Danger-weld Wheels Cracking

hospwr · 04-21-2002, 11:34 AM

Has anyone ever experienced Weld Draglites cracking? I have a set of 15 x 5.5 Draglites XP's that are about 2 years old.

They are starting to crack in the same place that the other rim about 6 months ago completely failed. I'm trying to see if anyone has heard about these wheels having this kind of problem. I torque the wheels to 85 ft/lbs.

Thanks
Chris
hospwr@iwon.com

tireburner163 · 04-21-2002, 02:58 PM

I've never really heard of that problem

BYW, dude your gonna have to tone that sig down. It's HUGE!!!!!!!!!

PKRWUD · 04-22-2002, 05:20 AM

What, Weld wheels cracking? Couldn't be...

Take care,
-Chris

PKRWUD · 04-22-2002, 05:22 AM

Here's the same rim from the back...

Take care,
-Chris

Crazy Horse GT · 04-22-2002, 07:37 AM

then i guess weld wheel's suck

tireburner163 · 04-22-2002, 08:24 AM

Guess I need to scratch Welds off the list for my car.

04-23-2002, 03:40 AM

Hmmm,I've had weld wheels for 4 years now and know many other people who run these wheels as well and never had any cracks occur.

PKRWUD

What type of vehicle was runnin these wheels?

Did they use the CORRECT lug nuts and were they torqued correctly?

People,dont assume things without knowing the whole story first.

PKRWUD · 04-23-2002, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mustanguy
PKRWUD

What type of vehicle was runnin these wheels?

Did they use the CORRECT lug nuts and were they torqued correctly?

People,dont assume things without knowing the whole story first.

Ah, Grasshopper, that is a very wise question.

It was the right front wheel on a 1990 Ford Aerostar van. It (the van) belongs to my ex. She's still driving around with the other three on the van, too. Then again, she never was that bright.

They were mounted correctly, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that people would buy aluminum rims that were designed for racing, and mount them on their daily driver, thinking nothing of the possible consequences, because they were "street legal". Those rims are street legal, but they were never intended to be driven in traffic, every day, for 10 years. Ten years worth of pot holes and curbs, etc, is not healthy for aluminum racing rims.

A couple years ago, she was driving out to Palm Springs with her kids so that they could spend Easter with their grandmother, and she felt a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Well, like I said, she never was very bright, so she just kept driving. Finally, a trucker in a semi flagged her down and made her pull over. Apparently he could see the wheel vibrating dangerously, and wanted to warn her. The rim, as seen in the pics, is exactly as it was after the tire was removed later that day.

I figure it probably had been developing stress fractures for years, but once they started getting bad, they all got bad.

Of course, it could just be that she's an idiot.

Good call on the inquiry! I was wondering how long it would take before someone asked.

Take care,
-Chris

exgmguy · 04-23-2002, 05:03 PM

Welds on a minivan for 10 years. That is funny.

You have to be careful with a relatively soft aluminum lightweight wheel on the street. Just be careful with your stuff.

If the wheel looks like that I can only imagine the rest of the vehicle probably looks the same way.

hospwr · 04-23-2002, 06:01 PM

I didn't know the Sig was on by default.

I contacted Weld last time this happened, and had to go through a lot of hoops. I told them this was a street car that ran 11's at the track.

They first told me I shouldn't have used a spacer, this changed real quick after I explained that it was included in THEIR box.

Next they told me that 90 ft/lbs was too much, that I should use 85 instead. Even though the instructions say to torque them to 90.

The next thing they said was that I torque them too many times, I used to check them every other month or so. I have a torque wrench I keep in the car.

Finally after more than two weeks they authorized a replacement, not both as I had asked for. They only replaced the wheel that seperated from the hub. I repeatly asked for a replacement for the other, I feared that they were from the same casting/batch and would fail sooner of later.

Well it happened again.

Chris

vtec8ter · 04-23-2002, 09:01 PM

i had the same weld drag lites. skinnies up fronts and i had two sets for the back, skinnies and drag radials. no problems.

04-24-2002, 03:04 AM

I got the answer I was looking for from your response,the fact that she,your ex,drove with the rims through pot holes,etc

Lets face it,you gotta use alittle care when using aluminum wheels,they just aren't as durable as steel wheels.

Mach 1 · 04-24-2002, 04:34 AM

Im glad I bought Center Lines....besides, they look better IMO

Also, you might want to try less torque. 85 ft. lbs. sounds like a lot on lightweight aluminum wheels. Try less tourqe and then re-check them occasionally to make sure they arent loosening at all.

