1996 - 1998 Cracked Rim question ???

[SneakyPete]

Has anyone had a 96-98 rim crack on them and had to deal with Chrysler to replace it. I have a Chrysler service contracts extended warantee - added care plus wrap around coverage.

Took stock wheels off 2 day ago. Cleaned them up today and noticed that one of the rear rims is cracked pretty bad on the inside. car only has 7,000 miles, with original tires.

1) Are the rims still available NOS?

2) If no NOS, Does DC just give you a credit to purchase different rims or a good shape used rim?


thanks

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Jon B or Chuck Tator could confirm but I think OEM 96 ~ 98 rims are still available. Are yours cast or forged? (is there a weld bead around the inner circumference? If so cast). Cast 1996 early '97 rims did tend to crack where the spokes meet the center hub, usually though only if higher then stock adhesion tires were mounted and the car was tracked.

Note that cast wheels are not as shiny so you're forced to replace cast with cast if you want the finish to match. All 1998's were also forged, but the shine there is even greater.

I would hope D/C would warranty them if they were only used with OEM tires. If not, ???

Good luck.</FONT f>

 

[Gavin]

YEP - had a rim on my 96 GTS replaced in 2000, under warranty.

 

[GTS Dean]

I had 2 fronts replaced under warranty about a year ago. I fully expected to get forged fronts to go with my cast/welded rears, but to my suprise, they were cast/welded replacements. They did have some important detail differences, which I reported in this thread:

96 wheel pics/narrative

 

[SneakyPete]

Dealer said DC is not covering cracked rims under extended warantee. I will see what I can get done.

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Unless you mounted Hoosiers and tracked it, I'd push it big time. Print out a thread or two on the subject and escalate it....</FONT f>

 

[SneakyPete]

This just like the hood cracking problem on Gen 1 cars. Some people get new hoods, some don't. It all depends who you get in contact with.

Car is completely stock with 7,000 miles on it. Opened up a customer car tracking file and will see what happens.

As part of the DC make me happy and be quiet about it resolution to my other major problem, I can call the people in the Orlando zone office if I have questions or problems with service or warantee work and I still have contact at DC legal services also.

I think they will make good on this, but now they make you jump through a few hoops first. Once the DM looks at it next week, I should have a new rim.