Damn snow, need wheel help

626 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by EPilot, Nov 30, 2001

Wildabeast

Discussion Starter · Nov 29, 2001

Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY!

This isn't another snow tire pole, I just was driving along, and my car started to slide, slide, then BANG I hit a curb, front left tire (driver side) and it doesn't look pretty, the rim itself is pushing into the tire (didn't pop it but looks like it should have) also at high speeds my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY THUMPETY, alignment i'm guessing, bad thing to keep driving on it? All in all, my question is, is this warranty work? Or am I out a WE rim, and have to go get a new one? If so, how expensive, or should I just go for a new set and some new treads while i'm at it? Will the dealer fix my alignment? Any advice, opinions, experiences, I told you so's, or snyde remarks are welcome

[Modified by Wildabeast, 2:48 AM 11-29-2001]

[Modified by Wildabeast, 2:56 AM 11-29-2001]

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Wildabeast

Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Wildabeast)

I hate to be one of those people that bumps his own post but here goes: Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! Thanks much

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Tifosi852FD

· #3 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Wildabeast)

sorry
but none of thats ganna be warranty
thats sucks

[Modified by Peter L, 7:06 PM 11-28-2001]

Jett Wolf

· #4 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Wildabeast)

Damm Snow!! Well I looked at the rims on VW.com and they were north of 400 bones. If I were you I would just get re-aligned and pick up some new wheels and tires this spring, its not even worth trying to keep your Jetta nice when there is so much road salt and other crap out there. Another thought is if you get a new rim then you will have a BBS spare. Hope you didnt break anything too expensive.

GeoffD

· #5 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Jett Wolf)

And the moral of the story.... STEEL WHEELS in the winter. I got mine used for $75.

DubAddict

· #6 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (GeoffD)

quote:[HR][/HR]And the moral of the story.... STEEL WHEELS in the winter. I got mine used for $75.[HR][/HR]

Mine were free

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Mr Bubblehead

· #7 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (green01GTI)

You are giving snow a bad rap. It is FUN. Upgrade your skills so that you can control your car on snow and ice. Do some Donuts and Zamboni that snow and ice.
Seriously, get some steel wheels from someone who is upgrading and use these in the winter. Snow and road salt will trash alloys. I purchased wheels and tires with 500 miles on them for $175 and they even included hubcaps. Much less expensive in the long run than replacing alloy wheels.

scooter4343

· #8 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Mr Bubblehead)

the answer: steel wheels and Hakka Qs; put mine on Sunday night before the storm here (I'm also in the Twin Cities); my car is sure-footed (damn, I love those Hakkas) and the BBS wheels are in the basement . . .

JetTurbo

· #9 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY!

There are shops that repair alloy wheels.
Theoretically the two piece alloy wheel on the WE means you can just replace the rim section and re-use the center disc section, which MIGHT save you a few $. Isn't that supposed to be one of the advantages of the two piece wheel?
Be sure to check your tie rods and ball joints. Quite a few years back I tapped a curb in the snow (in a Nisan Maxima) - no wheel or tire damage, but a ball joint cracked.
And yes, it is a bad thing to keep drving on it until it is checked by a good suspension guy. If you did damage a ball joint, the hub can fall off

[Modified by JetTurbo, 4:43 AM 11-29-2001]

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Wildabeast

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (JetTurbo)

ok, so then the question would be, who or where is a good suspension guy or place in Minnesota or Wisconsin, i'll drive a few bumpy miles to get my baby repaired. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

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dts

· #11 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Wildabeast)

Also be sure to check your tire for any bulges in the sidewall. If you see one, then you've snapped a belt and need a new tire.
If the rim is damaged, you will also want to make sure that the bead on your tire hasn't also been damaged.
Frankly, I would drive on it as little as possible, or would replace it with your spare ASAP. Blowouts at speed, particularly if the roads are snowy, are not particularly fun.
I also second everyone else's suggestions: four snowtires on steelies during the winter (or on cheap used alloys -- just be sure to wax them before you put them on).

Phishy

· #12 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Wildabeast)

I guess I would go to the dealer to have it looked at, or call South Central Imports, get some steellies and a set of blizzacks, Sell the WE rims and get some 17's with performance tires for the summer. Then slow down maybe?

GeoffD

· #13 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (scooter4343)

quote:[HR][/HR]the answer: steel wheels and Hakka Qs; put mine on Sunday night before the storm here (I'm also in the Twin Cities); my car is sure-footed (damn, I love those Hakkas) and the BBS wheels are in the basement . . .[HR][/HR]

My Hakka Q's are mounted on steelies and sitting in a pile in the garage that looks like a dwarf Michelin Man. The way winter's starting out in New England, I probably won't have them on the car until right before Christmas. It's supposed to hit 70 degrees tomorrow.

I've destroyed expensive wheels before and I've learned my lesson. The replacement cost is exactly at the level where you want to pay out of pocket instead of filing an insurance claim. I'd put on steel wheels and hope to luck out finding a replacement at the salvage yards before April.

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Godlike

· #14 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (GeoffD)

sorry to hear that.. i did something similar in my previous car.... i had to swerve to avoid a car that had slid, and it broke loose and slid into a curb.. bye bye front suspension..

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Wildabeast

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 30, 2001

2

Re: Help, my car goes THUMPETY THUMPETY! (Phishy)

thanks Phishy, i'll try that slow thing some time

I'm not driving like a maniac here, but this is my first winter in a 1.8 with the chip etc, kind gets out from under you if you tap the gas a little too hard, damn turbos! I kind of wish I could remove the turbo for winter driving, that would be the best safeguard, well that and sane driving habits. They'll come with time, or i'll wreck my car, either way we all walk away happy......
P.S. Phishy how did your engine problems turn out? Last I heard you thought you might have cracked the block or somethin in NE, hope everything's ok with your baby http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

[Modified by Wildabeast, 5:11 AM 11-30-2001]

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Wildabeast

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 30, 2001

ALSO, out of curiosity, I have the BBS wheels or whatever comes with the Wolfy, is the spare the right size? I heard if you put the wrong sized spare on it can do something to the axle etc etc, also what's this about the balancing and aligning of the tires? Would I even need to do this? I'm clueless, just looking to fix my gimpy vw as quickly and cheaply as possible, any places in MN to get a cheap set of steel rims? Any difference in quality etc? Looks are NOT important, I don't know if i'm getting new tires, still up in the air......

Phishy

· #17 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: (Wildabeast)

Get your steel wheels from http://www.tirerack.com, they are about $20 each, Tires Plus around my house quoted me $67 each for the steel wheels, or try to find a junkyard with some new dubs in it beetle steels will work, 15" or 16"
My car is ok no cracked cylinder head I guess, just Dyno'd again monday making less power with the new intake...

EPilot

· #18 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: (Wildabeast)

quote:[HR][/HR]just looking to fix my gimpy vw as quickly and cheaply as possible[HR][/HR]

If you hit a a curb at high speed with enough force to bend a pretty strong rim like a BBS rim you did more damage than just bending the rim. Get it looked at by a professional now.
Why be cheap after you spent more than $20,000 for a car?
Get it fixed that's what insurance is for.

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