The popularity of aluminum rims, also known as aluminum alloy, has brought about the advent of aluminum wheel repair. Repairing a rim is much more cost effective for fixing a crack, as opposed to replacing the wheel completely.
A typical wheel repair requires putting the cracked wheel through pressure, heat and vibration testing to highlight the cracks for technicians to weld and repair. This type of testing also allows the tester to find and repair tiny unseen cracks---even those covered by coatings such as chrome.
Brake dust and ordinary dirt on the wheel can hide many wheel aberrations, including dangerous cracks. Thorough pressure washing the rim will help verify that the tester finds and welds all cracks properly.
Not all cracks can be repaired. In cases of severe cracking, do not compromise safety by attempting to repair it. In these cases, the wheel will likely require a complete replacement.
