Danger-weld Wheels Cracking

[PKRWUD]

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