Gransport Cracked Alloy - what to do with it?

[PaulZR]

Evening all

After three incident free months of Gransport ownership, I went out to the car a few weeks ago to find a badly deflated front tire. A check by the garage confirmed a crack in the inner rim, something I now understand to be depressingly common on these Trofeo alloys.

After some debate I elected to buy a fresh wheel from Maserati, which finally arrived a month later. This means two things:
1) I can't afford a holiday next year; and
2) I have a cracked but cosmetically fine Grigio Mercury Trofeo Alloy wheel in a box.

While I could stick it on eBay and see if anyone bites, I'm tempted to put it to good use and see if it can be repaired effectively by someone like this.

There are obviously conflicting opinions on whether repaired alloys are safe to use and so, in the interests of research, I'd be happy to have this wheel tested (to destruction if necessary) to see if repaired alloys can be relied upon. Short of attaching it to a car however, I'm not sure if this is possible.

So, I'd welcome thoughts from you all on what the best use of this wheel would be. P.s have already checked with the o/h and turning it into a coffee table is a non-starter...

 

[beau]

iv had loads of wheels repaired and no problems, cost £30 usually.

 

[Parisien]

....good to know Beau...shame they fail so readily........hoping this re-assures you Paul.....and tahnk for joining our esteemed and hallowed Maserati forum!!!!!!!!


P

 

[beau]

if its a cheap wheel (poor quality) it will just crack again next to where you weld it, but if its a good quality metal, then it will be as strong as the rest of the wheel.

 

[adam01]

Repair & Consider using it as a spare particulary if its the front as it will fit back as well

 

[SimonM]

I've actually had to replace 2 wheels on my GS due to cracks - both of which I had welded 2 or 3 time prior to biting the bullet... I was fortunate that one of the repairs lasted more than a year, the others 3-6 month each. Whilst the repairs were good, unfortumately the crack simply starts agian either side of the weld after a few thousand pot holed miles (which do my damnedest to avoid). it really is a "matter of time". i never considered i'd have to replace the wheels, so kept hoping the next repair would be the last.... In the end, walking out and checking. and inflating a 1.5 bar tyr every other week got too much... likewise it wasn't an issue of safety pers se, but a repeated crack / weld can make something equivalent of flat spot on the wheel that creates a vibratrion at higher speeds starts to ruin the fun.... if it happened to me again i think i'd weld once, and use the time to get my head around the cost of a new one!. I'm going to make my wheel/tyre into a clock at some point, but i haven't had the time (no irony intended!)

 

[bigbob]

Any car on low profile tyres can trash it's wheels through pot holes etc. If the tyre is also a run flat then buckling the alloy is very easy - speak to BMW owners.

I ripped the inside edge on my NSF tyre recently and was lucky enough not to have damaged the alloy. The tyre was flat, mind, in five minutes.

On my 4200 I twice got 'eggs' on the NSF tyre. Utimately, though, the wheel will have had enough and the NSF is the one to watch.

 

[Parisien]

Expensive and annoying solutions to tyre/wheel problems....bit of an achilles heel getting as the cars age....


P

 

[CatmanV2]

I bent a pair of wheels on the Alfa GT in separate pothole incidents. It was touch and go as to buying new (second hand) wheels, or a set of something different as the 3.2 wheels are 'rare'.

I'm guessing it might be worth investing in an aftermarket set and keeping the real ones for re-sale. Does the 4200 have weak wheels as well

C

 

[S2_DPD]

If you decide to scrap it - how about slicing the front away from the main wheel, sticking a quartz movement in it and mounting it on the wall...sure the o/h would appreciate a new clock for Christmas?

 

[SimonM]

he can't - it was my idea!

 

[S2_DPD]

he can't - it was my idea!

sorry missed that, Frisbee then?

 

[AerosGS]

I've actually had to replace 2 wheels on my GS due to cracks - both of which I had welded 2 or 3 time prior to biting the bullet... I was fortunate that one of the repairs lasted more than a year, the others 3-6 month each. Whilst the repairs were good, unfortumately the crack simply starts agian either side of the weld after a few thousand pot holed miles (which do my damnedest to avoid). it really is a "matter of time". i never considered i'd have to replace the wheels, so kept hoping the next repair would be the last.... In the end, walking out and checking. and inflating a 1.5 bar tyr every other week got too much... likewise it wasn't an issue of safety pers se, but a repeated crack / weld can make something equivalent of flat spot on the wheel that creates a vibratrion at higher speeds starts to ruin the fun.... if it happened to me again i think i'd weld once, and use the time to get my head around the cost of a new one!. I'm going to make my wheel/tyre into a clock at some point, but i haven't had the time (no irony intended!)

1.5 Bar? try inflating to full pressure and the tyre may protect the rim...

HTH

Cheers

 

[mjheathcote]

I bent a pair of wheels on the Alfa GT in separate pothole incidents. It was touch and go as to buying new (second hand) wheels, or a set of something different as the 3.2 wheels are 'rare'.

I'm guessing it might be worth investing in an aftermarket set and keeping the real ones for re-sale. Does the 4200 have weak wheels as well

C

You don't hear of any standard 18" 4200 wheels having many problems....it's that extra inch that makes the difference, not enough rubber between rim and road in this country with our roads, wearing 19" GS wheels.

I actually insisted that on my BMW they fit SE 17" wheels instead of the factory fit MSport 18" wheels. The run flats on the back became £125 instead of £250 each, the ride is better, no split/cracked rims etc....

 

[PaulZR]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. Given that the crack is on the inside of the rim and the wheel itself is immaculate, I think I'll probably send it off to be repaired in the New Year.

In the meantime, I'll be negotiating the rutted, disgracefully potholed streets of Leeds as though my wheels are made of porcelain...

 

[Parisien]

...they are made of porcelain........


P

 

[PaulZR]

Buying a set of non-standard replacements is another option, as I can imagine that a set of forged 18"s would prove more durable, but I hate the idea of messing with the standard look.