Cracked 2002 thinspokes. Safty issue?
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
I too have now joined the '02 thin spoke cracked wheel club. Mine is the right rear (one crack). Have any of you club members gotten warranty coverage for this? I'm expecting my GMPP warranty to cover this, and I'm about to find out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I seem to recall this issue surfacing about a year ago here on the Forum and it has resurfaced a few times since. Some of the folks posted excellent pictures at the time so if you do a search you're liable to find them.
Some folks had good luck with their warranty and others did not. It seems to depend on the dealer... good luck.
The good news is that these wheels seem to be available now for much less than a year ago and you should be able to find them rather inexpensively. Otherwise they're an excellent lightweight wheel that looks great on the C5... and by all accounts many C4's and even some C3's...
It would be interesting to learn if it's occurring to factory or aftermarket wheels or both?
GUSTO
Some folks had good luck with their warranty and others did not. It seems to depend on the dealer... good luck.
The good news is that these wheels seem to be available now for much less than a year ago and you should be able to find them rather inexpensively. Otherwise they're an excellent lightweight wheel that looks great on the C5... and by all accounts many C4's and even some C3's...
It would be interesting to learn if it's occurring to factory or aftermarket wheels or both?
GUSTO
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There was spate of this about a year ago. One thread picked up quite a head of steam. I think someone was going to submit a case to NHTSA.
I've been checking mine carefully ever since.
Good to se this one was resolved amicably. Maybe its time The General stepped up to the plate.
I've been checking mine carefully ever since.
Good to se this one was resolved amicably. Maybe its time The General stepped up to the plate.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
The first and last year for the indestructible 5 spokes was 2000. These 5 spokes were manufactured by Alcoa and are just slightly different than the 2001 and up five spokes.
The Alcoa's were forged rather than spun cast and are beefier at the spoke area. GM decided that Alcoa was too expensive, and they wanted to save a couple of hundred bucks on each set (typical cheapskates).
If you are going to buy a set of 5 spokes make sure to check the hub side of the wheel for the Alcoa stamping; you will never have to worry about cracking on these ones.
The Alcoa's were forged rather than spun cast and are beefier at the spoke area. GM decided that Alcoa was too expensive, and they wanted to save a couple of hundred bucks on each set (typical cheapskates).
If you are going to buy a set of 5 spokes make sure to check the hub side of the wheel for the Alcoa stamping; you will never have to worry about cracking on these ones.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 220
Likes: 8
From: A little place called Macungie PA
Where on the hub side of the wheel should one look. Do you mean under the area where the wheel mounts to the hub and brake rotor, or somewhere near the rim?
Just wondering thanks for the posts.
Just wondering thanks for the posts.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
The first and last year for the indestructible 5 spokes was 2000. These 5 spokes were manufactured by Alcoa and are just slightly different than the 2001 and up five spokes.
The Alcoa's were forged rather than spun cast and are beefier at the spoke area. GM decided that Alcoa was too expensive, and they wanted to save a couple of hundred bucks on each set (typical cheapskates).
If you are going to buy a set of 5 spokes make sure to check the hub side of the wheel for the Alcoa stamping; you will never have to worry about cracking on these ones.
The Alcoa's were forged rather than spun cast and are beefier at the spoke area. GM decided that Alcoa was too expensive, and they wanted to save a couple of hundred bucks on each set (typical cheapskates).
If you are going to buy a set of 5 spokes make sure to check the hub side of the wheel for the Alcoa stamping; you will never have to worry about cracking on these ones.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Ky
Actually you are incorrect. In 2000 both the High Polish and standard painted wheel were manufactured by the same supplier ---- Speedline. In order to meet demand for the High Polish wheel GM switched the supplier of the the painted wheel to someone else that is not a forged piece. You can tell the difference between the earlier and later painted wheels by the thickness of the spoke. The later wheels are slightly thicker. The high polished wheels were all made by the same vendor and that did not change throughout the C5's run. So to reiterate, the High Polish QF5 wheels are the same from 2000 through 2004.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
I did alot of research on the 5 spokes when a number of people offered to buy my 2000 5 spokes. Just take a look at the back of your wheels for a manufacturing stamp. The only wheels that have the alcoa stamp are on late model 99's and 2000's. And yes the alcoas' do not come polished, only painted. There has yet to be any posts of the alcoa 5 spokes cracking. The only cracks showing up are on the speedlines and after market 5 spokes.
