Automotive Industry | Lenco Holdings LLC

Repairing Rims on a Used Car

As more people choose to purchase used cars for their affordability, so more car dealerships need to maintain and repair damage to sell used cars for a profit. The benefit of knowing how to repair rims on a used car means dealerships no longer need to seek the advice of wheel repair specialists, and buyers are more inclined to purchase as there is little repair work for them to outsource after buying the vehicle. This streamlines the process and ensures that your dealership can maximize your return on investment. In this article, we share everything you need to know about repairing rims on a used car and provide guidance on the machinery necessary to help you do so. 

Understand the Damage

Dealerships must take stock of damages as they receive used cars to determine how best to repair the rim. Physical damage refers to any rim damage that impacts the performance of the vehicle while cosmetic damage refers to rim damage that affects the car’s aesthetic appeal. 

Typical types of physical damage including the following:

  • Curb rashes: scrapes that occur on the outer rim as a result of bumping up against curbs. These rashes begin as small scratches, however, they can quickly become serious physical damage if left unchecked. 
  • Bends: hitting potholes, road hazards, and curbs can cause bent wheels which greatly impact the performance of the vehicle. Bent wheels can be extremely dangerous if left unrepaired as they impact handling and more.
  • Cracks: from small and seemingly invisible hairline cracks to larger, more prominent cracks, this type of structural damage may be manageable short term but can become a more serious safety concern if left unrepaired.

Typical types of cosmetic damage include scratches, scrapes, and baked-on dust that form from casual road incidents over time. These are far less threatening from a safety perspective and more damaging to the visual appeal of one’s vehicle. Resolving cosmetic damage can justify a higher selling price. 

Source the Appropriate Machinery

Car dealerships would greatly benefit from possessing the appropriate machinery to repair physical and cosmetic damage. There are a few necessary workshop machines that dealerships can source for the best prices from reliable manufacturers such as Lenco Holdings LLC. We outline these machines and what types of damage they help repair below:

CNC Lathe

Computer-operated CNC lathes can help your dealership repair cosmetic damage to alloy rims. This tool is used by professionals to smooth out the rims and remove the presence of scratches, scrapes, and chips. The best CNC lathes on the market come in ranges that offer unique specifications particular to your dealership’s requirements, and you can view the range here

Wheel Straightener

The name sums up the purpose of this particular piece of machinery. Wheel straighteners remove bends from rims and help maintain a vehicle’s optimal performance. Wheel straighteners are an extremely important addition to your dealership as one cannot drive away with a used car that is affected by bends. This poses a major safety risk and reduces the value that the car can be sold for. 

Wheel Polisher

Over and above using a CNC lathe, you can give the used car’s rims a brand new look using a wheel polisher. This specific tool incorporates vibratory technology to take dull-looking aluminum and give it a shiny, new look. With a wheel polisher, you can take old-looking rims and make them look as good as new, raising the potential selling value of the cars in your dealership. 

You could also purchase an AC/DC tig welder for more serious jobs, however, these three pieces of machinery are the go-to investments to take your car dealership to the next level. With them, you can quickly and easily repair rims on a used car to sell that car to eager buyers in your area. Having access to these tools means that your dealership can save money traditionally used to seek the assistance of wheel repair specialists. Furthermore, your dealership can offer wheel repairs as a service to improve your portfolio and broaden your consumer base. With a CNC lathe, wheel straightener, and wheel polisher in your arsenal, you will have much better luck finding willing buyers of used cars. 

Outlook for the Motor Vehicle Industry in the USA: Should You Invest in Wheel Repair Equipment?

Outlook for the Motor Vehicle Industry in the USA: Should You Invest in Wheel Repair Equipment?

The US motor vehicle industry took a massive hit during the Covid-19 pandemic and statistics reveal that “vehicle sales were down 38 percent year-on-year” as of March 2020 according to Statista. However, these same statistics note a rise in the sale of light motor vehicles following the ease of stay-at-home protocols and lockdown restrictions. The growth of automobile sales should continue on this upward trajectory as more people return to work, travel the country, and reintroduce daily commuting. As such, the demand for automobile repairs will increase alongside this growth. The need for wheel repair equipment, CNC lathes, and other machinery comes with this demand and wheel repair specialists must be ready to supply the influx of customers.

In this article, we highlight a few prominent pieces of wheel repair equipment that you should invest in to meet the demands of the modern motor vehicle industry.

CNC Lathe

CNC lathes are the cornerstone of efficient repair work in the modern motor vehicle industry. They are also a significant upgrade from lathes as they utilize computer technology to share the workload and free up time for workers in one’s workshop. There are many benefits to the integration of CNC lathes in one’s workshop namely the precision and automation of daily tasks. Sophisticated computer systems allow these lathes to cut, trim, turn, and perform other necessary functions for the shaping of parts. Wheel repair specialists can utilize this machinery to speed up their alloy rim repairs and other activities. This, in turn, gives customers peace of mind about the company’s turnaround time and promotes better customer relationships.

Wheel Straightener

As daily commuting becomes commonplace in the post-Covid vehicle industry, damage to the rims and wheels will become more prominent. Whether it’s as a result of wear and tear, grinding against curbs, or hitting potholes, the damages will require the attention of wheel repair specialists in instances that DIY jobs cannot suffice. Wheel straighteners are a specialist go-to tool to fix rim damage that affects driving performance. Newer models are fast, easy to use, and feature a bead breaker or pump that can be unmounted and moved around quickly. The best machinery manufacturers offer a range of wheel straighteners to suit your specific workshop requirements such as larger machines to cater for bigger rims and wheels.

Wheel Polisher

CNC lathes are incredible pieces of machinery that can smooth out and refurbish alloy rims and wheels, however, a combination of lathes and wheel polishers will deliver the most impressive aesthetic results that are also durable for long-term customer satisfaction. The best wheel polishers on the market utilize vibratory technology along with traditional wheel refurbishing strategies to generate a smooth and superior alloy look at the push of a button. Utilization of these devices in your workshop will free up tons of time typically allocated to post-lathe touchups conducted by one’s staff. The time-saving benefit of a wheel polisher will help you generate greater profits as well as improve customer satisfaction through improved service delivery.

AC/DC Tig Welder

The final piece of equipment to add to your wheel repair workshop’s arsenal is a powerful and well-manufacturer AC/DC tig welder. Offering two units that boast 210 and 250 amps respectively at unbeatable prices, Lenco Holdings LLC. aims to provide workshops with the best AC/DC tig welding solution on the market. The addition of water coolers and torches supports longer duty cycle times and IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) technology allows these welders to have multi-waveforms as well as pulse ability. These benefits go above and beyond the industry standard, helping your business grow and support the increasing demand of customers as a result of the growing motor vehicle industry in the US.

The Bottom Line

Wheel repair specialists should invest in modern, high-tech equipment to set themselves apart from the competition. This is especially true in the current motor vehicle industry as a greater need for vehicle repairs will follow the increase in vehicle sales. From CNC lathes to wheel straighteners, wheel polishers, and AC/DC tig welders, you can leverage the Lenco Holdings LLC. equipment to ensure better wheel repairs for your customers and, thus, drive profitable business growth.