View Full Version : I need some help/advice...
from many of you here that have more knowledge than I do.
I noticed over the weekend, a pretty severe "scratch" on my passenger side front wheel right at the tire. It's about 1 1/2" long, and there is NO blemish at all on the tire. The last time I had my car in (2 weeks ago) one of the things I had done was an alignment check (my steering wheel was a little off-line)
Knowing that I have driven my car for virtually every "click" and that I HAVE NOT "curbed" the car...could this have come from the alignment equipment? I wanted to ask here before becoming accusatory at the dealer. I know it may depend on what type of equipment they use...but, what do you guys think?
Thanks -
SergntMac
02-03-2003, 06:18 AM
I would expect the dealer to know if their equipment could have caused the scratch, or not. What they would be willing to do about it, is another story. This could easilly become a "blame game" that may spoil other considerations in the future.
Don't make yourself crazy over it Todd, we all get our first scratch. I got mine from the wayward shopping cart, what is one to do?
Maybe some simichrome polish will help, if its not too deep a gouge?
I forgot to add to my message any thouhts or advice as to what to "treat" it with...
Any other suggestions from anyone on a "fix"?
03 Merc
02-03-2003, 07:02 AM
Todd,
Ouch.. Check your mail...
LincMercLover
02-03-2003, 07:57 AM
If you can feel it with your finger nail, it's beyond any kind of repair without paint. If not, then some GS-27 will do the trick.
SergntMac
02-03-2003, 08:42 AM
Originally posted by LincMercLover
If you can feel it with your finger nail, it's beyond any kind of repair without paint. If not, then some GS-27 will do the trick.
What's GS-27? Is that a metal polish? I suggested simichrome because I've used that for years on untreated metals to buff out scratches and fine tune a shine. But, on second thought, if the wheels have any kind of protective sealer in place, the simichrome may be too aggressive and remove that. Then, ya gotta polish the whole wheel, or deal with the thumbprint.
RF Overlord
02-03-2003, 08:49 AM
Sarge raises a good question: I know our wheels are polished aluminium, not chrome plated, but is there any kind of protective coating on them? ....clear-coat? ...is it safe to use Tar and Bug Remover on them?
My T-bird must have had something on the wheels, as they never seemed to collect any brake dust...
Bigdogjim
02-03-2003, 09:25 AM
Todd: I had one of my rear wheels damaged in an accident. I was trying to adviod a stolen car comming right at me. The car in front of me hit a pole, I just caught a high curb. Anyway I have a friend that does metal polishing and he thinks he will be able to "clean" it up some. My is about 2" along the rim, kinda rough it up. I have been told there is not much can be done if it real deep. (I an trying to after the insurance comoany of the stolen car). A new rim is about $460. list. (ouch)
Hope it works out
Big Dog
Wheel alignment systems can do this to wheels. The place that I go to uses a jig that bites into the rim right on the inside of the tire bead (toward the hub) with two little sharp points at opposite sides of the wheel, resulting in 4 piercings through the rim's protective barriers. What a joke, to get an alignment and then end up with wheel damage. So yes, depending on the equipment used, there is a good chance of receiving scratches and / or little holes in your rims.
Now only if they could come up with something that just uses your lug bolts or something besides destroying rims. Maybe, they already have.
My new 1996 Grand Marquis had aluminum wheels and had the alignment thing do that to the rims, and I was mighty huffed about it. The shop didn't back me up and I ate the damage, which, in turn, ate my wheel coating in little more than a year's time. By the time 5 years had passed, there was a good 2" diameter of corrosion around where each hole from that alignment fixture damaged the wheels.
Mike, who only gets an aligment WHEN NEEDED! (to avoid substantial damage)
SergntMac
02-03-2003, 11:00 AM
A heads up for us all, eh? Thanks to Todd and Mike!
So glad I could be the "guinea pig" for this one.....NOT!
I'm going to try and speak with the dealer. Preventative maintenance SHOULD NOT incur damage....or am I crazy?
Macon Marauder
02-03-2003, 11:14 AM
I say go for it. What's the worst that can happen? A few years ago the local Ford dealer warped the rotors on my Dad's new Crown when rotating the tires. He talked to the Service Mgr and the dealer replaced the rotors. No idea what happened to the Tech...
