Cracked OEM wheels

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GrmpyOlFrt

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Any idea what would cause this?
This was the worst one. Two more wheels had cracks starting. Used on a 2012 Laramie Longhorn 2500 diesel. I was very blessed to have pulled off the freeway with a wobble that was rapidly gaining in intensity to find this. I was pulling my 5th wheel RV. 35ft with GVW of 14,329. I liked the wheels and they were easy to keep clean, but don't want to replace with similar if it would happen again.
 

Moose2

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Nature of the beast on a cast wheel. Pretty good reason why commercial trucks have this as part of pre trip inspection.
 

fireflymedic

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If it was only one rim I would have said hitting a curb. But 3. Do you have really bad pot holes?
 

Brian2081

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WOW !!!!!!, 3 rims did that ?. Seeing how you are in West Michigan, the roads over there are pristine compared to the roads over here in Metro Detroit.
You say you haul a 5th, with a GVWR of 14,3, I would look into what those rims max weight are rated at.
 

Docwagon1776

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Understand I'm asking, not telling, but would severely over-torqued lug nuts contribute to that?
 
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GrmpyOlFrt

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Thanks for the replies. I don't think it is potholes since three wheels were affected and I think I would have remembered THAT pothole. As far as "nature of the beast", Both the tire company I use and the service and repair facility indicated that they had not seen this often if ever and didn't know what would have caused it. My pickup has over 280K miles and these are factory wheels so maybe age caused it. My best guess is that my 5th wheel is a bit heavy for them, except then why would front wheels be affected? Also, as to the over-torqued lug nuts; I think it is a slight possibility, but most of the time I use a reputable tire company and they always are careful with that.
 

EdGs

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Sorry you have to purchase replacements, but glad you discovered it.

That could've gotten ugly in a hurry, and would've happened at the worst possible time and place.

I don't beleive you would'be been too much further down the road before that one you showed let go.

A blessing to catch it, for sure.
 

Moose2

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Thanks for the replies. I don't think it is potholes since three wheels were affected and I think I would have remembered THAT pothole. As far as "nature of the beast", Both the tire company I use and the service and repair facility indicated that they had not seen this often if ever and didn't know what would have caused it. My pickup has over 280K miles and these are factory wheels so maybe age caused it. My best guess is that my 5th wheel is a bit heavy for them, except then why would front wheels be affected? Also, as to the over-torqued lug nuts; I think it is a slight possibility, but most of the time I use a reputable tire company and they always are careful with that.
Weight is definately a factor. It’s not just the static weight, but dynamic as well. That weight moving hitting potholes and bumps is multiplied many times. I forget the exact terminology but bridges today are built to accommodate the bounce loads......Also fronts will get this same weight bounce quite frequently and they are also taking steering related forces in addition.. That 2500 is probably over GVWR with that camper as well. Nature of the beast remark was my observation of my own experiences over the years. A simple force analysis of the loaded wheels would probably open our eyes very wide. Again, think CDL driver, we check for cracked wheels on every Pretrip, posttrip, inspection. I am sure that you will be checking quite often, here on out.
 
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Moose2

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Forgive me for my rambling ways, the coffee hasn’t hit my brain yet!
 

Dean2

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That cracking is a combination of packing heavy weight and lots of miles. That particular batch of alloy may have been a little brittle too, but 280,000 miles pulling a lot of weight puts a ton of stress on those rims. Given how long they stood up to that I would probalby just replace them with the same thing if you can find a good deal on a used set. I know I checked on the Mopar cost of a replacment 18" rim for my 2500, they said $985 per rim. I laughed so hard I near peed myself. Found a set of 4 on Kijiji in pristine shape for $1,100.
 

Moose2

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That cracking is a combination of packing heavy weight and lots of miles. That particular batch of alloy may have been a little brittle too, but 280,000 miles pulling a lot of weight puts a ton of stress on those rims. Given how long they stood up to that I would probalby just replace them with the same thing if you can find a good deal on a used set. I know I checked on the Mopar cost of a replacment 18" rim for my 2500, they said $985 per rim. I laughed so hard I near peed myself. Found a set of 4 on Kijiji in pristine shape for $1,100.
And you make a very good point. Every single part has a cycle life. Those wheels have hit it.
 

Nicholas Cove

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Have you had it in for anything that required the wheels to come off? I bet somebody went to town with a sledge trying to get them off stuck rotors.
 

dputnam01

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With 280k miles and frequent towing.... maybe fatigue of the cast aluminum?
 
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