inside wheel damage

[marwood82]

any idea what might have caused this damage to the inside of the front left wheel?
(looks like somethings machined out a strip around the inside rim)

this was one of the german MOT failures. (the guy from the tüv seemed to indicate that in his opinion it would need replacing)

i cant see anything that would have rubbed against it.(the speedo cable is a bit loose but i would have thought it would require something a bit more hefty than that)

anyone think there a chance it can be repaired or is it new wheel time?

[Chris Williams]

Although it's difficult to tell from the picture, plus I cant look at my car to see I would suggest lower suspension arm. Perhaps the front springs have failed (if replacements) and it's now sitting to low perhaps?
Chris

[dmc4087]

That looks like a balljoint has failed before causing the arm to drop onto the wheel.

Does it have Houston balljoints by any chance?

[marwood82]

hmm, sounds plausible. i think kev said it had had something done to the front suspension. (i think on the right hand side, but i guess the garage could have put the wheels on the other way around)

car seems to be sitting ok (i assume a suspension issue like that would be quite noticeable) cant see anything touching the wheel.

im just mostly concerned about having to replace the wheel.

i'll dig out a clearer photo.

[Chris Williams]

Best bet is to get the wheel off to have a closer look. Perhaps Ed@DMCEU or ChrisN @PJGrday may have a second hand one you can buy.
Chris

[stunned_monkey]

I'd echo the ball joint falure scenario as a guess. As for replacement - I would get the wheel refurbishes including a quick turn on a lathe to tidy up the scar, then powdercoat over the top. Then it'd take an eagle-eye to spot that there was ever a problem "oh yeah, different batches do have small changes like that!"

[dmc4087]

marwood82 Wrote:hmm, sounds plausible. i think kev said it had had something done to the front suspension. (i think on the right hand side, but i guess the garage could have put the wheels on the other way around)

car seems to be sitting ok (i assume a suspension issue like that would be quite noticeable) cant see anything touching the wheel.

im just mostly concerned about having to replace the wheel.

i'll dig out a clearer photo.

Have a look at the balljoints to see whats fitted now - get a pic if you can.

[marwood82]

here's a shot of the suspension



and heres a close up of the damage

[Chris Williams]

Is the first picture with the weight still on the wheel? Although 'still' difficult to see I wonder (from what I can see) if the ball joint has been replaced recently? It does look a bit cleaner than the rest of the suspension and the wheel damage may be old damage?? Suppose the next step is to get the wheel off and see if you can see where it's been rubbing, though it does look a little shiny on the bottom of the arm below the ball joint.
Chris

[marwood82]

Chris Williams Wrote:Is the first picture with the weight still on the wheel? Although 'still' difficult to see I wonder (from what I can see) if the ball joint has been replaced recently? It does look a bit cleaner than the rest of the suspension and the wheel damage may be old damage?? Suppose the next step is to get the wheel off and see if you can see where it's been rubbing, though it does look a little shiny on the bottom of the arm below the ball joint.
Chris

yes it is with weight on. i saw the shine on the arm and had a closer look but its a very thin nic right on the edge of it, i would have expected more damage if it was that.

i grabbed a shot of the passengers side and i think its a bit clearer now


the lower control arm looks like its had something done to it. im figuring thats what did the damage, but when the wheels were put back after the repair they ended up being swapped round.

[marwood82]

ok, scratch that info, chris you have a good eye. it seems the lower arm on the drivers side (the side with the damaged wheel) was replaced. which i guess probably explains it.

thats ok then, my main concern was that i have to drive it 3 hours south to Augsburg for the repairs for the tüv so wouldn't want to do that if im machining the inside of the front wheel the entire way!

i'll contact Ed and Chris N and about a possible replacement rim.

[dmc4087]

See about getting the wheel reburbed as said above.

[stunned_monkey]

The original arms were galvanised and powdercoated at the same time as the chassis. They also boobed and did the fuel tank plate in blck - is it still like that?

[Chris Williams]

Quote:The original arms were galvanised and powdercoated at the same time as the chassis

Now you look at it the P/X side is a grey like the frame where as the drivers side is different. Guess as has been wrote it must have been replaced. Wonder if the ball joint did fail and it damaged the LCA so much it required replacing, or perhaps the ball joint hole was enlarged to much to get a replacement in? be interesting to know the story.
Chris

[Chris P]

Perhaps the wheel fell off..loose wheel nuts ?