WHAT is this???
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
My real concern is that a forum member's $5k check is being returned and I sense he is not too thrilled about it.. That's whats bugging me, that fact that someone was let down who was counting on getting these rims in the condition of the pics I posted.
Had I seen this, I never would have offered them until they were corrected.
Last edited by YO-EL; Jul 26, 2009 at 09:10 PM.
Safety Car
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From: NJ
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This is a common issue on OEM and Replica wheels. Many people actually sand and paint the insides. I clearcoated my barrels recently (on my new wheels) to prevent this from happening. I think it's caused by the heat of the brake dust particles.
Safety Car
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From: NJ
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Interesting. It's happened on all of my chrome and polished stock wheels (on 2 Camaros and the C5) and the 3 sets of chrome replicas I've had. It's a disturbing site to see. It's probably a cheap thin layer of chrome in the barrels that just disintegrates on impact of brake dust/road debris like I said. That's completely unacceptable for your set of wheels though. A cheaper set of reproductions is bad enough, but when you're paying that kind of money for a top quality product, there shouldn't be any issues whatsoever. I'd be on the phone first thing in the morning with whoever did them for you. Good luck.
Race Director
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I have inexpensive (under $500 delivered), 3 yr old chrome C5 Z06 repros .... approx 10K miles per season and they still look like new.....
thank you to Corvette Garage for finding a quality Chinese supplier....
thank you to Corvette Garage for finding a quality Chinese supplier....
Race Director
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From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Had the same problem with a brand new set of CCW SP16a's that I had chromed by WestCoast Corvettes and I never even drove my car, it sat in the garage.
I'll never buy a chromed product again. Ended up losing around $4K on the rims & tires that I had.
Really disgusted me and almost made stop my project. Polished or brushed rims only for me.
I'll never buy a chromed product again. Ended up losing around $4K on the rims & tires that I had.
Really disgusted me and almost made stop my project. Polished or brushed rims only for me.
Just washed my rims and noticed this....see 2nd pic
First pic is a new not driven on rim, second is on one driven 4 times..
Front barrel, (not driven on)
Rear barrel, (driven on 4 times) spots are raised, I can feel them
I've had MANY sets of rims with chrome inners and NEVER saw this before... Any ideas?
First pic is a new not driven on rim, second is on one driven 4 times..
Front barrel, (not driven on)
Rear barrel, (driven on 4 times) spots are raised, I can feel them
I've had MANY sets of rims with chrome inners and NEVER saw this before... Any ideas?
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,708
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From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
I don't really think this is a big deal only because they're inners and not seen.. The center faces & outers on ALL the rims are fine.
I've lost a sale due to this, so even though they can be replaced or redone, even high polished, under the 4 yr warranty, I'm at the point where I will offer these at a HUGE discount to anyone who wants to take them as is, and deal with this as needed or if desired etc..
I've lost a sale due to this, so even though they can be replaced or redone, even high polished, under the 4 yr warranty, I'm at the point where I will offer these at a HUGE discount to anyone who wants to take them as is, and deal with this as needed or if desired etc..
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
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From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
More than likely this is an indication on how the rest of the work was done the fronts will be pitting soon too.
The only cure is to blast off the current chrome and have them re-polished, painted or powder coated.
Just stay away from chrome. I feel your pain as I went through the same problem with my rims.
Good Luck getting it fixed.
The only cure is to blast off the current chrome and have them re-polished, painted or powder coated.
Just stay away from chrome. I feel your pain as I went through the same problem with my rims.
Good Luck getting it fixed.
I don't really think this is a big deal only because they're inners and not seen.. The center faces & outers on ALL the rims are fine.
I've lost a sale due to this, so even though they can be replaced or redone, even high polished, under the 4 yr warranty, I'm at the point where I will offer these at a HUGE discount to anyone who wants to take them as is, and deal with this as needed or if desired etc..
I've lost a sale due to this, so even though they can be replaced or redone, even high polished, under the 4 yr warranty, I'm at the point where I will offer these at a HUGE discount to anyone who wants to take them as is, and deal with this as needed or if desired etc..
Safety Car
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From: NJ
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POR 15 makes a clearcoat product. After you get them re-done, coat the barrels with the POR 15. I'd coat the fronts with it too right now!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Loxahatchee Florida
I think quality chroming is done as follows: Good prep (cleaning,sanding, smoothing etc), electroplating a layer of copper, then a layer of nickel, then 3 layers of chrome (triple chrome plating). If you just flash chrome over aluminum only it usually ends up like the pictures. Pitting and peeling off. It's not anything external causing it, it's the quality of the electroplating process in this instance. The outside areas of the rims were undoubtedly plated correctly and will be fine since they show. Typical cheapout on the manufacturers part to maximize profit.
