Hi guys, dhv from eons past. I don't drive the dodge much, just errands around town, home depot, etc with light loads, no towing. So, many months ago I dropped the tire pressure to a more comfortable 30 psi and all seemed well. I intended to haul some wood today so I was airing the tires up and the left front had a massive leak. Above 40 psi it was gushing air from behind the shiny chrome face of the wheel. As the psi dropped to 30 it quit hissing and sort of stabilized. I removed the wheel to see what in the world was wrong and found the wheel cracked about 1/4 of the way around, at the welded seam where the shiny chrome wheel face is welded to the rest of the wheel. I'm glad I didn't pile on a load of wood and take off down the road....

I've seen alloy wheels break, but never a steel rim do this. Has anyone?

this is the right front, but you get the idea.
back side of wheel
inside of wheel
more inside of wheel

 

Holy crap! That's a first for me.... I have seen them cracked from taking damage, but, it was also readily apparent that the wheel HAD hit something HARD........ Definitely time for a replacement there. I wouldn't trust re-welding it.

 

no, no interest in repair. I got a replacement from the junkyard for $35.

 

Good plan. Gonna check the rest of your wheels?

Nice to "see" you again as well.

 

Never seen something like that before. Wonder if that may have been a poorly made wheel from the factory??

 

crazy, good catch! was the crack visible on the face of the wheel too or only from the back? You should definitely air up the rest of your tires to 50psi to check for leaks.

 

And stand back when you do.....

 

I know that this is an old thread but did you consider contacting NHSTA?