Careless damage to alloy wheel at Toyota Cha-am

[sam123]

I'd be grateful for a reasonable opinion on this please. I reported a steering problem when I had my new car's first service at Toyota Cha-am (stiff to turn left, but not to turn right). Without my knowledge, the mechanic simply rebalanced the nearside wheel, although there was nothing wrong with wheel balance. This was not the solution.

However, in removing the wheel balance weights on the inside of the wheel, he has used an angle grinder, or similar such tool, to remove the old weights. He has ground the inner surface of the wheel to such an extent that it looks decidedly ugly when looking from the outside. Furthermore, the grinding extends around almost half the inner circumference of the wheel and can be seen through many of the gaps in the wheel.

Naturally I accept that the weights are glued to the wheel's inner surface, but I think the work was done carelessly. Furthermore, since I clean the inner part of my roadwheels, the damage is more easily visible. The vehicle has covered 8,000 km only and is as new otherwise.

Should I accept it as normal, or return and request it to be rectified or the wheel even replaced? Is that reasonable?

If I had not reported the unusual steering characteristic, a problem that the Thai mechanics are unlikely to be sufficiently competent to rectify anyway, I dare say this would not have happened. So I kick myself for mentioning it!

[Terry]

This is a brand new car and the twats have butchered it, of course you should take it back and demand a new wheel.

Grinding of any alloy wheel is likely to weaken its' structure

Make sure that when yo go back there, get to talk to the organ grinder and not the monkey who did it.

Many years back, I had an accident in my (then) reasonably new Honda Civic. When I took it to the repair shop as specified by the insurance company they had 'filled' two chips that were on the wheels' outer surface. I demanded and got a new wheel.

I would also get them to fix the steering problem as well.

[sam123]

Thanks for the reply. It's good to get another's view. I recognise of course that removal of the old weights is difficult without causing a small amount of damage to a small area of the alloy surface. This of course is well beyond what was necessary to do because the grindings extend almost half way around the inner surface. Actually I may remove the wheel and take another picture. I think the damage would appear to be more shocking.

[Dannie Boy]

Thanks for the reply. It's good to get another's view. I recognise of course that removal of the old weights is difficult without causing a small amount of damage to a small area of the alloy surface. This of course is well beyond what was necessary to do because the grindings extend almost half way around the inner surface. Actually I may remove the wheel and take another picture. I think the damage would appear to be more shocking.

I would save your time and energy and better use it to demand a replacement - as Terry suggested, speak to somebody in authority and just be firm but polite with what you expect.

[sam123]

I have been to Cha-am Toyota and the manager who oversees both the Cha-am and Tha Yang service centres was there, which was quite fortuitous. Both her and the manager below were very apologetic. They thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said that they need customers to tell them when things aren't right. They were extremely professional about it indeed.

I also pointed out that when the car was serviced, two mechanics went out together to test it and one of them reclined the passenger seat into a bed, obviously to have a sleep while the other was driving it and that it had some oil on the cushion. And that when the car was handed back to me, the passenger seat was still completely reclined. I felt that I should inform them of how things are often done, unless someone senior constantly oversees them! I explained to them that there is no need for two mechanics to go out and test drive a customer's car which has been only the subject of a minor service.

On my suggestion, they have swapped the wheel with my spare wheel and are sending it immediately to the Tha Yang centre which has a bodyshop, to be repaired. I removed the wheel earlier and cleaned it myself and the damage is not very deep; it's just that from the outside of the car it looks very ugly. It will not be difficult to smooth off and repair. Anyway, I will see on Monday when the wheel is returned! Thanks for your earlier replies. I needed another's opinion because I wondered if perhaps it was me being picky as usual.

[sam123]

Below are better close-ups, from the inside also. I can appreciate the difficulty of removing the weights and cleaning up the surface, but surely there must be a better way than using an angle-grinder. Anyway, it should be resolved now.

[sticks]

that damage doesn't look like an angle grinder it would be more course and rough it looks more like the guy cleaned the glue of the wheel rim with enerycloth, just my opinion but anyway thats not the problem why you have stiff left hand steering its some thing to do with the steering rack and god help you when they get there hands on that part of the vehicle it will never be the same again.

[VincentD]

That's a lot of balance weights! Perhaps you are better off getting this done at a proper outside place that specialises in doing only wheel balance and alignment. It's what I do as the typical mechanic in the dealership won't have the specialized skill.

[jimmy40]

I agree with the above, that Kosol tyre place near the airport does a good job. The owner often talks to me his English is good and he is well travelled. So he is up to spec on how things should be

[usual suspect]

I agree with the posts above..I don't see wheel-balancing curing a stiff turn-movement.
Plus I too would take it to a tyre-bay, let them put your car on the lift & check the steering action from underneath..in a 'weightless' state many faults within the steering mechanism are easily spotted.
(I'd be going there with a hope they DO find a fault..just for peace of mind when driving in the future).

[centermid7]

Prior to seeing these photos I would bet that had you gathered me and a dozen other people, told us that there was in imperfection in your automobile, and asked us individually to find it that you would end up with a half a dozen different answers.

I can tell you are disappointed in what you see but I don't see it as as much of an issue and when/if you pursue it at the dealership you might be well tilting at a windmill. Good luck with it. The steering needs to be sorted TBS and what they did will not do that.

Cheers!

[Name Taken]

This is a brand new car and the twats have butchered it, of course you should take it back and demand a new wheel.

Grinding of any alloy wheel is likely to weaken its' structure

Make sure that when yo go back there, get to talk to the organ grinder and not the monkey who did it.

Many years back, I had an accident in my (then) reasonably new Honda Civic. When I took it to the repair shop as specified by the insurance company they had 'filled' two chips that were on the wheels' outer surface. I demanded and got a new wheel.

I would also get them to fix the steering problem as well.

I have found that the quality and craftsmanship of auto/truck repairs in Thailand is extremely poor, even at dealerships.

[Rob W]

that damage doesn't look like an angle grinder it would be more course and rough it looks more like the guy cleaned the glue of the wheel rim with enerycloth, just my opinion but anyway thats not the problem why you have stiff left hand steering its some thing to do with the steering rack and god help you when they get there hands on that part of the vehicle it will never be the same again.

^ this +1