[SilverSedan]

Started cleaning my wheels (overdue it’s sorta winter) and WTF? Cracked spoke and beginning of crack on neighboring spoke on front wheel. Don’t remember hitting anything recently. It’s bad enough that I’ve had a crack on a rear rim bead area and have had slight bends (not enough to see but enough to feel) corrected before but this takes the cake. F!

 

[Sudderth]

Superalloy rim. Supposed to be a good brand that GM chose. If you did not hit a curb I would be giving the dealer a visit. Also, report to NHTSA.

 

[SilverSedan]

Dealer? It’s a ‘12 that I bought in ‘14. They’d probably charge me for the coffee in the waiting room.

 

[Heavymetals]

I would venture that rim is toast.

 

[Blown376]

Time to get some forged 19's! I almost wish I had this issue so that it would be any easy sell to the wife instead of the usual "what stupid part did you buy for that car now??"

 

[SilverSedan]

I actually like the polished OEMs and it’s always easier to source a replacement OEM than aftermarket for situations like this (hint in case anyone has a cheap front for sale near NJ). Plus I assume OEM is stronger than aftermarket.

I’m gonna check with a wheel pro but I realize it might not be fixable. I know they can do amazing things.

 

[RocketSled]

Looks like "Stress Corrosion" to me. Caused by a manufacturing defect, impurities in the casting. They're cracking there because that's the highest-stress area for the wheel. If you sectioned the wheel (cut it apart) at the crack I'd bet there'd be "inclusions", solid particles of some other metal that shouldn't be there.

 

[RobF300]

did you confirm its an OEM wheel and not aftermarket?
wonder if it was repaired before

 

[SilverSedan]

Well I’ve had the car/wheel since it was about 2 years / 30K miles old and it had a clean carfax. I seem to recall seeing “Super Alloy” last time I had tires off so I’m gonna say its OEM.

Its been repaired once or twice. Not sure if straightening or perhaps rebaking a clear coat could stress the wheel. It’s been at least a year or two since I’ve had any wheel worked on.

 

[SilverSedan]

Looks like "Stress Corrosion" to me. Caused by a manufacturing defect, impurities in the casting. They're cracking there because that's the highest-stress area for the wheel. If you sectioned the wheel (cut it apart) at the crack I'd bet there'd be "inclusions", solid particles of some other metal that shouldn't be there.

If unfixable, I can always take a cutoff wheel to it. Maybe we’ll find a half melted Pepsi can tab in there.

 

[Sudderth]

That had take a hit to crack the aluminum in the thick part of the spoke. And even both of them.

 

[SilverSedan]

Sure, I’ve hit potholes and bumps on the road but nothing huge or noteworthy comes to mind. Certainly didn’t hit any curbs. Just real world driving. No curb rash or anything so any impact would have been transmitted thru the tire to the rim.

 

[RocketSled]

That had take a hit to crack the aluminum in the thick part of the spoke. And even both of them.

Not necessarily. A defect in the casting could do the same thing without any kind of "major" hit.

 

[Sudderth]

I am going to check all of mine as the roads in Las Vegas have some issues.

 

[Vwlove56]

I love the "technical" definition of a wheel. "Allows your vehicle to move when used in conjunction with a tire. Helps support your vehicles load". Cracks me up...

 

[SilverSedan]

Yeah I’ve seen that description and cracked up too.

 

[djdonte]

Is the next spoke down cracked too or is that just out of focus? Either way not much you can do besides replace. I bet you can find a LKQ one cheaper than the dealer.

 

[SilverSedan]

I was waiting until I got my rim back to take good pics. When I removed the wheel it showed FOUR consecutive cracked . 😳

And special thanks to db-guru for hooking me up with the replacement wheel that’s on my car now. Good man who went way out of his way for a fellow member.

 

[Sudderth]

wow, what did you hit. Potholes in New Jersey and New York have done such damage.

 

[SilverSedan]

No idea really. Could have started with one spoke and over time spread to others. Who knows how long it’s been like this. I know I’ll be looking closer at my wheels any time they are off.