stock 350z wheel snaps clean off !!!

[russyb]

look like GT4 alloys, wow glad I have forged rays

 

Edited May 18, 2016 by russyb

[modo]

Wow watch out guys

[Jetpilot]

More to do with aftermarket chrome plating process I would imagine.

[veilside z]

Not good

[dando]

holy moly. chrome isn't something i'd do to the wheels myself but it seems most people blame it for weakening them. Never would have thought such a cosmetic process would do that

[russyb]

Do gt4 alloys actually come chrome plated or is this aftermarket?

[Stutopia]

Not seen any chrome ones on here, factory or aftermarket.

[GMballistic]

Isn't this a GT4 alloy specific problem?

 

I'm sure I've read somewhere that you should never get the GT4 alloys powder coated as that can lead to the same problem. E.g. Alloys sheering off.

Possibly down to the high temperatures involved with the process of powder coating.

[ZEUS]

Chroming them is more of an American thing.

[Jay Kay]

I've said this on numerous threads, the GT4 wheel fall to pieces after having heat related treatments performed on them. And each time people continue to pop up to say how theirs have been done and haven't broken (yet) so its not true. I guess once this starts killing people in crashes, owners may decide to listen.

[Ybbew]

Yeah i very much imagine chroming them will seriosly weaken the whole wheel

[GMballistic]

I've said this on numerous threads, the GT4 wheel fall to pieces after having heat related treatments performed on them. And each time people continue to pop up to say how theirs have been done and haven't broken (yet) so its not true. I guess once this starts killing people in crashes, owners may decide to listen.

 

I believe you.

 

From what I've read it's to do with the heat treatment process which because of the high temperature involved with powder coating it effects the aluminium alloy and makes it more brittle & prone to cracking.

[Jay Kay]

Thanks GM

 

I don't know much about metals so don't understand why the GT4 wheel is so affected but considering the ratio of GT4 to standard wheel that are out there, this is happening an awful lot. I'd be surprised if there are any GT4 wheels left in a year or two

[Ybbew]

Thanks GM

 

I don't know much about metals so don't understand why the GT4 wheel is so affected but considering the ratio of GT4 to standard wheel that are out there, this is happening an awful lot. I'd be surprised if there are any GT4 wheels left in a year or two

 

i Wonder if it has something to do with how they are concaved?

[Jay Kay]

Possibly. Those spokes did look a little spindly didn't they

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

 

[Ybbew]

yeah they dont really look the strongest even before heat is added! Would be interesting to put them to the test against some rays...

[MasonGT4]

Thank god I don't have a GT4, oh...wait lol

[Ebized]

Check out this pinned thread:

 

http://www.350z-uk.c...roming-warning/

 

In particular see link in post 10 - but also Zmanalex points out in that thread if the powder coating (heat process) is done correctly, and noting he has used PC GT4 rims on track, then rim failures can be avoided.

 

Sadly it seems that all too often the work has been done by those not skilled enough to know what they are doing......

[JetSet]

Chrome plating involves some very toxic and corrosive material, Hydrochloric Acid and the much dreaded Hydrogen Flouride amongst other things. When I had my scooter I had several bits chrome plated by a company in Stockport and from memory the process of dipping them into a warm electrolytic bath took several days. Should only be done on non weight bearing material IMHO.

 

Pete

[Jetpilot]

Check out this pinned thread:

 

http://www.350z-uk.c...roming-warning/

 

In particular see link in post 10 - but also Zmanalex points out in that thread if the powder coating (heat process) is done correctly, and noting he has used PC GT4 rims on track, then rim failures can be avoided.

 

Sadly it seems that all too often the work has been done by those not skilled enough to know what they are doing......

 

Exactly, probably 1000's and 1000's of gt4 alloys out there that have been powdercoated (most likely powdercoated as oem) in perfect condition, nothing like a bit of internet hysteria to get fingers typing.

 

I agree with Jetset though, chroming is a harsh process due to the varying acids.

Edited May 19, 2016 by Jetpilot