"Performance" rims

[Catmatt]

Heya,

Just a note to let you know of a particular brand of after-market rim.

I am fortunate to have a second set of alloy "Performance" brand Aussie made 8 spoke rims for my 2010 D4. I use these rims for off-road use as they give me a better range of tyre size and I've got Cooper Discoverer LT 245/70 R17's on them and am happy enough with the off-road capability.

Main point is that after a weekend of fairly mild 4WDing, I was giving the D4 a clean and noticed a cracked spoke on a front rim.

Got the tyre removed and was very surprised to see the crack was completely 360 degrees through the spoke (It was an easy drive over the weekend).

1st option was to ring the manufacturer and price up a new rim rather than have it welded but my second surprise. After decades in business supplying performance rims to all makes and models - Performance rims have gone out of business and have shut their doors. Bloody shame to see another Aussie business go under!

I have since had the rim welded up without any drama. Seems that once it cracked, it stress relieved so should be good for future use as a spare.

[Tombie]

Was a problem with some of them - you're not alone with having had some crack.

[Graeme]

Check the other rims - from the inside.

[NomadicD3]

Hey Cattmatt,
Look alot like this mate? There's been alot of people who have cracked every version of the BB6 wheels. Personally I've cracked 5, four of the previous version and one of the latest/last version. If you ever require a new one perhaps give TerryO a call, I have a suscipion he may be have an extra one or two laying around LOL.
I am interested in how you had it welded up?? The wheels are a forged cast correct?? Was it TIG? MIG ?? Other??? I've always thought welding cast to be difficult at the best of times....
regardless I hope it works for you.
Brian

[Catmatt]

Hey Cattmatt,
Look alot like this mate? There's been alot of people who have cracked every version of the BB6 wheels. Personally I've cracked 5, four of the previous version and one of the latest/last version. If you ever require a new one perhaps give TerryO a call, I have a suscipion he may be have an extra one or two laying around LOL.
I am interested in how you had it welded up?? The wheels are a forged cast correct?? Was it TIG? MIG ?? Other??? I've always thought welding cast to be difficult at the best of times....
regardless I hope it works for you.
Brian

Gidday Brian,

It was a difficult weld and we had to heat the wheel to over 150C. Even then we were left with some small pitting and 'blow-holes' using a TIG but overall I'm pleased with the results and strength of the weld. (And yes, I do believe they are forge cast)

I've since spent a lot of time polishing the weld smooth and have painted it with base and top-coat. It looks like new!

My welder mate only charged me $180 plus a 6 pack of Coronas so we are both happy with the final result.

Cheers mate!

[jon3950]

I think you'll find Performance wheels are all cast, not forged. Forging is a different process and uses a different alloy which results in a stronger and more ductile wheel. Increased ductility is good as it reduces the chances of brittle fractures like the ones you are experiencing. They are also more expensive.


Cheers,
Jon

[Tombie]

Compomotive wheels are cast, then heat treated.
http://www.compomotive.at/pdf/MAKING_COMPOMOTIVE_WHEELS.pdf

[Graeme]

It was a difficult weld and we had to heat the wheel to over 150C. Even then we were left with some small pitting and 'blow-holes' using a TIG but overall I'm pleased with the results and strength of the weld. Have you considered having the repair X-rayed?

[Fatso]

Could these these cracks be coursed from a bad cast , they are rated at about 1400kg strength . I have had my new type 17 inch rims that take the OER wheel nuts and tensioned to RRS specs since 2013 and have not had a problem YET !! , do not do any real rough off road rock climbing stuff , just normal on & off road driving


The fact that they all seem to crack on a spoke near the centre maybe a sign of a bad design or just cant handle any rough stuff .


Anyone have any theories .

[jon3950]

Thanks Tombie, I stand corrected. Always thought they were forged. Edited post to reflect reality.

Cheers,
Jon

[Tombie]

I was a little surprised as well, but they hold up well - haven't heard of a failure to date.

Their process would be rock solid...

[Fatso]

On inspecting my BB6 17"rims fitted with I could not find any faults .
I have some theory why alloy wheels can fail but can not come to any sensible conclusion with these wheels crack if everything is done right .


So I ask the question has any one with the new design type of Performace BB6 17" wheel using the Oem wheel nuts NOT had a problem , I see there are over 600 lookees here so just trying to get some idea of the size of the problem if any .

[TerryO]

For no good reason I actually have over four sets of these rims, my first set was the original thin spoke version. I cracked one of these rims after one of many reasonably hard days out 4wdriving, they were secondhand when I brought them and they had been well used both on and off road.

My second set of BB6's was the last version ever made, these ones were version 3, which is the version that was redesigned to use the standard OEM wheel nuts and had the much thicker spokes like the version 2 model. This set of rims has been bashed, beaten and bounced off of rocks, trees etc many many times without a problem apart from a few scuffs and gouges out of them.

I have read that a few of the version 3 ones have cracked even reportedly with limited off roading while, as I have said, mine that have taken a serious beating have not had any problems.

By the way the version 3 set have only ever had 265/70 BF Goodrich KM2's fitted that have quite a tall and reasonably flexible side wall.

I would be interested to find out what size tyres those who have had BB6 rims crack have had fitted at the time?

[jonesy63]

Not that tyre fitters ever get it wrong (cough, cough), but maybe the ones that failed were over-torqued? :wasntme: