Tony Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Owner of a late Alfa hit an unremarkable pothole and the wheel broke in half... In my 500 hundred years in the trade i've never seen or heard of a wheel breaking in half. In true wim fashion, first time ever here is the evidence. What's concerning is the initial injury is not that severe so this suggests a build issue ...... By the way the replacement wheel cost £600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Er, hello this is really bad..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHAHZ Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 how fast was he going at the time?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Blimey, that is more than shocking!! Maybe it was just a weak wheel and a one off if you've never come across this before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 You can see in the first image that the impact was unremarkable, so why did the wheel snap like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 You can see in the first image that the impact was unremarkable, so why did the wheel snap like this? Could the alloy have been too thin on this particular wheel? Maybe it's suppose to be 2 parts and they just glued the front of it on!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMARTLY Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Does seem a bit strange. Tony, are you sure Candid Camera don't visit you on a regular basis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 There's something really weird going on here or I'd be demanding a free replacement from Alfa - I'm sorry but there's no way that that is acceptable.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaumeister Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 And I thought I was unlucky to suffer a flat spotted wheel from a pot hole, and the new wheel is only £150 (although I'm still waiting for Ford to stock the wheel after 2 weeks). If it was me I would have took it back to Alfa and said this damn thing could have killed me, and demanded some compensation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 You can see in the first image that the impact was unremarkable, so why did the wheel snap like this? It could have been a weld as it looks as if the the front end is cast and the back end is rolled. Would have caused a stress raiser or even weakened the material at the fusion and/or heat affected zone, so the impact initiated the brittle fracture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-O Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 You can see in the first image that the impact was unremarkable, so why did the wheel snap like this? It could have been a weld as it looks as if the the front end is cast and the back end is rolled. Would have caused a stress raiser or even weakened the material at the fusion and/or heat affected zone, so the impact initiated the brittle fracture. Errrrr i don't think i would be buying a replacement one of those. Straight to Aftermarket methinks !!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagitar Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 You can see in the first image that the impact was unremarkable, so why did the wheel snap like this? It could have been a weld as it looks as if the the front end is cast and the back end is rolled. Would have caused a stress raiser or even weakened the material at the fusion and/or heat affected zone, so the impact initiated the brittle fracture. It's shocking, but not really surprising that it broke where it did. The whole wheel is a short cantilevered tubular beam. The fixed end is well supported and quite stiff. The free end is entirely unbraced and is being flexed continually about the fixed end by the weight of the vehicle. So, a short tubular cantilever with the load reversed once for every revolution of the wheel. For a wheel about 2 feet diameter that's one reversal for about every 2 yards travelled or about 900 reversals per mile. Give it 10,000 miles and that's 9 million reversals. If there is insufficient material at the point where the tube joins the fixed part of the wheel, or if there is an inadequate radius at that point or some poor machining that creates stress raisers, then there is a terrific case for induced fatigue failure, possibly with some embrittlement and the propogation of fine cracks. Now throw in a few shock loads and the last one is the straw that breaks the camel's back. I think I would want to do some crack detection on the other wheels before I drove on them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIH Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 it was an ugly wheel anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHAHZ Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 it was an ugly wheel anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 it was an ugly wheel anyway :lol: Have to agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parthiban Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Really? I love those telephone dial wheels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagitar Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 They would look good on a horse-box . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Surgical explanation as usual Sagitar........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.