Wheels: Testing and Inspection

WHEEL INSPECTION

Inspect wheels for:

- Excessive runout
- Dents, cracks or irregular bends
- Damaged wheel stud (lug) holes
- Air Leaks

NOTE: Do not attempt to repair a wheel by hammering, heating or welding.

If a wheel is damaged, an original equipment replacement wheel should be used. When obtaining replacement wheels, they must be equivalent in load carrying capacity. The diameter, width, offset, pilot hole and bolt circle of the wheel should be the same as the original wheel.


WARNING: Failure to use equivalent replacement wheels may adversely affect the safety and handling of the vehicle.

WARNING: Replacement with used wheels is not recommended. The service history of the wheel may have included severe treatment or very high mileage. The rim could fail without warning.

WARNING: DaimlerChrysler Corporation does not recommend that customers use "reconditioned" wheels (wheels that have been damaged and repaired) because they can result in a sudden catastrophic wheel failure which could cause loss of control and result in injury or death. For clarification:

- Cosmetic refinishing for the purpose of repairing a superficial flaw is an acceptable procedure providing it is limited to paint or clear coat only, the wheel is not modified in any way, and there is no exposure to paint curing heat over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Damaged wheels are those which have been bent, broken, cracked or sustained some other physical damage which may have compromised the wheel structure.
- Repaired indicates that the wheel has been modified through bending, welding, heating, straightening, or material removal to rectify damage.
- Re-plating of chrome plated wheels is not an acceptable procedure nor is chrome plating of original equipment painted or polished wheels, as this may alter mechanical properties and affect fatigue life.