GarageMahal
02-03-2003, 11:20 AM
I have read here several several times that are wheels are clear coated.
jta
I think if it was BOTH sides, they could say "It's our equipment"...the fact that it's only one side makes it seem "careless". I'm going to be "cool" about it (they have been GREAT otherwise), but, I feel I've got a legitimate gripe. Maybe replaced, switched out with spare and store the "unfinished" one....how does that song go by Aerosmith?..."Dream On"
RF Overlord
02-03-2003, 11:40 AM
Originally posted by Bigdogjim
A new rim is about $460. list.
EACH???!!! :mad: :shake: :mad: Vah Fongu...
I'm pretty upset by this, RF :po:
If I'd "curbed" it...that's one thing...but an alignment?
RF Overlord
02-03-2003, 11:53 AM
I don't blame you a bit, ToddAlan...makes me think twice about the alignment I intended to get this spring...gonna haveta shop around a bit and see what equipment's being used...
Here's a thought...buy another "spare" rim and tire and put those on the front for the alignment...the spare is a "front" size, so it should line right up...be cheaper than dicking around getting the "good" rims fixed or buying a couple of new ones...
You'd think I had nothing to do today...
LincMercLover
02-03-2003, 12:03 PM
Eww... no, that's beyond your repair! You can see your tire has one mark where the machine was "inserted" and is not damaged anywhere else like that of curb damage. They owe you a rim my friend!
Macon Marauder
02-03-2003, 12:12 PM
It's true what they say: "A picture IS worth a thousand words."
It's even worse than I imagined. I'd be very upset. And so would any Service Mgr worth his/her salt!
Todd, that is not what the alignment fixture would do. That looks more like a slip on a ramp to the alignment rack. The damage I talked about is on the inside of the tire bead part of the rim, perpendicular to the tire's rotational axis (think of a tool that extends out to measure the inside of the wheel, having two points at each end, like forks, which grip the wheel in order to keep that tool in the same plane as the outer wheel's edge that is in line with the car's direction of travel) . Gee, picturing this might be tough.... But at any rate, it would not scrape the outside edge of the wheel, unless it was dropped while being positioned. Looks more like a slip off a ramp, to the side.
Bigdogjim
02-03-2003, 12:58 PM
Todd: That is not what I call call a scratch. More like damage. I thought you were talking about a light thin mark. Picture is worth 1000 words. Go talk to the dealer. Good luck sir.
Big Dog
on the "slip" theory...but there is NO damage to the sidewall. No mark or scuff or anything. Just 2 "cuts" one larger than the other on the (I'll call it) "tire-bead" that protrudes out just where the tire meets the rim.
BTW, I just spoke to my tech (going in for another fix I haven't mentioned here) hopefully tomorrow. I brought it up with him and he became quite cautious (my impression) and said he'll take a look at it tomorrow.
Any other thoughts?
SergntMac
02-03-2003, 01:15 PM
Yeah...Tell him you got "family" with names like BigDog, Overlord, Big Merc, Piglet and BadRod, and we're all interested in what's happening here...LOL
RF Overlord
02-03-2003, 01:48 PM
ROFL!!!
Don't forget "Menace"...and that one of your "family" is a Sergeant who speaks softly, but wears a big kilt...!!
MAD-3R
02-03-2003, 01:53 PM
I would defenatly have soft words with them...
Remind them that alot of us needed Bigger then 2xl Jackets...
my situation can amuse you guys....I guess that's what I get for my multiple "snide" remarks I've made...
I'll tell him the Sarge is packing a "magnum" under that kilt...(talk about horsepower)
We'll see tomorrow...
And Todd, there is always the possibility that THEY curbed it on a "road test".
Mini-Magnum
LincMercLover
02-03-2003, 03:34 PM
MAD, my dad ordered a 3XL...
looking97233
02-03-2003, 05:00 PM
Todd, I don't know what could have caused it. Mabye road debris? If it was from the side rail on a drive on rack, well the rails are on the inside edges not the outside edges. I would open the phone book and find a good wheel repair shop. Our wheels are polished, not plated. So, just some work with a dremel and some buffing. Yes, you'll still be able to notice it, but it will be a smoth, shiny depression. So you will be the only one who notices it. They'll have to remove the tire from the wheel to fix that.
