Bent Factory Rims

[KRoaden]

I thought my truck had some vibes in it at higher speeds so I decided to take it in to get the wheels rotated and balanced. To my surprise they Tech. took me back and showed me that the rim was bad out of round. He then checked out the other and 3 out of the 4 were bent out of round . I bought the truck used and it did have a goose neck ball in the bed, so I'm slowly finding the problems, but this is one is going to be costly!!! Anyone else had this problem or any insight???? Thanks

 

[The patriot]

Mine were too, and I'm the original owner! I never offroaded, or ran up any curbs, but it sure looks like I did!!

Tire place had a tough time balancing my tires too.

Eric

 

[KRoaden]

Rims

Patriot,

Minw are so bad that they all three need to be replaced! You'd think that steel wheels would hold up even under these conditions!!

 

[Cooker]

Unfortunately, this is just another common problem associated with our trucks.

 

[Rammin On]

Uh huh ... me too 3 out of 4 out of round ... one so bad I should've bought stock in the wheel weight company ... musta had over 6 oz of lead on one ... made due til I got new Weld's put on ...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The SLT wheels are made in a funny way. The chromed spider includes the outer edge of the tire bead area. Hence, the entire rim or hoop is unsupported by the center. Usually, the center is more or less in the middle of the hoop and supports it better. Yes they are rated something like 3200 lb, but I wonder if this fabrication method makes them more prone to problems. I had 6 good ones that I got by searching through about a dozen--just sold them and bought Alcoa forged 16x7 aluminum wheels. You might look into the Alcoas, rated 3415 lb, at only about $110 each from www.southwestwheel.com plus extra for lug nuts and center caps if you want them. It looked to me like the stock Dodge caps wouldn't fit those wheels, but the stock lug nuts would fit, as the Alcoas have 60 degree coned seats.

Hope this helps.

 

[E-9]

Bent Rims

I am having the same problem. To my knowledge, I have not hit or run over anything to bend the wheels. I am replacing them with the Alcoa Classic. I have 91,000 miles on the truck.

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I had two bad ones right from the dealer when I picked the truck up new. One wheel called for 8 ounces, and the other one was so bad that the machine wouldn't balance it.



Dan

 

[illflem]

I'm trying to remember if it's the wheels or brake drums, but DC's excuse with one or the other was that the manufacturer stacked the them on edge while still hot rather than flat causing the warp.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Believe that was the brake drum excuse.

 

[E-9]

Bent Wheels

I have ordered the Alcoa wheels and centers. Will the chrome lug nut covers fit the satock lug nuts? I did not think about this while ordering. If they will work, I will order the nut covers also.

 

[Matt42]

Not just a Dodge problem

We had the same problem with all the original wheels, and half the second set on a 1993 Chevy K-30 dual. Part of the problem is the Gov't telling Detroit to improve fuel economy. They do it, in part, by cutting weight. So a six gauge wheel gets phased out and replaced with an eight gauge wheel. And eight gauge is not thick enough, steel or not. Running over ants seems to bend them.



If the only indication is that an electronic balancer won't balance a tire, it may be due to garbage tires. (Don't misunderstand--bent wheels are COMMON!) If the tire shop won't "index" the tire for you before they blame the wheel, you need a new tire shop. To "index" a tire that won't balance, or wants a huge weight, the installer deflates the tire, breaks the bead seat, and rotates the tire 180 degrees on the wheel. That will often solve the problem caused by the heavy part of a tire lining up with the heavy part of the wheel.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

With the Alcoa wheels, the stock lug nuts will fit but they won't hold the plastic chromed caps from Alcoa. The caps thread onto their lug nuts which are threaded instead of smooth on the outside. Use a 6 point 22mm socket on their lugs. The stock center caps don't look like they will work either. Get the Alcoa centers. McGard makes a locking lug nut #24014 that looks (in the catalog) correct, but I couldn't find them. I got Gorilla locks and sanded down the chrome somewhat on the 60 deg. seats. Alcoa says not to use chromed lug nuts.