Scratches on new rims from the socket used to install the LUGNUTS!!!

A

atlantarange

New member
Hi all.. I just had a new set of rims put on my Range Rover today. When I got home I noticed scratches on the wheels from the sockets used when installing the lug nuts. So the hole where the lug nuts sit have scratches. I am pissed as the rims are NEW. 2 questions.. How do I prevent this from happening in the future? I would think tire shops would take better care to prevent this. What can I do now to try to remove the scratches? They are not real noticeable but very noticeable to ME. The rims are OEM Range Rover wheels. Any help would be appreciated.
 
IME tire shops suck. You have to put yr car up on 4 jack stands and bring them the wheels. Keep yr fingers crossed they don't scratch the lip when mounting the tires.

This is EASILY avoided by just wrapping electrical tape around your socket and not using an air gun. They do sell special rubber lined sockets as well.


Bottom line : They owe you new wheels. Even the WORSE shops prolly couldn't say the wheels "came that way" (new wheels) with a straight face.
 
If this was my vehicle, I would have looked it over before I drove it away and made them replace the wheels on the spot..

Now, you can if you want, go back and tell them to replace all the scratched wheels with new ones, no exceptions.

The idea is to let them monkey around with fixing the wheels and not inconvenience you for a minute which they are already doing because you have to go back.

Be polite but firm and ask them to replace the wheels they scratched with new ones and to not scratch the new ones...

They have insurance to cover stuff like that I imagine..

I once bought a new IS350 Lexus and they scratched all 4 new wheels doing something and they had to replace all 4...

Sorry this had to happen to you..
Dan F
 
thanks for the advice and I will try this method. What I am also asking is if this doesn't work, what can I do personally to fix the scratches?
 
I have been lucky with monroe doing my rotations. Look into your socket size. They sell rubber or plastic socket protectors just for this issue.

Maybe some scratch x from megs will help remove the scratches.
 
PA DETAILER said:
Maybe some scratch x from megs will help remove the scratches.
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+1. Try a test spot by polishing by hand. If they're OEM clearcoated wheels, I would try a cleaner wax first. If that doesn't work try a plastic polish (Mothers Plastic Polish can be found locally) before trying a finishing polish or swirl remover.

I don't expect any quality or careful work from tire shop chains. I bought used rims and tires on Craigslist for my Maxima a few years ago and had them installed/balanced at a shop. When I watched the driver park my car, I noticed they forgot to add air to the tires!! I would figure, if you're going to balance and mount rims/tires to a car you'll check the air pressure before sending the car on its way. Maybe next time try and find a specialty rim shop and talk to the owner/manager about your past experience with the other shop.
 
Vega@Autopia said:
When I watched the driver park my car, I noticed they forgot to add air to the tires!! I would figure, if you're going to balance and mount rims/tires to a car you'll check the air pressure before sending the car on its way. Maybe next time try and find a specialty rim shop and talk to the owner/manager about your past experience with the other shop.
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If they mounted/balanced the wheels properly... They probably properly inflated the tires before balancing. Tires should always be properly inflated BEFORE balancing. So there's a chance they were probably already properly inflated.

Not trying to defend the shop cause I'm sure that kinda stuff happens... But inflating the tires first is balancing 101 stuff
 
The finish on (most) wheels is generally very tough, and once it's compromised things can go downhill fast.

Like Stokdgs, I've had shops replace wheels over minor cosmetic damage- "they were *Perfect* when they came in, you ruined them in my eyes, so you owe me a new set of wheels". Yes, they accepted that and replaced them, though I did have to suggest that, uhm....it was in their best interest.

Atlantarange- Eh, I hate to be the voice of doom-and-gloom buit I bet the finish is compromised and that it'll never be/stay 100%. But guessing from your username, Winter/salt isn't a big concern so you might do OK with the following:

Polish out the marring as best you can by hand with the appropriate products (compound followed by polish); clean off polishing oils/etc.; coat with something like GlossCoat. That coating is, IMO, much more likely to hold up OK than a wax/sealant would. This is what I've done on slightly compromised wheels and it's worked out as well as anything short of a refinish (and a lot better than when I tried waxing/sealing).

Gee, hope they did an OK job on the balancing...no damage/etc. They *did* use adhesive weights, mounted on the back side, right?
 
honestly its not bad to others... but it is freakin bad to me! :) I guess because I know its there. It just pisses me off when folks think its ok to do a crappy job to things that dont belong to them, and we are left to pay for it. I feel like, if I saw it.. they had to see it when the work was done. I will post a couple pics when I get home. I left a message for the manager today.
 
atlantarange said:
honestly its not bad to others... but it is freakin bad to me! :) I guess because I know its there. It just pisses me off when folks think its ok to do a crappy job to things that dont belong to them, and we are left to pay for it. I feel like, if I saw it.. they had to see it when the work was done. I will post a couple pics when I get home. I left a message for the manager today.
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I am totally with your feelings about this... You bought something brand new, and they scratched it, etc., and this is just not acceptable - ever -..

We need to get the ship turned back on course like it used to be - One breaks something, One Proactively takes Responsibility for breaking it and restores it back to how it was...

You will be in your Business Mode - Prepared, Knowledgeable, and Firm on what you will accept - not what they will offer if it is Less... You are In Charge or they will read that you are not..

Absolutely No Hesitation, Second Thoughts, etc.. It is Business - they broke it - they have to replace it with new.. No Exceptions...

Escalate if necessary..

Dan F
 
AGREED! I am meeting with management tomorrow and will contact corporate office next if they dont own up to it. After taking the pics and looking at the close up from the camera Im even more upset.
 

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Having followed this thread, I expected to see and have seen much worse. That said, there was no need for this to happen and you shouldn't have to live with your wheels in any worse condition than they were when you took them in. If it causes you grief then it's a problem. That's why you pay professionals and professional results are exactly what you should expect.
 
yeah thats not that bad, I would have expected worse from a regular type tire shop. you actually dodged their typical bullet. Did you get a chance to look over the back lip of the wheel and the inner barrel where their old school cheap mounting units grab the wheel with 3 metal claws that originally came plastic lined but those fell off on the first 3 uses of the machine?

I know it sounds redic, but you should avoid box store type tire shops completely. your best bet is to go on google and search for a "Hunter Road Force Balancing and Hunter Mounting" associated shop. Typically the shop will be more specialized in their work towards customers with higher maintenance demands. and when I say maintenance I dont mean on the car, I mean on the customers demands of quality of work.

Hunter machines are "no touch" mounting and demounting. Their machines are completely metal free on the touch points. Typically these shops will also use the CORRECT sockets when they mount your wheel. meaning a socket that is plastic coated on the exterior or at the very least a socket wrapped in electrical tape like described above. Hell even most dealers wrap there 17mm(euro size) sockets in electrical tape.
 
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