Why you should check your wheels religiously

[Boss302RI]

This is what I found when I did my post-event wheel cleaning and inspection. This had to have happened while on the track at Palmer but I never noticed it until this weekend. I didn't go off track or even hit anything that I can recall, but you can see the spoke is cracked all the way through.

Enkei is replacing it for free as they have a lifetime warranty.

 

[Grant 302]

Always a good idea. There have been a few Enkei PF01s in 18x9.5 (IIRC) to fail this way for some of our members.

 

[Boss302RI]

that's exactly the one

 

[Grant 302]

Must be a QC problem in a batch of those. After I heard of the first two, I wouldn't buy that size.

Your picture looks like a casting problem called 'cold shut' or lack of fusion in two merging metal streams. That little curve at the top/out face side is tell-tale.

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

Yes the 18x9.5 PF01s seem to have this issue somewhat "regularly". I have not seen any issues with the 18x10.5s; guessing due to the additional barrel width and/or additional material at the mounting flange.

If you have the 9.5s, keep a close eye on them!

 

[ArizonaBOSS]

BTW @Boss302RI -- can you share the contact info for the Enkei person you talked to? I don't have any cracked wheels but I do have a handful of BENT ones from hitting curbing or potholes on-track...not sure if they would warranty that but it's worth a shot.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Yes there have been several 18x9.5" Enkei PF01's that have cracked in the same position. Fortunately they crack and don't have catastrophic failure. Regardless I would not buy any new ones. Apex will be a better option for sure. If you have these wheels I wouldn't worry too much about it just check them often.

 

[gripdriver]

Ughh, i hope my crappy cast wheels last a little while longer

 

[Swiss Boss]

It looks like wheels are a consumable if you're racing.

 

[Grant 302]

Consumable or not, I wouldn't want this type of failure mode on my cars.

 

[Boss302RI]

Sorry for the later response to ArizonaBoss - I didn't speak with anyone at Enkei. I worked with Summit Racing customer service and they replaced it right away after reading the warranty. I'm sure they connected with Enkei directly.

 

[302BOB]

Boss stock wheels work for me...but what do I know?..........Don't answer that!....

 

[TMSBOSS]

I know they are 10 lbs too heavy as well as too narrow.

 

[Black Boss]

+1, but I had Enkei's fail too...

 

[TMSBOSS]

I bent one on the way back from the alignment shop. We grow large pot holes in Illinois. "Flat Spotted" a wheel. I check brakes and wheel after each track day. Cant be too careful.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Funny but has anyone heard of a cracked SVE drift?? For such a cheap wheel, they seem to hold up well. The OEM wheels are just to heavy.

 

[Black Boss]

FWIW My distributor/seller was the hero. Enkei would not replace the wheel until the original was returned and they inspected it, in spite of photos. The seller shipped a replacement pending Enkei's reimbursement to them.

Following that, I went with CCW. Not cheap but very strong and relatively light.

 

[blacksheep-1]

At least they are forged, a cast one wouldn't be there anymore.