[niftie]

What exactly does chrome "clad" mean?
I was hoping to get 20" chromed aluminum rims. Not hub caps!
My Dad just picked up his Chrysler Aspen and it came with 20" chrome clad rims and he's got chrome looking plastic hub caps.
So help me, what are these RT rims really like???

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

niftie, you already have your answer. This has actually already been brought up before, that's the reason I know you already have the answer. Plastic over aluminum.

 

[niftie]

Yeah . . . I have NO idea what you are talking about.
If I already had my answer, I would not be asking.
I searched for chrome clad and didn't find anything.
The RT I saw at the car show did not look like plastic over aluminum that's for sure.

niftie, you already have your answer. This has actually already been brought up before, that's the reason I know you already have the answer. Plastic over aluminum.

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

I think the Nitro wheel is probably just like your dad's Aspen. That is what I meant by you already have your answer. At least that is what I remember from the previous post.

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

Sorry nifty, I was really tired last night, or I would have found this post for you. This is the previous post I was talking about.

http://www.nitroforumz.com/showthread.php?t=1549&highlight=chrome+plastic

 

[niftie]

Thanks. I guess I was tired too because I didn't get your point.
I get it now.
It was actually realizing what was on the Aspen that got me nervous as I was hoping for that kind of money I was getting real mags and not hubcaps.
Thanks for the link too. That helps.
I wonder how that plastic will hold up to a curb hop?
Not good I fear . . .

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Well they're not exactly hubcaps either. They're plasticized chrome covers permanently bonded to alloy wheels. They're supposed to be better at handling the elements and are supposed to repel brake dust. Chrysler/Dodge went to these because they seemed to have a lot of trouble in the past with their chrome to metal wheels pitting and flaking. From a looks standpoint they're as chrome as you can get. :Racing:

 

[dragondon]

At a 'more-than-close' guess, I bet they are cheaper to make.

What is annoying is, as someone mentioned, curb hop will not be repairable, at least not obviously. Unless good ol DCX thought of that and have 'plastic kits' to fix them. Otherwise it's a whole new rim.

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

Hey guys, I can't find the post, maybe not even this forum, about a member that took delivery of an R/T in which the chrome cladding was loose and had to be replaced. Was that someone here? Was that a complete wheel replacement? or some other sort of repair? Does anyone remember?

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

At a 'more-than-close' guess, I bet they are cheaper to make.

What is annoying is, as someone mentioned, curb hop will not be repairable, at least not obviously. Unless good ol DCX thought of that and have 'plastic kits' to fix them. Otherwise it's a whole new rim.

No I think if you scuff 'em they're gonna stay scuffed. But then real chrome doesn't look great if it gets scraped either. Of course you could re-chrome those.

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Hey guys, I can't find the post, maybe not even this forum, about a member that took delivery of an R/T in which the chrome cladding was loose and had to be replaced. Was that someone here? Was that a complete wheel replacement? or some other sort of repair? Does anyone remember?

That would be wild. The cladding is supposed to be bonded on with an industrial adhesive that's tested to hold to like 8000 lbs. of pressure. Someone missed a step at the factory or something.

 

[Awesome 1]

If you have a wheel-hop you will actually hit on the outer wheel lip which is clear coated aluminum. The chrome cladding is inboard of the lip.

 

[Guest]

One of the tech's at my local Dodge dealer mentioned that they have had a couple of complaints per chrome clad wheels having squeak noises when hitting bumps and that a bulletin might be issued for a fix of some sort. Don't know if this is just for the Nitro or all Chrysler vehicles. The "clad" wheels have been around for quite a few years and don't recall hearing anyone complain about them squeaking.

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

chrome clad wheels having squeak noises

Well, there you go. Evidently, the post I read was on one of the other forums. But what I remember about it was that there was a noise comming from the wheels, and the discovery was that the cladding was loose. This is exactly the reason I asked the question. I have some of these on the way, and really want to know what could happen with them.

top gun, I know how improbable this sounds, I just want to see if I could get any responses on the subject.