Cracked wheel with no impact
 

Anybody else have problems with premature cracked wheel with no impact damage? I've noticed it for awhile on my front right, but didn't think much about it. A friend keeps telling me to have the dealer look into it as it's not normal and can be dangerous. Planning to during the next service. I've got an '09 Sport.

Doing some research, I found BMW had a class action lawsuit relating to a similar issue on their 19 inch alloys. BMW Cracked Rim Investigation

Thanks!

This is the first I have ever heard of such a thing

Have you any idea if the wheels have had any work done?

Can you post pics?


I don't think BMW's issues relate to the Z unless they're made by the same manufacturer and that not likely.

These are the stock sport Rays?

In for pics...:ugh2:

So you're just going to continue to drive on your cracked out rim? Really? :wtf2:

Dude!! I've been driving on it for awhile already. :eek: :shakes head: I know quite a bit about my car, but never looked into the implications of a potentially cracked wheel. No loss of pressure or other factors. Definitely going to get it looked at ASAP.

Will try to post a pic tomorrow.

Yes, they are the stock sport wheels. Never had any work done on them as I bought the car new.

Post a pic!

Which part is cracked? And sport rays or base?

I worked at Discount Tire and during my time there you would not believe the amount of people that come in with cracked rims...I show them, and they dont care. its crazy. Get it fixed asap before you get hurt or hurt someone else.

I've never heard of this, quite surprising really. But yes, please get it checked out ASAP. I'm surprised you're not losing air.

Depends where it's cracked. If a spoke is cracked you won't lose air

:werd:

Hes right, if the area that holds air is not compromised it will not lose air. I.E. spoke... so no not werd

I have the Sport Rays. The crack appears near the base of one of the V's on one of the spokes.

Wow, wierd... It sucks because you're likely out of warranty. Call Nissan corporate if a dealer won't do anything for you, and please don't drive on it

Werd, as in I agree :shakes head:.

Yea, but even if I'm out of warranty, if it's a defect I'll get what I need from them somehow. Been taking her to the same dealer for over 3 years. They know me pretty well by now. Lol

Thanks for the advice. I'll be calling corporate if it comes down to that.

I doubt your dealer will shell out 600-700 for a wheel just to keep you happy

Oh ok got ya..

This may be true, but why wouldn't you try if it turns out to be some sort of manufacturer problem before readily shelling out $700 of your own. Either way, I like them to note these sort of issues and try to hold them accountable when warranted.

this seems very unlikely unless you hit a very big pothole, forged wheels dont break very easily

luckily, here in LA, you can find plenty of used oem rims for sale for a good price.

Does anyone else ever drive your car?

That's why I'm a little confused about the crack. Never hit a huge pothole *knock on wood*. Not sure what may have caused it to crack like this.

Never had to research wheels so good to know there are decent prices to be found. Thanks.

:gtfo2:



Kidding :) Only 2 people have driven my car and I've been with them each time. Someone else's negligence wouldn't be an issue.

Are you the original owner? And what dealership knows you? Aaaaaand you should try eBay for a single wheel

Wheel pic
 

Here's a picture.

Buick gave me two new wheels on my 12 GS. A rock hit them but I convinced them it was a paint flaw. I'd get that warrantied no problem.

Nice! In that respect, the entire 370Z is a paint flaw in my opinion. Paint is too soft.

So, dealer indicated it is just a deep scratch and with these wheels a scratch could appear more aggressive than an actual cracked wheel on another car model. The jagged edges worry me so I may get a second opinion just to be on the safe side. Not completely convinced with their assessment being my car hasn't run into any road debris or other, but at least I have it in writing and a little more peace of mind for now.

Not to soft, it's only 4.1 mil thick that includes the primer, paint, and clear. Jeeps have over 8 mil.

I zoomed in on my ipad. I was going to say its a scratch but wasn't 100% sure.

I wanna say that's a scratch as well - I feel like a crack would have a cleaner fracture?

I agree with the scratch assessment. Looks hand made - like scratched with a nail.

Thanks for the input. Never experienced wheel issues before. Sucks cosmetically, but I save money and time. Can't say I was unhappy about that.

Pull the wheel off and see if the crack shows up on the back side.

Unless you are 100% certain it is NOT a crack, I'd get it checked by someone that knows what they are doing. Having a catastrophic failure at highway speeds doesn't sound pretty.

time to back off on them charburgers and cheeze fries... :ugh:

Its a scratch because cracks are the same size. This thing goes paper thin to thick to thin. Cracks don't blow out missing sections like in the middle. And look up top, you can see where the rock starts to cut into the wheel then really dig in.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps72a1af16.jpg

Interesting. (the original post). The Z4 is my wife's car, so I don't go on Bimmer forums, but when I took her wheels off for powdercoating back in October, the tire shop found two cracks in one of the wheels. I had them repaired, and normally I dislike class action suits, but I did email that law firm on this one.

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/48...0/194/7dex.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/48...0/545/u7xn.jpg

and she never hit anything

Knowing what I know now that's a scary discovery. Everything I've recently read and heard from the dealer techs indicates it'd need to be a pretty significant impact to crack a wheel on your own. In other words, you'd remember it. Hope it works out in your favor if it ends up being a defect.

Nice "stable" btw :tup:

thanks, the mustang is now a frontier though

Back when I used to work at tire shop, most of the wheel problems came from European cars. It's very seldom for them to crack like that, but I have seen plenty of out of balance wheels. It happens to almost all BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Audi and Saab.