MrMaico]

How bad is the tire scuffed up? All I'm seeing is a little dirt on it. I'd think if it hit hard enough to bend a rim that tire would be scuffed or even chewed up pretty bad.