chrome on Fuchs ??

[ty901]

all;
i'm looking at a set of Fuchs. the price is right, but they've been chromed. pros ? cons ? (other than the fact that chrome wheels are ugly) has anybody ever had this process "reversed".
thanks !
cheers
jerry

[slope-nz]

I have been told that the chrome process weakens Fuchs . Randy

[Az911]

Taking the chrome off will leave the wheels pitted. Im not sure if the pitting can be polished off or not.

[Steve 82SC]

Al Reed told me that a chrome Fuchs can be put back to original, but it's a pain........much more of a process involved than simply refinishing a non-chrome wheel.
Steve

[SRT356/911]

I have heard the same about the weakening, and it seems that Al Reed removes chrome. If he does, it seems safe to presume that the wheels are not weakened by the adding and then removal of the chrome. (I do not like chrome Fuchs.)
So, being on a tight budget, I had the 16X7/8's sand blasted to remove the remainder of the seriously blistering chrome. $135. They were then 'smoothed/sanded' as best possible. $97. I looked up powder coating in the phone book and found Santa Cruz Powder Coat 831-458-5032 and they powder coated all 4 wheels for $125. Inside and out. I then painted the centers black. I could have sanded the wheels smoother. The powder coating smoothed the finish considerably. They are not the greatest, but they will suffice for my use. There are lot's of color (silvery) choices for the outer rims and it seems it might be a good alternative. As I just painted the centers tonight, I do not know more about the outcome. I guess it is a matter of trade-offs.

[911split]

I've heard from Harvey Weidman that chromed Fuchs can be put back, but that it is quite an involved process, and it may only be warranted on very desireable/costly Fuchs such as R's. Though, i'm sure there may be some Fuchs that are just too far gone to bring back. It should be noted that the cost to do the process is quite hefty.

I've heard that chroming does weaken aluminum Fuchs because the temperatures reached during the chroming process exceed that which the aluminum can tolerate. I believe it comprises the wheel's integrity, thus making them prone to failure. Also, AL Reed told me that the acids from the liquid chrome are absorbed into the aluminum. Even after stripping, he insidious acids will remain. Most of us know that Fuchs pit from the inside out. So, previously chromed Fuchs will end up pitting much faster than normal. I think that is why i hear so many people saying that chroming Fuchs is like a death sentence for Fuchs. It certainly cuts their shelf-life or half-life or whatever...

You must also be very careful with powdercoating too. Traditional powders require very high temperatures which far exceed aluminum's tolerance and are thus harmful. You will no longer have strong, resilient forged wheels. You will have compromised and weakened wheels. However, there are new technology powders that require very low bake temps - they just need to bake longer. I know that AL Reed uses the modern powder. If going to someone besides Weidman or AL Reed, then do your homework. You will be surprised how many wheel places do not know (care?) about what's right for your beloved Fuchs.

And, we've all heard horror stories about someone taking their Fuchs to be "stripped" and they end up ruined because of ignorance or incompetence on the wheel strippers part...

[1973911s]

I had chrome on my Fuch and Al removed it, it did leave some pitting, I will shoot you a up close picture after I wash the car tonight.

Michael

[SRT356/911]

911 Split
Thanks for the information. That is great to know.

I do not know the temps involved in the process of both chroming and powder coating. I also do not know how hot a wheel can get from super heated brakes for a comparison.

What was interesting to learn was the layer of copper that preceeds the chrome in the process. That was the real problem in the removal process.

As earlier stated, I too do not like chrome for various reasons, esp on Fuchs. I just do not get it. I agree that it is not worth returning the wheels unless they are special, or in this case different.

This car is mainly track, and I still like to drive it. The fuchs were $200 due to the peeling chrome. So total cost now is about $500. It would cost over $1K to buy them, so for this use it works for me.

I would greatly appreciate hearing some definitive information regarding the amount of weakening the chroming and powder coating process causes for safety sake.

[ted]

Originally posted by SRT356/911
I would greatly appreciate hearing some definitive information regarding the amount of weakening the chroming and powder coating process causes for safety sake.

911split nailed it.
A company that makes 3 piece wheels will not use donor Fuchs that have ever been chromed. In all these years the owner of this wheel company has had only one Fuch wheel center fail. At the track in his own car the Fuch center cracked in half and his car spun out. It was discovered that the center had been chromed and stripped before he got it. He thought the chrome and strip process had made the center brittle.

These chromed Fuch centers can fail like 30 year old magneseum wheels.
I would not risk it on the track.
Plenty of Fuchs for sale, look for another set.

[911split]

Copper is applied first to smoothen the surface before the chroming takes place. I've heard of people doing this to heavily pitted Fuchs in order to sell them and make a quick buck. Chroming can be done very inexpensively (cheaper than $50/wheel). The wheels will look good, but their "beauty" is only skin deep. Buyers beware!

Chromed & painted Fuchs look exactly like highly polished & painted Fuchs, for what it's worth...

Unfortunately, I do not know the tolerance temperature specifics.

[SRT356/911]

I have searched the 911 technical forum and have decided to create another thread with the basic question o fdoes chrome damage fuchs wheels.