Crab wheels, cast or forged

[marc]

I'm curious, are the crab wheels pressure cast or forged?

[contraption22]

Cast.

[Dr. Johny Dodge]

what makes you say cast ?

most alloy o-e wheels are forged which is what makes them heavy

[marc]

Generally forged wheels have the advantage of being lighter and stronger. Most cars the wheels are cast but a lot of performance cars have forged wheels.

[contraption22]

what makes you say cast ?

most alloy o-e wheels are forged which is what makes them heavy

I would disagree. Most OE Aluminum wheels are cast.

Actually forged wheels are generally lighter than cast, because the forging process can make a stronger wheel with less mass. Forged are also much more expensive to produce. The casting process is much cheaper, so they load up on mass for strength. That's why OE wheels are so heavy.

[masterjr33]

Most OE Aluminum wheels are cast.

Actually forged wheels are generally lighter than cast, because the forging process can make a stronger wheel with less mass. Forged are also much more expensive to produce. The casting process is much cheaper, so they load up on mass for strength. That's why OE wheels are so heavy.

this... forged lighter than cast.. but cost more.

[Rrider]

I understood the same, 99% OE from all brands are cast. Of the few forged ones the only 5x100 I have heard about is the 04ish STI BBS ones before they went to 114.3. And its got the wrong offset and fetches way too much $$$. I have to think any manufacturer would stick it in the marketing if they spent the kinda $$$ forged wheels cost. Must have been even more expensive tech back in the 80's-90's!

[mopar-tech]

Just an FYI-

Chrysler had a fiasco on their hands back in 1969-1970 when they offered cast road wheels for the mid-size and small cars as an option. Known as the "recall wheels" they had a problem with cracking and almost all of them were recalled and never offered again. Used sets go for insane amounts of dollars, I have heard of mint sets with matching lug nuts trading hands for $10,000.

This cast such a shadow over Chrysler that all aluminum wheels offered since were forged. I don't know if that is the policy or not now but it was for a great numbers of years.

[marc]

Just an FYI-

Chrysler had a fiasco on their hands back in 1969-1970 when they offered cast road wheels for the mid-size and small cars as an option. Known as the "recall wheels" they had a problem with cracking and almost all of them were recalled and never offered again. Used sets go for insane amounts of dollars, I have heard of mint sets with matching lug nuts trading hands for $10,000.

This cast such a shadow over Chrysler that all aluminum wheels offered since were forged. I don't know if that is the policy or not now but it was for a great numbers of years.

That is a interesting titbit. I Googled that recall and a few Chrysler forum's came up with those wheels. They where made by Kelsey Hayes. And like you said they sell them for crazy money. I don't care how much of a Mopar purest aficionado you are, why would someone put a 47 year old wheel on their pride and joy thats known to fail?

Anyhow it's easy to tell if your crankshaft is cast or forged but it there a way to tell if a aluminium wheel is cast or forged? In the 80's Porsche 944 had cast wheels as standard equipment and forged wheels as a option.

[mopar-tech]

I don't care how much of a Mopar purest aficionado you are, why would someone put a 47 year old wheel on their pride and joy thats known to fail?

Show queens see very little stress on the wheels.

[johnl]

If they're forged, then maybe they can be lightened some without too much risk of failure.

The Fiero wheels appear to have cast "lace" centers and forged hoops; the weld bead is seen at the circumference of the lace center, where it joins the hoop

[marc]

Double post

[marc]

Show queens see very little stress on the wheels.

Yes, those cars probably trailer to car meets.

If they're forged, then maybe they can be lightened some without too much risk of failure

I wouldn't feed safe driving with a lighten a wheel.

[contraption22]

Just an FYI-

Chrysler had a fiasco on their hands back in 1969-1970 when they offered cast road wheels for the mid-size and small cars as an option. Known as the "recall wheels" they had a problem with cracking and almost all of them were recalled and never offered again. Used sets go for insane amounts of dollars, I have heard of mint sets with matching lug nuts trading hands for $10,000.

This cast such a shadow over Chrysler that all aluminum wheels offered since were forged. I don't know if that is the policy or not now but it was for a great numbers of years.

i know of that recall, but I have my doubts that the forged wheel policy would have lasted into the FWD era.

[contraption22]

If they're forged, then maybe they can be lightened some without too much risk of failure.

If that were true, when you're done, you'd still have an old narrow wheel that's getting harder and harder to find decent tires for.

[mopar-tech]

i know of that recall, but I have my doubts that the forged wheel policy would have lasted into the FWD era.

I know of at least one racer who has cut apart FWD rims and narrowed and widened them, I suspect they are not cast.

I'll ask the machinist I work with if there is an easy test, sharp guy.

[johnl]

Yes, please do.