Grinding chrome rims

[MattDB]

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of the following?

I've got a vintage Raleigh and my biggest problem is a slight bulge in the rim which causes immense juddering when I'm braking at moderate speed.

I took the bike into my LBS and the guy said there was no damage to the rim this is just where it was joined and the only thing he could suggest is spending some time on it with 'grinding paste' to flatten it out.

I just wondered if anyone has done this before and, if so, could recommend and particular product?

Matt

 

[I like Skol]

Where do I start....

If you use grinding paste on your chrome rims you will take off the chrome and will end up with a rusty patch that when braking will 'grab', potentially causing your front wheel to slide out from under you if braking on a wet corner. You are also unlikely to remove enough material to rectify the anomaly and if you do succeed you will end up with a weakened rim wall that will be a danger and could fail unexpectedly.

You need to either live with it or it may be possible to 'flatten' the lump by carefully tapping it down with a hammer.

I'm surprised that a minor flaw in the rims braking surface is causing "Immense juddering". I my experience it takes substantial defects to cause a problem that will seriously affect the bikes functioning. Is there another fault that is perhaps magnifying the problem? is it a front or rear wheel? Have you checked the headset to make sure there is not play in the bearing that are allowing the forks to bounce? Are the brakes securely fastened to the frame?

Without seeing the bike it is hard to think what else it could be but maybe the rim is not the main problem.

 

[ColinJ]

If you ride that bike in the wet and have to stop suddenly, you will find that you have a much bigger braking problem than 'immense juddering' ...!

Coincidentally, I was just remembering whizzing down a hill as a teenager on a bike with chrome rims in the rain. The traffic lights ahead changed to red, and the traffic started across in front of me. I applied the brakes and nothing happened ... Wet chrome is incredibly slippery.

I shot across the road between two cars and barely escaped being flattened. I would forget trying to sort out any bump, and just replace the wheels with some that have nice grippy aluminium rims!

 

[Smokin Joe]

I would forget trying to sort out any bump, and just replace the wheels with some that have nice grippy aluminium rims!

Steel rims are the work of Satan, they do not have a single advantage over aluminium.

 

[raleighnut]

Steel rims are the work of Satan, they do not have a single advantage over aluminium.

They do, you will never ever wear the braking surface away And my simple tip for braking in the rain........................start braking last Wednesday

 

[ColinJ]

And my simple tip for braking in the rain........................start braking last Wednesday

Or ... check the weather forecast and stay off the bike if it is likely to rain!

 

[Smurfy]

The other 'advantage' is that chrome is more shiny than Alu.

Skolly is right, grinding will take off the chrome. Much better to try and push it back. Use of a large vice might be better than a hammer.

 

[roadrash]

I took the bike into my LBS and the guy said there was no damage to the rim this is just where it was joined and the only thing he could suggest is spending some time on it with 'grinding paste' to flatten it out.

IF thats the advice of your LBS, then its time to find a new one , for the reasons pointed out above

 

[tyred]

Just tap with a hammer with something solid supporting it from the inside. You don't want to "ding" it either by whacking it too hard with no internal support.

Leather faced pads will help braking in the rain (if it isn't one of those textured rims with dimpled braking surface). Fibrax still sell these but it will never match aluminium rims. Anticipation is the key. I always think that bad brakes make people better riders/drivers as you learn to read the road properly and not rely on the brakes too much.

There is actually one further advantage to chrome rims - they stay clean in winter riding whereas alu end up covered in black gunge very quickly.

 

[Smokin Joe]

There is actually one further advantage to chrome rims - they stay clean in winter riding whereas alu end up covered in black gunge very quickly.

Chrome is porous and unless you keep it scrupulously clean the steel underneath it will rust.

 

[Globalti]

What does this say about the people who designed my 1960s Raleigh Roadster, which had chromed steel rims with rod brakes? Just how long did they think the chrome plating would last before the brakes wore through to the steel? Were they supremely confident in the thickness of the chrome or just cynically selling garbage bikes and thus actually responsible for the demise of the British bike industry?

 

[MattDB]

Thanks all - Skol yes I'm wondering about the front wheel bearings, however when I got the bike they were really loose and it was after tightening that they started juddering so badly which I assumed was happening because the wheel wasn't able to move as much when braking. I'm fairly sure I hadn't over tightened but could be wrong and could try adjusting both ways. You think it is more likely that they're too loose?

Yes chrome rims are very pretty and the leather does help a lot with the braking.

As much as I love the old girl I'm going to get a Felt Z85 - I thought I could manage the daily journey home up a massive hill but I'm struggling on this 3-speed!

 

[Smokin Joe]

What does this say about the people who designed my 1960s Raleigh Roadster, which had chromed steel rims with rod brakes? Just how long did they think the chrome plating would last before the brakes wore through to the steel? Were they supremely confident in the thickness of the chrome or just cynically selling garbage bikes and thus actually responsible for the demise of the British bike industry?

Whatever it says, chrome is porous and will let water through to the steel underneath.

 

[Smurfy]

What does this say about the people who designed my 1960s Raleigh Roadster, which had chromed steel rims with rod brakes? Just how long did they think the chrome plating would last before the brakes wore through to the steel? Were they supremely confident in the thickness of the chrome or just cynically selling garbage bikes and thus actually responsible for the demise of the British bike industry?

Chrome is a very hard material, it's far harder than aluminium.

Whatever it says, chrome is porous and will let water through to the steel underneath.

The best chrome plating is not done directly onto steel, but has layers of less porous materials underneath, such as copper, to reduce or eliminate the rusting under chrome problem.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Chrome is a very hard material, it's far harder than aluminium.


The best chrome plating is not done directly onto steel, but has layers of less porous materials underneath, such as copper, to reduce or eliminate the rusting under chrome problem.

Often onto nickel, but few manufacturers bothered.