Menace
02-03-2003, 05:13 PM
Thanks R.F :)
Billatpro
02-03-2003, 07:26 PM
Thats it, I'm changing my screen name! "billatpro" has no intimadation factor at all. Ok guy's give some suggestions......God what am I thinking? never mind just skip the suggestions..I could just imagin what you all would have said.
RF, love that Kilt remark :D
WolfeBros
02-03-2003, 09:06 PM
Dang.....maybe if I dropped the Bros and was just Wolfe .....mmm could work. :rolleyes:
mdmarauder
02-04-2003, 08:46 AM
That looks just like the damage I got going through an automatic car wash. Just when I was happy I found one that didn't touch the car.
Bigdogjim
02-04-2003, 12:02 PM
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap.
Big Dog-5XL
Maybe we should have put that on the cd?
:lol::rock: :rock:
MAD-3R
02-04-2003, 12:04 PM
Naw, the thierd song on the CD.
Big Balls
Cause this car is ANY thing but CHEAP
Good News:
Today I had the drivers-side, rear door, fixed glass and trim replace. This has been an issue since day 1 that I have not discussed here. I've had a TON of windnoise at 45 mph + which was finally isolated to poor fitting fixed glass. She's as tight as a ....well...I won't go there.
Bad News: so far
Showed the mark on my wheel to my Tech. He and I looked at their alignment equipment and he doesn't think it came from there. I don't necessarily agree and tried to make my point that there is NO sidewall damage EXCEPT a "punture-type" place on the tire bead that fits exactly the clamp that's used on th alignment machine. He IS willing to get with the SM to see what he says (he was off-site today). I'm going to push on this in a calm, professional manner (because they HAVE been GREAT with me in everything else).....we'll see.
Called and left message today to see what SM had to say...no reply yet
RF Overlord
02-06-2003, 04:07 PM
Todd:
How's about me and Menace and BigDog and the Wolfeman and MAD3R and the Sarge pay a little visit to your SM...
BTW...I'm 6'2" 280lbs myself...
Do any "little guys" own Marauders?
Beadhead
02-06-2003, 06:48 PM
Yup. Five-seven, 160. Love those big seats, though.;)
WolfeBros
02-06-2003, 09:28 PM
5' 7" 175 lbs here.......No good reason for him not to call you back.
Thats it boys.......BigDog you get the door.....we're going in
:uzi:
MAD-3R
02-07-2003, 06:44 AM
I have been on more then one Brute Squad....
A friend of mine, 6'9" 325+ and I use to help alot of friends move, and we were referd to as the "thugboy moving crew".
GarageMahal
02-07-2003, 09:31 AM
At nearly 6'6" and 180 pounds one of major reasons I have always driven CVs and chose the Marauder is because I fit!
My only complaint to the interior room is the lack of a telesoping steering wheel. The wheel is just a little too far away for comfort with the seat all the way back.
I need the leg and head room and the only non LTD/CV I have ever driven with more room is my 76 Eldorado convertible. Talk about head room :D
jta
LincMercLover
02-07-2003, 12:05 PM
5'10" 130lbs. Plenty of room to spare!
Marauderman
02-07-2003, 04:06 PM
LML---
You better stop growing and let that weight catch up--not one weighs 130--do they???? :)
Beadhead
02-07-2003, 05:03 PM
Only in my dreams, Marauerman, only in my dreams.
LincMercLover
02-07-2003, 07:34 PM
Well, staying away from the :beer: helps out a lot. Gotta love being young! Can clear an entire All-You-Can-Eat Buffet and not pack on a pound! I'm gunna be fat when I get old, I know it... :D
Bigdogjim
02-07-2003, 10:49 PM
Ok Big Dog ready to go I don't knock, just walk through. My 5xl jacket is too small? 6'6" 345lb, fit real nice in the MM don't have to worry about slideing around when making hard turns......:lol:
Big Dog :banana: :banana2:
ps: LML it ain't just the :beer:
build this body by lift'n (12oz.at a time) :lol: :lol:
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