Wheel damage during alignment

[BamaPanic]

Has anyone had problems with wheels getting damaged during an alignment job.

 

[BLACK-FL4RUNNER]

Not if the technician knows what he's doing.

 

[B...]

No. But I had a shop refuse to attempt an alignment because they were afraid they would scratch my wheels. Something about the SR5 wheel and BFG KO "rim protector" combo not jiving with their older equipment. I thanked them for the warning and went to the dealership...

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Not if the technician knows what he's doing.

That's not entirely true, see below...

No. But I had a shop refuse to attempt an alignment because they were afraid they would scratch my wheels. Something about the SR5 wheel and BFG KO "rim protector" combo not jiving with their older equipment. I thanked them for the warning and went to the dealership...

This is actually the issue I ran into with my 4th gen Sport Edition wheels wrapped in LT285/70R17 Nitto TerraGrapplers, though with those wheels I didn't mind them getting scuffed up. But to do an alignment on my vehicle I had to use a deadblow to tap the metal claw of the alignment head between the "rim protector" and the wheel which was very tight.

I ran into this again when I went to my new Fuel Beast wheels wrapped in LT35x12.5x17's there was no room at all to even try and get the older style "claw" between the wheel and tire to grip. The new dealership I work for has alignment heads that grab the tire rather than the wheel thus allowing you to align vehicles with tight fitting tires and wheels without damaging them.

I never understood why they didn't make the claws out of a strong polymer vs. hardened steel, or at least the tips...
[MENTION=122162]BamaPanic[/MENTION]

How bad is the damage?

 

[nevada]

Has anyone had problems with wheels getting damaged during an alignment job.

i have refused/ been unable to do an alignment, due to the fitment between certain tires and wheels. the BFG being most common, with the rim protector, as mentioned above.

That's not entirely true, see below...



This is actually the issue I ran into with my 4th gen Sport Edition wheels wrapped in LT285/70R17 Nitto TerraGrapplers, though with those wheels I didn't mind them getting scuffed up. But to do an alignment on my vehicle I had to use a deadblow to tap the metal claw of the alignment head between the "rim protector" and the wheel which was very tight.

I ran into this again when I went to my new Fuel Beast wheels wrapped in LT35x12.5x17's there was no room at all to even try and get the older style "claw" between the wheel and tire to grip. The new dealership I work for has alignment heads that grab the tire rather than the wheel thus allowing you to align vehicles with tight fitting tires and wheels without damaging them.

I never understood why they didn't make the claws out of a strong polymer vs. hardened steel, or at least the tips...
@BamaPanic

How bad is the damage?

there is a way around this, though its a bit more work and a PITA. deflating the tire will generally allow you to slide the clamps on the place.

there are also direct lugnut adapters. though, we don't use them often.