Balancing a SRT8 wheel?

[srt8danno]

Originally Posted by TheJackal24

That would be me...

The first time I got a balance, I had them mount two tires, they did not scratch them. The 2nd time they did a rotate and balance on all four wheels and scratched all four.
By the way, four weeks later, I'm getting new wheels. SRT wheels cannot be reconditioned to factory standards.

There are two workarounds.
1. the shop needs to have a "doughnut" that goes that holds the wheels via the lugs.
2. balance them backwards. Wheel face towards inside of machine. (may not work with all machines)

Just tell them to look at all the wheels and if they scratch them, they buy them. Tell them that and that you will not accept an offer to fix them.

If the tech is careful, you should have no issues with regular equipment.

P.S. Tell them to watch out with the air gun as well, or make them go about it the old fashioned tire iron way.

This is some very good information for people to have. I’m sorry that you were unable to have them repaired, but I was afraid the repair would end up looking just as bad as the scratches and gouges. Thanks for sharing your experience and out come. I’m sure it will benefit others that have this happen. (sadly)

[HealeyRick]

Originally Posted by SHADE

You tip em? Nice!

Years ago I was working as a gas pump jockey, doing oil and tire changes on weekends. A guy comes in on a Sunday afternoon with a leaking tire and asks if I can fix it. I do the repair, mount the wheel and check with a lug wrench to see that it's properly tightened. The owner tips me $10 and tells me if I ever want a job at his Ford dealership to look him up. That $10 felt like a million bucks to me and taught me a lesson I never forgot. Tipping service people for a job well done doesn't cost a whole lot and is really appreciated by the techs. I know people who tip with donuts, pizzas, and 6 packs. It's all good.

[TheJackal24]

Originally Posted by srt8danno

This is some very good information for people to have. I’m sorry that you were unable to have them repaired, but I was afraid the repair would end up looking just as bad as the scratches and gouges. Thanks for sharing your experience and out come. I’m sure it will benefit others that have this happen. (sadly)

When I bought my car, one of the wheels had a scratch on it. The dealership sent me to a tire shop they send some of their work to. The tire shop owner looked at the scratch and immediately said they are not repairable. Keep in mind this was a very minor scratch on the outter edge of the wheel. The dealership bought me a new wheel.
I tried telling the dealer that scratched all four wheels that I was told they were not repairable, but they didn't want to take my word for it, assuring me this other wheel company did excellent work. Sure enough they came back with pits and orange peel in the finish. They came back and said there was a defect in the metal of the wheels that prevents them from being repaired. I think they are passing the buck on their failure over to Daimler. Daimler had no issues coating the wheels...

If you are paying, you can get them repaired, but unless the shop puts great time and care into the work, you will get them back with an ugly finish. At that point it would probably cost you at least half the price of the wheel and you would be better off buying yourself a new wheel.
If you aren't paying for it, save yourself time, hassle, and frustration and make them replace them.