my stock 98 RS gold rim...

I was driving in the blizard last weekend, and I went to take a right. I just barely hit the end of a curb(completly covered by snow) . I was going no more than 20mph...but it went "bang". I went back later to look at the curb. its a tiny stupid thing...maybee 5-6'' at the most.

is it likely that I bent my rim? If so...is there a way to "fix" it?
My budy said he could balance it for me @ his dealership...think that will work?

I've had good experiences with stock wheels on a couple of cars. They are usually pretty durable. I have a 2000 Altima and went over some bad a55 pot holes and they appeared to be fine. I've gone over some pot holes in my stockies on my WRX and they appear to be fine (no weird vibrations when I'm on the highways or from the steering wheel). I'm not sure if those wheels are made of forged aluminum but whatever they are, they're pretty strong.

Then again, it could be that there's more 'tire' to cushion the impact.

If you can't tell if they are bent, then they are probably fine. You could always take them to Sears Auto Center and they can inspect it. Another way to check is if the car is vibrating on the highway or if you notice you're losing air in the tire quicker than the others. If you are losing air, then the bend could require someone to bang the rim straight for you.

from my experience - not that hard. I bent a stock rim hitting one of those turn lane bumps in the road, we have a nickname for them but im not sure If i can say it here.

20 mph sliding on ice into a curb is all that mine needed........02 wrx stockers

not to mention the ~$1500 in suspension repairs that followed that.

20 mph into a curb would probably take out most wheels. ;)

20 mph into a curb would probably take out most wheels. ;)

agreed

From what I've experienced, I feel as though my car could be the epicenter for a nuke and the wheels would survive.

3 PA winters (with the potholed roads that follow) with nary a hint of a bend and only a few paint chips. I've hit potholes that bottomed out the car and not hurt the wheels.

I looked @ the rim verry closely...I can't find ANYTHING whatsoever that looks like a dent or a "bend" or whatever......

I'm thinking the "thunk thunk thunk" I get...and the steering wheel pulse is from my bad wheel bearing. a bad wheel bearing can make that noise right?BTW...do bad wheel bearings get worse?....and will it get even more worse?The car as 230,000 miles on it...please tell me its my wheel bearing =)