Styling Rolling Wheel Arches

[Phild76]

Hi, can anyone recommend a good wheel arch roller, I've upgraded my wheels to some steel wheels with 155 70 x 12 tyres and they rub on the rears when I hit a bump and the passenger side rubs on full lock. Just wondering if anyone can recommend one that they've used. Thanks Phil

 

[the hobbler]

Hi, can anyone recommend a good wheel arch roller, I've upgraded my wheels to some steel wheels with 155 70 x 12 tyres and they rub on the rears when I hit a bump and the passenger side rubs on full lock. Just wondering if anyone can recommend one that they've used. Thanks Phil

Any competent bodyshop should be able to roll the wheel-arch edges, and possibly also flare them out slightly. Fitting wheel-arch extensions is a big (and expensive) job. The wheel arches first have to be cut back,and the the inner wheel-arch welded to the outer wheel-arch (to stop them flapping in the breeze), only then can you afix the extensions I used 5 x5mm 'riv-nuts' on each of my extensions,and so far,over 12 years, I have never had a problem with them coming loose---it IS a very fiddly job!

 

[Goldnrust]

I’ve got a cheap eBay wheel arch roller, which I bought a couple of years back, I can confirm it’s not brilliant.

There would be two problems with using it on the 500. First, the double layer arch lips are pretty sturdy and I think it would struggle to bend them. Also remember that arch rollers will soon make your arch 50p shaped if you’ve got any weak spots / rust in the arches. Second, it bolts up to the wheel studs, and unless your 500 is converted to 4x98, it won’t bolt up.

I would recommend doing it with a hammer and dolly, you can feel your way round the arch and keep the shape better, but obviously it is almost always going to result in paint damage when you take a hammer to the bodywork!!