Wheels Pitting - Have You Checked Yours

[Blankster]

Just finished cleaning my 300C and noticed that 3 of the wheels are being eaten up by salt along the outer rim. I have just 3K with very limited winter driving. The shiny portion is fine just the outer rim is showing corrosion coming out from behind the chrome plated cover. My 2004 Grand Cherokee uses a similar wheel setup with chrome plate aluminum attached to a wheel but on those seem to be OK after 2 winters. I'll alert the dealer now and get them (all 4) changed in March. Perhaps if this is a known problem the replacements will be better built.

[Northern Rider]

I have the same problem. Blankster, thanks for starting a new thread on this. I will copy my posts to this thread from the "washing" post.

If anyone else is having corrosion issues on the 18" OEM wheels, please post here. The more documented cases we have, the better settlement we can get from DC.

The wheels are aluminum with a chromed plastic cover. The pitting is in several places on all 4 wheels.

Here is a close up photo of the pitting on my wheels.
Attached Thumbnails

Post # 2

I just had a closer look at my wheels. There doesn't seem to be any clearcoat on the aluminum. At this time of the year, our roads are covered in salt. Aluminum deteriorates quickly unless it is sealed.

Is it possible DC put the plastic cladding on top of unsealed aluminum wheels?

I would appreciate feedback, as I am meeting with a DC Canada rep about this problem. My wheels are really getting bad. It looks like corrosion is leaking onto the lip from under the cladding.

Does anyone else have corroding wheels? I want mine replaced - no - correction - I want a credit towards a better quality wheel.

[Northern Rider]

POST #3
Rim Corrosion: no good news

Quote: Originally Posted by BMWhat? Northern Rider, thats some nasty stuff eating away at your wheels. I'd say you've definately got a good case for replacement. However, I wish you luck on that credit towards the purchase of a non-DC product... you're going to need it.

I am still of the opinion that the wheels need to be treated like paint. I care for my wheels (and the rest of the car for that matter) like it's a garage queen. It gets washed weekly by hand using the best products and the most conservative washing practices. The wheels get nothing harsher than a boar's hair brush (about 70 freaking dollars!) along with the mildest of wheel cleaners of non-acid PH balanced wheel cleaners. Despite my best efforts, I still have gotten significant swirl marks on the wheels. My point is that whatever those wheels are made of it sure is easy to scratch and need to be treated VERY delicately.

Conclusion: Wheels look good but they're cheaply made and it shows.

--------------------------------------------------------


It's growing like a cancer, despite all my efforts to protect the wheels. I have a heated garage and keep the car as clean and protected as possible.

Met with my dealer's service manager yesterday. It appears that the plastic cladding is flexing and rubbing the clearcoat and my protection off the inside lip of the aluminium rim. He feels there is no point going to DC with a claim until the spring.

He also said that DC may agree to replace with the same wheels. I want to try for a credit against SRT-8 20" wheels. If this is a one off problem with just my wheels, I may get S.F.A. If others report the same problem, maybe we can get some sort of settlement.

This issue is probably going to have to wait until the spring.

[dragon]

The picture has a clear line of where the corrosion starts and stops. I suspect they put on the wheel weights then clear coated the wheel. Later they rebalanced the wheel or the weight fell off exposing bare, unprotected metal ready to corrode.
My aluminum wheel Intrepid started corroding in the winter and needed refinishing. I bought winter ice tires on painted steel rims and kept the aluminums for summer. Also I discovered that the weights of lead reacted electrochemically with the aluminum wheel turning it into a battery and eating the wheels. A tire shop said they eliminate outside weights and hide them inside on the back. I tried it and it works well plus there are no dirt catching exterior weights to spoil the wheels

[Northern Rider]

Originally Posted by dragon

The picture has a clear line of where the corrosion starts and stops. I suspect they put on the wheel weights then clear coated the wheel. Later they rebalanced the wheel or the weight fell off exposing bare, unprotected metal ready to corrode.
My aluminum wheel Intrepid started corroding in the winter and needed refinishing. I bought winter ice tires on painted steel rims and kept the aluminums for summer. Also I discovered that the weights of lead reacted electrochemically with the aluminum wheel turning it into a battery and eating the wheels. A tire shop said they eliminate outside weights and hide them inside on the back. I tried it and it works well plus there are no dirt catching exterior weights to spoil the wheels

It's not from lead wheel weights as it is in several locations on all 4 wheels. I oversaw the balancing of the wheels myself. It appears that the clearcoat is coming off where the plastic "chrome" meets the aluminium lip.

The OEM wheels should be able to withstand the road salt of northern areas, IMO. This might be a design error on the part of DC.

[Redman]

Same thing happened to the chrome factory wheels on my 02 Escalade last year. To their credit Cadillac replaced all four free of charge and mounted different tires (I went with Michelin Pilots) as well.

[HEMEEE]

Northern & Blankster :
coolvanilla and jeepgrady are having problems as well...

Thanks Kings!

[Blankster]

There was no rebalancing of my wheels. The aluminum behind the chrome plated plastic/aluminum covers is corroding and spreading into the exposed lip/rim. There is no corrosion under my counter weights. As an FYI I believe the counter weights are either graphite or graphite coated to reduce corrosion with the wheel.

[Lilbear]

Three of mine are showing small areas of corrosion. My C only has 4500 miles on it and it will be going in for service Monday. They will be replacing mine, guaranteed!

[coolvanilla]

Originally Posted by Lilbear

Three of mine are showing small areas of erosion. My C only has 4500 miles on it and it will be going in for service Monday. They will be replacing mine, guaranteed!

Let us know how you make out. I have the same problem on all four wheels. Started right after the first snow storm.