Cracked front wheels
 

I just wanted to make everyone aware of an issue I had late last week. I was cleaning the race car and had removed the front wheels to clean them and found small cracks near the hub of the wheel on the inside. Each wheel had these all in the same location. I know other racers have had issues with front wheels before but just a friendly reminder to look them over. This could of been costly if I had not found this. These were black anodized Weld Alumastar wheels that I have had for 7 years.


Brad Burton

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Inspect your wheels regularly as all these lightweight, front billet wheels crack regardless of manufacturer, some rear wheels too. If you're lucky, you find the crack before it fails and you crash as some have. I've had 2 pairs of Weld Magnum wheels crack, one wheel broke and exited the wheel well as I was tuning into my pit spot after just having made a pass. I know racers that have also had V series crack as well.

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Thanks for sharing, Brad. It serves as a reminder to keep a keen eye on them.

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Thanks, I will be checking mine this week, good pics showing the cracks too

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

If you have Bogart fly's with the black back plate,check them often bad for cracking!. gsa612

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Do the manufacturers give any help or do they just go in the scrap barrel and you replace them with a new set? How much does the weight of the car enter in to this? Same problem occurring on any lightweight (<2600#) cars?

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Weld did nothing, told me their wheels have a 30 day warranty for manufacturer defects. Which means they have no real warranty. I replaced the broken/crack wheels with the same Magnum wheels but this set is black anodized.

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Anybody experience cracks with Weld Pro Stars?

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

We did last fall
One was leaking air is how we found it
Better that way then on the track
Both fronts were cracked
They were 17 years old so wasn't surprised.....

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

There are a lot of factors that will effect the longevity of drag racing wheels such as wheelstands, car weight, design of the wheel, material, fatigue and more.

The enclosed link, although it applies to non-wheelstanding cars, talks about the subject:

http://www.mcculloughpr.com/media_fi...Car_June16.pdf

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Where were they cracked? I'd like to check mine.


Thanks

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Read the graph on carbon fiber. Amazing strength

Had a brother in law that was at Boeing while they developed the 787. He told me some stories about the stuff that I thought were crazy. Carbon fiber goes into almost all their planes now. I'm going to guess that all the wings are carbon.

One day all wheels will be also.

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Won't see carbon wheels for a while because of the cost. Just price a motorcycle rim, large $

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

Cracked on the radius below the lug hole .

Re: Cracked front wheels
 

[QUOTE=SSDiv6;590367]There are a lot of factors that will effect the longevity of drag racing wheels such as wheelstands, car weight, design of the wheel, material, fatigue and more.

I really think turning corners with a spool and slicks is the worse thing for front wheels.