Inner rim hairline wheel repair

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Does anyone have any first hand experience about having this repaired?
Porsche wouldn't repair it!!!
As I now have the wheel with no tyre, I find that there has been a previous weld which I was oblivious to. There is a Lepsons sticker on the wheel so I assume they did the original weld, many years ago.
Is the wheel really unsafe after being repaired, and if so surely the repairers shouldn't have repaired it ?

Im sure that many Porsche Club members have had their wheels welded and has anyone ever had a problem?

Thanks
Tom

 

[IndischRot]

It doesn't surprise me that Porsche won't repair the wheel - they're not in the business of repairing individual components. It's a specialised skill. Try contacting Lepsons to see if they can repair the new crack but perhaps it's time to make it a reel for your hosepipe and source a new wheel?

Clear photos of the wheel and the new and repaired cracks would be useful. Any chance it's a replica wheel?

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Thanks for the prompt reply. The wheel is original and I have had the car for 4 years.
For some reason I can only add one picture

Tom[attachment=993 C4S rear crack.jpg]

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Here is the previous weld from years ago

 

[clyde]

I had a crack in one of my rear wheels welded a while back (bloody potholes ) and although I had no reason to doubt the job done it was always at the back of my mind. I replaced it after a year or so to give me full confidence again.

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

I suppose why question is, that nobody would repair the wheel if it wasn't safe, rather like tyre repairs?

 

[Chrissss81]

I would also replace it. Wheels have to be in a perfect condition, if they fail it can be fatal.

 

[vic cohen]

Thats best for keeping your garden hose on !!!!!!
Don't even think about repairing , perhaps better, think how its been damaged twice and the various weaknesses incurred .......trust u ve checked ur other wheels for dubious welds or cracks ?????

 

[JB 3.2]

Suggest you contact Chris Weaver at Exel Wheels.

http://www.exelwheels.co.uk/

 

[IndischRot]

Welding ali wheels is a specialised skill and like tyre repair it's a risk versus reward decision for the repairer. The rewards is how much can they charge for the repair. The risk is that they accept some liability if the repair fails. The failure can be graceful like a slow leak in a tyre or catastrophic such as a blowout or structural failure of the wheel. Hence most businesses won't touch that sort of work.

 

[vic cohen]

using the comparison above of punctures , would any one really choose to drive a performance car with 2 punctures in one cover ?

with a repaired wheel thats been welded, if whatever reason it fails, it does nt leak it cracks again and further than before ..........in the world we live in, at the end of the winter, one good pothole would do it for sure

i was nt being facetious when suggesting you use it for your hosepipe ,thats the only place it will be 100% safe !

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Good points about two repairs.You never know what you are getting buying second hand. £100 to reweld and respray and I will keep as a spare

Tom

 

[Contraband]

Are there any insurance issues here? I'm not so sure an insurance company would be happy with a repaired broken wheel knowingly being used.

 

[TomNauntonMorgan]

Hi Maurice
I've just noticed that I'm not a club member ,ever after 20 years!!
How can this be corrected as I failed online?

Tom