Is there a way to tell?
 

Is there a way to tell if your wheels are forged or cast? I have a set of wheels (Remotec) that I have been using for track wheels and can't find any info on the company/ wheels. Can I tell by looking or will there be markings to distinguish how they were made?

I will be pulling the wheels to check brakes, etc. this week. The wheels have markings saying they were made in West Germany and if I remember correctly they are TUV rated (maybe).

Thanks for any insight.

I don't know how to tell by looking at them. But a guy I once knew had Remotec wheels and he always said they were forged. Sorry, that's all I have to go on.

pound them with a sledge hammer. If they bend then they're forged, if you break them into small pieces then they are cast. :D

I was going to try the "Freeze - Thaw" method where you spray it with liquid nitrogen, then hose it down with gasoline and toss a match at it, but if you think the hammer test will work I'll go with that.;)

You beat me to it. I was going to suggest driving into a curb at high speed, and seeing if they bend or crack.

Liquid Helium, I can get for ya bro! Other than that, I got nothin'!


Good question, though.

Scanning electron microscope.

If you are selling they are probably forged. If you are buying they are probably cast.;)

The cast ones taste salty.

Great answer!

Hmmm. I wonder if you can perform a density calc. (weight, and displaced water (convenient) volume needed) Making some assumptions on the displaced volume by the barrel, you then can figure the density of the center of the wheel. Then compare to some known forged aluminum alloy density..if your calculated density is much lower than a forged aluminum alloy density...then you have cast wheels. Maybe not the best test, but it will give you some idea :)

But you can send me the wheels and I'll use them for a few years, then I'll send you an analysis :D

Edit: the degree of density difference may negate the need to subtract out the barrels.

This thread reminds me of a conversation I had with my then-wife, circa 1974:

Me: "Honey, I'd like to get some forged alloys for the 911"

Her: "Fine with me, but why don't you get some REAL ones?

________________________

Cheers,

Jack
'96 993

LOL! That's good...

Me: "Honey, I'd like to get some forged alloys for the 911"

Her: "Fine with me, but why don't you get some REAL ones?

Me: "I kinda wanted them to match your hooters".

ducks...

ianc

ianc
how do you know Jacks wifes hooters arent real?
Taste salty?

Hey, he said it, I didn't! ;)

ianc

"The cast ones taste salty."

I had always heard the cast ones tasted like chicken.

She's not my wife anymore, but come to think of it, yes, they were a bit on the salty side...

_________________________

Jack
'96 993

If you have a Fuchs wheel to compare to, You might be able to tell their density by taking a small pointed punch and hitting the back side of the hub or ? in a safe place. Then try it on the Fuchs and see if they act the same or if the suspect wheel seems softer. I would think that the punch would set deeper into a cast wheel with the same controlled hit.

It's a simple way I've use to tell if steel is hard or not,. I've never tried it to compare forged or cast aluminum.

If it was iron you could always measure the carbon content. 3% is cast and if less it would be forged then steel (between .03% and 3%). Now where's that darn carbon tester?