At Winnipeg Wheel Works we take great lengths to
carefully repair and/or restore your wheel to OEM specifications.
Below is a brief description of the process involved in
repairing/restoring your wheel. (Attribution: The Turbo
Times - The Official Newsletter of the Mustang SVO Owners
Association, Inc.)
Have you ever charged through a slalom course with
you SVO or maybe pushed it to the limit thru a sharp turn
or maybe kissed a curb?
Then you've probably heard that sickening 'k-k-k-krunch'
as a cast aluminum wheel cries out in pain. So when you
finally build up the courage to check it out, you guessed
it, a chunk is missing from the rim edge or perhaps an ugly
scar streaks across the once clear face of the wheel.
Then again, maybe your wheels just look tired and
dull from the many miles of happy cruising or the clear
coat is chipped and crusty patches around the rim are evidence
of long gone balancing weights. A set of NOS are major bucks,
IF you can still get them, a 'good used' set is not a whole
lot cheaper and they will most likely show signs of wear.
Well fear not, for about the cost of one new wheel,
the good folks at Winnipeg Wheel Works, of Winnipeg, MB.,
can transform your four road warriors to a near factory
sparkle. As co-owners of Winnipeg Wheel Works, Chris Grossmueller
and Ken Hunter have brought back thousands of wheels back
to life, Stangs, Vettes, Bricklin, Jags, Jeeps, 4X4's, after
markets, current, classic and custom.
 
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Upon receipt of your wheel,
it is carefully examined to determine if it can be
restored without compromising its structural integrity.
Chris or Ken will then contact you with a repair and
cost estimate, 'special attention to detail' is given
to show car wheels, so now is the time to tell them
if its 'show or street.' A staff of ten skilled and
talented metal magicians carefully massages each wheel
as it is passed along a series of workstations.
Bent wheels are straightened, nothing high
tech here, just patience and experience. Cutout walls
and edges are then dressed by hand with #000 steel
wool before the wheel goes to the media-blasting booth
for a final clean up. From here the wheel goes to
a spray booth where epoxy primer and a custom color
paint (if requested) is applied and baked at 150 degrees.
The heart of their operation is the CNC machine
fed from a MASTERCam, CAD/CAM database consisting
of more than 600 profiles. Cam Lagasse operates the
lathe; he ensures the correct bit is selected and
as the wheel spins a 700-RPM his keen eyes monitor
each pass to the cutter. A final cut of one thousand-of-an-inch
is made with high-pressure air controlling the shavings
to give the wheel a clean, clear finish.
The wheel is returned to the paint booth
where a clear coat is applied and allowed 24 hours
to cure before the tires are installed. The Final
step is to carefully install the tires and balance
the set; balancing weights are added on the inside
of the wheel, other that a good cleaning the inside
surface is not treated. Over spray from tire cleaners
cause Chris and Ken the most grief, the chemical residue
can be absorbed in the porous-cast aluminum thru breaks
in the clear coat finish caused by balancing weights,
tire removing tools or road abrasion. During the final
clear coating process these absorbed impurities can
leech to the surface and cause tiny fish-eyes in the
new clear coat. So use caution when cleaning your
tires, if the cleaner contacts the wheel, rinse it
off immediately with water. The clear-coat itself
is quite durable, regular cleaning with a soft brush
and lots of water is all that's necessary. The application
of a good quality carnauba automotive wax should seal
any minor abrasions caused by stones or sand and your
wheel will retain a fresh clean look for many years.
Every wheel that leave this facility looks
great, most are show quality and they're straight,
no more annoying vibrations.
Chris says, "safety will not be compromised,
absolutely NO quickie or patch-up jobs", if
at any stage of repairs a stress fracture or other
defect is detected, restoration is stopped and the
owner is advised.
Click here
to view our guidelines.
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