04-21-2002, 11:34 AM	#1
hospwr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Tampa Fl 33624 Posts: 60	Danger-weld Wheels Cracking Has anyone ever experienced Weld Draglites cracking? I have a set of 15 x 5.5 Draglites XP's that are about 2 years old. They are starting to crack in the same place that the other rim about 6 months ago completely failed. I'm trying to see if anyone has heard about these wheels having this kind of problem. I torque the wheels to 85 ft/lbs. Thanks Chris hospwr@iwon.com __________________ <A HREF="http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/ViewIt.cgi?http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi609">" TARGET=_blank>http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/ViewIt.cgi?http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi609"></A> Current and Ongoing Modifications to 94 GT Conv Bennett Prepared 393 stroker SHORT BLOCK … SVO Sportsman Block SCAT 3.85 Cast Steel Crankshaft-Balanced Eagle Connecting Rods Ross Pistons and Pins Speed Pro Rings and Clevite Bearings Custom Lunati Hydraulic Roller Camshaft FM 6268-A302 Timing Chain and ARP Bolt ATI Harmonic Balancer and ARP Bolt Canton 7qt Oil Pan and Hi Vol Oil Pump & Shaft TOP HALF … ARP Head Bolts and FELPRO Head Gaskets Bennett Stage 2 Canfield Cylinder Heads HYD Roller Lifters and Hold Down Kit Crane Roller Rockers and Comp Pushrods GT-40 lower……Hogan Sheet Metal Upper 36lb Injectors 80mm TB 83mm Pro-M Mass Air Misc Engine… Pro-M Improvement Harness MSD Billett Distributor MSD 6 MSD Retatrd Timing Module Griffin Alum Radiator Flaming River…Manual rack CSI Electric Water Pump Braided lines throughout Cartech Stage II fuel system w/twin 450 pumps Page 2 Custom Fabricated 1 7/8 Long Tube Headers w/ 3" Collectors Custom Fabricated H-Pipe 3" Teminator Mufflers McCleoud Clutch w/ Iron Disk Tremec TKO Lakewood Scattershield Pro 5.0 Shifter FMS Allum Driveshaft 8.8 Rearend 31 Spline Mosler Axles Auburn Pro TA Cover 4:10 Gears 3” studs Southside Lift Bars Frame Connectors Wild Rides…Battle Boxes Eibach Drag springs w/ Air bag Lakewood Drag Shocks 90/10® 50/50(f) Interior 8 PT. Custom Cage w/ Swingouts Jamex Monaco Seats New Black ACC carpet Simpson 5pt Harness Autometer Guages ..Fuel,Water and Oil Temp, Oil pressure, and Nitrous Pressure Blk and Clay Red Color Scheme Exterior Custom Ram Air Hood made by Keystone Triple Blk w/ Gold Pearl Paint that fades front to rear on the hood And back to front on the sides..Also wipers and mirrors have gold pearl Gold and Clay Red Pinstipping done by Norm T Back window is Sandblasted w/ the Blue Oval Emblem 15” Super Shinoda Spoiler Wheels 15X4 Weld Draglites 15X8 Weld Draglites M.T. ET Streets (15x11.5)_

04-21-2002, 02:58 PM	#2
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	I've never really heard of that problem BYW, dude your gonna have to tone that sig down. It's HUGE!!!!!!!!! __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

04-22-2002, 05:20 AM	#3
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	What, Weld wheels cracking? Couldn't be... Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

04-22-2002, 05:22 AM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Here's the same rim from the back... Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

04-22-2002, 07:37 AM	#5
Crazy Horse GT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sale Creek, TN. C. S. A. Posts: 4,652	then i guess weld wheel's suck __________________ 95 gt vert, lot's of stuff, it aint slow. 04 sonic blue v - six my beater 89 rs camaro iroc turbo hood, other stuff, my wifes ride 84 lx stang cammed up 289 hi po, etc 65 falcon, maybe by the year 2020. black 00gt, gone but never forgotten. R H C- member # 1 o.b.c. da prez- member # 1 if your under 40 dont ask. goodbye for now odie,r.i.p. 11-27-03

04-22-2002, 08:24 AM	#6
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	Guess I need to scratch Welds off the list for my car. __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

04-23-2002, 03:40 AM	#7
Mustanguy Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm,I've had weld wheels for 4 years now and know many other people who run these wheels as well and never had any cracks occur. PKRWUD What type of vehicle was runnin these wheels? Did they use the CORRECT lug nuts and were they torqued correctly? People,dont assume things without knowing the whole story first.

04-23-2002, 05:03 PM	#9
exgmguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Utica, Michigan Posts: 2,631	Welds on a minivan for 10 years. That is funny. You have to be careful with a relatively soft aluminum lightweight wheel on the street. Just be careful with your stuff. If the wheel looks like that I can only imagine the rest of the vehicle probably looks the same way.

04-23-2002, 06:01 PM	#10
hospwr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Tampa Fl 33624 Posts: 60	sorry about the sig guys I didn't know the Sig was on by default. I contacted Weld last time this happened, and had to go through a lot of hoops. I told them this was a street car that ran 11's at the track. They first told me I shouldn't have used a spacer, this changed real quick after I explained that it was included in THEIR box. Next they told me that 90 ft/lbs was too much, that I should use 85 instead. Even though the instructions say to torque them to 90. The next thing they said was that I torque them too many times, I used to check them every other month or so. I have a torque wrench I keep in the car. Finally after more than two weeks they authorized a replacement, not both as I had asked for. They only replaced the wheel that seperated from the hub. I repeatly asked for a replacement for the other, I feared that they were from the same casting/batch and would fail sooner of later. Well it happened again. Chris

04-23-2002, 09:01 PM	#11
vtec8ter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 133	i have had no problems with them i had the same weld drag lites. skinnies up fronts and i had two sets for the back, skinnies and drag radials. no problems. __________________ rice... the perfect meal anytime!!! MMMMMMmmmmm good!!! anyone wanna part with a late 80's GT? i want a new project car. somm to play with. PM me. please.

04-24-2002, 03:04 AM	#12
Mustanguy Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Chris I got the answer I was looking for from your response,the fact that she,your ex,drove with the rims through pot holes,etc Lets face it,you gotta use alittle care when using aluminum wheels,they just aren't as durable as steel wheels.

04-24-2002, 04:34 AM	#13
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	Im glad I bought Center Lines....besides, they look better IMO Also, you might want to try less torque. 85 ft. lbs. sounds like a lot on lightweight aluminum wheels. Try less tourqe and then re-check them occasionally to make sure they arent loosening at all. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

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