Check your wheels

[jlucas]

If it's not already, make it part of your track prep routine to check your wheels!

***edited***

Between this, the oil temps (292 in 5 laps), and breaking the stock seat... it's going to be expensive to get ready for TracQuest over Memorial Day.

Edit: Actually the wheel didn't end up costing me a thing. Just got off the phone with John. (7:00pm and he's still taking calls) I can't say enough good things about John and his service. I have a new center on the way, courtesy of CCW!! See his post below! BTW, he could tell from the pictures that my used T1 wheels (new to me) were actually quite old based on a design change that was made many years back not to mentioned they've been raced on for years; he stands behind them, no matter what. Kudos to John & CCW!

[pat03z06]

WOW that's crazy.

[DJWorm]

Looks like the center hub was powder coated black.

A real NO-NO.

[speedpup]

any damage on the rim like if it was near the spokes? Only one wheel? Thanks I have the same wheels.

[jub jub]

Thanks for the heads-up! Never seen nothing like that before on CCW's.

[injuner]

yikes, that is scary.. Glad to hear that you found it before you went out on track!

[blkZ06]

I have the same wheels

good idea to check them, good thread

[Rob1Vet]

Boy..... that could start some trouble






Rob

[undertaker]

just a lil confused here......my ccw drag pack (albeit not the track wheels) has pretty bling bling arp 12 point fasteners......those just look like regular grade 8 hex bolts and locknuts.....just looked a lil out of place besides the obvious cracking..

[No Doubt]

That isn't powder coating, it's anodizing.

It's my understanding CCW will no longer powdercoat wheels upon request, and hasn't for some time.

Those are the track wheels, not the street wheels. The center hub is different (no groove for a cap) as are the fasteners, as mentioned.

[meldog21]

Holy Snieckies Batman, that could have been bad.

[DJWorm]

I realize that CCW anodizes their center hubs on request and that THOSE wheels are race wheels. I have them too.

However, it appears that the cracked wheels pictured above, appear to me, to have been powder coated (probably by other than CCW) and are not the CCW anodized ones.

[jlucas]

How can you tell powder coated vs anodized? I bought them used so there's no way for me to know for sure. Sure seems like anodized to me but I don't have much experience there.

[No Doubt]

Powder coating is a paint process whereby a plastic powder is applied to the wheel electrostatically and then baked in an oven where it becomes a solid. It usually has a richer more paint like appearance but is more scratch resistant than normal paint. It is available in virtually any color.

Anodizing aluminum is a chemical process where the wheel in this case, or part thereof, is immersed in an acid etch and an aluminum oxide layer is formed. The Anodizing process can use a dye which can result in many different colors.

Powder coating is thicker than anodizing. Anodizing is typically between .0002 -.002 of an inch, whereas powder coating is typically .010 of an inch or more.

The problem with powder coated wheels is the fact heat is used to melt the plastic like powder causing it to adhere to the surface. This heat, often 400 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the powder coating used, can result in a reduction in tensile strength due to a rearrangement of the aluminums microstructure. Hence the wheel becomes more brittle and prone to cracking.

[jlucas]

Based on that and looking at them in person, I'd say they are anodzied.