Oh What A Suprise

[Ace of Pop]

Its been 40 Years since I've spent time in a Body Repair Shop. The Plasma Cutting is so accurate compared to the old Oxy Cet.. Surprise No 2. They cut the front ends of a newish SUV Chevy, and it looked just the same as the 20 year old D Max next to it. I guess the D.Max cost 300K when new. So much for SUVs being safer than a normal truck.. in my view !!. Today's Body Jigs could straighten out Thaksin, puts you off second hand rides they look perfect.. .

[transam]

Well yeh, here we near always advise buy new.

[WarpSpeed]

Hmmm, so if they look perfect what's the problem? And I don't mean the obvious answer of driving correctly and such because if the tech has evolved that much so has the rest of the process so we aren't necessarily talking the same results as the past with that either..

[Ace of Pop]

Another surprise. I commented on a fantastic looking damaged alloy wheel. "Rubish Ting" said Boss Man, not a forged wheel , it crumble like Cookie. Got me wondering what O.E wheels are.Cast or Forged ?.

[Morden]

I often wonder how strong are those after market flashy alloy wheels, especially those that the seller reluctantly admits come from China.

[transam]

Most alloy wheels are cast, BUT, the quality of the cast is what matters. OEM wheels will have been tested to the extreme for safety reasons, the cheapo or not so cheapo stuff from China etc l would be concerned about. New a guy in UK who imported wheels for silly money.

[Morden]

I enquired at a shop out of curiosity. They told me that the most popular brand of wheel was Bridgestone. Does anyone know where they are made?

[Ace of Pop]

This Chunked one was a Chrome Finish Blingy Thingy , looked expensive that's why i was surprised at the Rubbish remark. On Reflection O.E, must be O.K.

[Ace of Pop]

Things Change .At 15 Y.O. my Saturday job was flatting down Vans for Respray in Garish Colours for T.V. Rental firms I remember Dockers Paint that gave an Orange Peel Effect that drove the old guys mad. There were Panel Beaters,who Lead Loaded and used Spoons to re shape dents..Years later i came here and saw Spoon Stickers on Boy Racers Mini Cars, Nah it wasn't a Body Repair Shop Advert as i thought, just bolt on junk for Kids. A Heated Spray Booth was a hand held Infra Red Lamp , like Gran had for Rheumatism. One thing i enjoyed from my Visit, those Thai Guys were proud of turning out Quality.

[culicine]

Most alloy wheels are cast, BUT, the quality of the cast is what matters. OEM wheels will have been tested to the extreme for safety reasons, the cheapo or not so cheapo stuff from China etc l would be concerned about. New a guy in UK who imported wheels for silly money.

Forged wheels are out of the range of most - 10K or so a piece or more..

Wife hit out lenso wheel into a deep pothole at 80 km/h, put a nice 1 inch tear in the new tire. Wheel had a dent that was bashed out at the shop we bought it from. later got the wheels fixed and resprayed. Not a problem with it. Still got those wheels 9 years later. On the other hand I've seen some wheels totally smashed to pieces. Lord knows that the brand was or whee they were from.

[WarpSpeed]

I enquired at a shop out of curiosity. They told me that the most popular brand of wheel was Bridgestone. Does anyone know where they are made?

Depends on the market, some here and some there, some are made in Thailand in fact virtually all the ones you get there are Thai made as are many other brands and shipped all around the globe too.. If you'll pardon the pun, Thailand is big hub for global tire manufacturing..

[BSJ]

Is this thread an "Ace of Pop" down memory lane......or are we discussing the virtues of high quality alloy wheels?

PS: At least 90% of alloy wheels including OEM are made in China.

[Ace of Pop]

. I Know, i'm as Boring as a Ford Ranger Poster. Anyway a Forged wheel doesnt Chunk like a Cast, so im told.

[transam]

I had forged alloy wheels on my Pontiac, 15 x 10 wide (rear) Weld Pro Stars. You could pick one up with one finger. Big sticker on them, not for off road or race track use . Road or drag race only (or words to that affect).

[Morden]

I had forged alloy wheels on my Pontiac, 15 x 10 wide (rear) Weld Pro Stars. You could pick one up with one finger. Big sticker on them, not for off road or race track use . Road or drag race only (or words to that affect).

weld.jpg

So hitting a pothole on the road could cause wheel damage?

[transam]

I had forged alloy wheels on my Pontiac, 15 x 10 wide (rear) Weld Pro Stars. You could pick one up with one finger. Big sticker on them, not for off road or race track use . Road or drag race only (or words to that affect).

weld.jpg

So hitting a pothole on the road could cause wheel damage?

A forged wheel in LOS is a no no. They buckle easy. Cast is strong but can crack if whacked. Seen wheels with low profile tyres where the alloy will hit the curb and not the tyre.

[Morden]

I think I'll keep with the manufacturers wheels.

Some of the after market wheels look stunning on display but often, once on a vehicle, they look stupid or just out of place.

[transam]

I think I'll keep with the manufacturers wheels.

Some of the after market wheels look stunning on display but often, once on a vehicle, they look stupid or just out of place.

My thoughts too.

[Ace of Pop]

I think my wheels are the latest Lamp Post Style according to the Local Dogs. !! Never realised Forged buckled, so I've learned something.

[BSJ]

You hit anything made out of metal hard enough and of-course it will bend, buckle or break. Your average Pattaya, Thai anywhere, road surface is no place for expensive alloy wheels!