alloy side step repairs

My only experience was straightening alluminium side steps on the Jeep. There were no creases so gentle pressure in the right place did the trick. Could not tell they'd been bent. Creased alluminium is different - like you, I've never had any success - I'll watch with interest to see what others have to say.

Gaz

Gentle heat will probably help, but you have to be careful. Ally doesn't get that nice cherry glow like steel, it just sort of falls on the floor in a molten mess. I was shown a trick involving a match stick... You use the match stick like a pencil as you heat. I just can't remember what exactly the mark should look like when you are at the optimum temp. Perhaps someone else out there can fill in the blanks.

Good luck obone
Blue

I know that if mine ever get bent, I'll be be using it as the perfect excuse to get a set of steel steps and side bars....

when I bent my alloy sidesteps I took them off and slowly straightened them in a vice with wood packing each side of the steps. Not sure of the extent of your damage, but this was painless and looked as good as new.
I bought a set of steel steps a short while later, however.
Jack

Thanks everyone for your responses, maybe I'll use a combination of them all...well, probably not the match one until I find out how is ends!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards
Chris

Back up the flange with a block of hardwood and hit it with a soft faced hammer. Extrusion for comercial parts like side steps are usually quite soft and it shouldn't take too much work to straighten it.