NC94Vette

These are track wheels for me. In great shape. Not even any curb rash to speak of. I am running Nitto NT05s (285/35/18) on the standard Z06 painted 18X9.5 rim.

After the past weekend three-day track event at VIR, there was a vibration in the front. So I took them in to get re-balance at my local Discount Tire store (where I almost always get my tires).

Got home and found the cracks. I can't believe that I would have missed it as I removed the whole set, wiped them down and put them in the back of the mini-van to take them up to the tire store this morning.

I watched the kid balance all four of them and nothing seemed unusual.

Could he have done something wrong that cause this one to crack?


IMG_5075 by Blue C6 Z06, on Flickr


IMG_5083 by Blue C6 Z06, on Flickr


IMG_5085 by Blue C6 Z06, on Flickr

carlrx7

pothole? but how hot did your brakes get?

MarkRx

i wouldn't be driving on that wheel!

Dragracer_Art

Are they OEM Speedlines ? or Chinese rims ?

I bought my car used and thought I had OEM wheels on it.

First time I had them off I found "made in china" on them. I've since replaced them with OEM Speedlines "made in Italy".

oldmansan

I never use cast wheels on the track. I don't use them on the street either.

San

NC94Vette

I do not recall hitting any potholes or any other big bumps.

Yes, the brakes get hot at the track.

NC94Vette

Absolutely 100% OEM Speedline.

NC94Vette

What do you run on the track?

NC94Vette

Nope. Nobody would for long....

oldmansan

Same thing I run on the street. Fully forged CCWs on the Vette, fully forged Team Dynamics on the Lotus.

San

c6racr

dude that's brutal. wonder if it's got something to do with the brakes. maybe time to vent them?

oldmansan

I'm curious, was it the front passenger-side wheel?

San

Bill Dearborn

The C5 Y2K Forged High Polish wheels crack as well. GM started replacing them with the thicker spoked cast versions which seem to hold up well as do the C5Z cast wheels. I have also seen CCW wheels crack at the track. One person I know had several spokes in one of his Classics crack. I could hear the wheel making funny noises as he drove by and was able to warn him before he got out of the paddock.

Bill

oldmansan

The Classic is a 3-piece wheel. I run the C10s which are a one-piece forged wheel. I've been on this forum for 5 years and have never heard of a CCW one-piece forged wheel failure. The few posts I found online where a Classic center cracked CCW replaced it for free.

San

NC94Vette

Yes it was the passenger side. However, I have switched them from side to side several times to try and balance tread wear.

Why did you ask? Have you heard of higher failures on the right side versus the left?

oldmansan

Because the passenger-side Corvette rotor's cooling vanes are not directionally correct. The driver's side is correct, the passenger side is the same rotor, therefore it's vanes are backwards. GM does that to save pennies.

Your issue could very well be brake related. I'd look into brake ducting and directionally correct rotors (or a BBK). Quantum makes a good brake duct kit but I'd advise you don't buy their tubing. Use SCAT tubing as it's much stronger and better quality.

San

NC94Vette

Thanks for the tips. I have used both drilled OEM rotors as well as slotted DBA rotors (which are left/right only). I had a Quantum kit on my previous Corvette and do need to get the spindle brake ducting installed on this one.

Certainly heat plays a role, but I think that this rim must have had some trauma that weakened those two spokes. Because I don't think heat alone would cause the cracks.

I did have one bump on that rim that I remember, but it seemed pretty slight. Maybe it did some internal structural damage that eventually caused the spokes to "pop" (crack) with heat and use?

oldmansan

Obviously I can't point to anything specific that caused your issue, I'm just trying to point out some possibilities.

San

Bill Dearborn

All true but it was a forged part that cracked. That was the point of my post.

Bill

oldmansan

Bill, I don't know that the Classic center isn't forged, but there's nothing on CCW's site to tell me it is. With their forged wheels they clearly state one-piece forged.

I would be interested to hear what everyone thinks might have led to the OP's wheel failure.

San