2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Factory aluminum wheels peeling

[Duluth Diesel]

My truck has the factory aluminum wheels and came with Michelin 265/75 16 E rated tires. I have already had the dealer warranty two rims due to the clear coat peeling off. The rims have sustained no damage (otherwise the dealer would have denied me). It appears as if a clear, thin brittle coating is separating from the wheel. You can snap off pieces with your fingernail.



Has any one else seen this problem? I have not used any acidic wheel cleaners at all. Also, the peeling occurs at all places on the rim face, not just near the tire weights.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

Mine are ok. Peeling clear coat... that's just weird.

 

[TowPro]

Might be the production run you got was not cleaned correct before the factory applied the clear coat?



I have a 98 VW Jetta with Clear coated Alunimim wheels. 110,000 miles and still fine. (even with many dogs lifting there legs on them)

 

[fmj]

DD, if you get minor rock chips and then road salt gets under coating they will lift. I had one that looked like it was cracked in the aluminium and dealer replaced. They looked at and finally found it was a crack in the clearcoat. Haven't had a problem since, luck?? As long as they will replace let them do it. If you get to a point that they will not replace, Eastwood products has a stripper and clearcoat for wheels so you can do yourself. There are also clear powercoats that can also be applied, and they are really tough to chip. Just a couple of other options. good luck.

 

[Jeff H]

I've got a slight bend in one of mine. Other wise the rest are ok.

 

[CRSmith]

If the dealer stops giving you rims, grab a couple of cans of your favorite strip agent. I like Zip Strip. This will take the clearcoat off. Then you can polish them with alum. polish. Mothers brand is the best I've seen. This problem happened with my old chevy, an seems to happen to all aluminum clearcoat rims given enough time.

 

[JoshPeters]

Thank God for steel wheels... .

 

[Bob Wagner]

once the clearcoat is gone it will be hell trying to keep the wheel looking good.



been there on a different ride

 

[fmj]

I agree with Bob on the fact that once the clearcoat is taken off it a bear to keep a truck rim looking good. Alcoa's are one of the best alumimium wheels on the market, and they are not coated. They look great new, but once they've been road blasted by salt or sand/dirt, you almost have to take them off and sent to polisher. My nephew is fighting this and he lives in the desert where it is dry, but sand blowing across the road dulls them. I have uncoated Halibrand polished wheels on my hot rod and they're polished every week or so. The air leaves a coating on them that if not polished will pit. In fact someone spilled a coke on them and it pitted them before I got home and polished them. These wheels aren't driven like we do our trucks. Stick with the clear coat, or have them clear powercoated. You could have them chrome plated, but chrome plating on alumimum can peel worst then clearcoat if not done right.