Wheel damage at valve stems

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 07:32 AM

I had new tires put on my car at a very reputable local shop yesterday. At that time, the valve stems were also replaced and a full alignment was done. I didn't notice this when I picked up my car, but last night I took a close look at my wheels and found this around all of the valve stems:

At first glance, it really doesn't look like scratches (a strange pattern), and I can't feel anything with my finger. Does anyone have any idea how this could have happened? Is there a tool that is used to remove the old valve stems that could have caused this? I'm almost positive this wasn't there before I had the tires/valve stems done - I surely would have noticed. I'll contact the shop today, but I wanted to get some opinions on this before I did. Can this be easily buffed out/repaired?

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

You say that this is on all 4 wheels/stems?

If so, I suspect the scratches came from the procedure of replacing the stems and the shop would recognize this and make good..

Is the finish anodized or polished?

If it's polished, the stems can be removed and the area polished. Of course, it requires the tires to come off etc.

Had a similar experience and the shop refinished the wheels.

Good luck.

logan2z · 08:03 AM

Spoke to the shop and it turns out they didn't replace the valve stems at all (they use rubber, and these are the original metal ones), even though the invoice stated that they did. And they would have cut them out from the back anyway, so this is a mystery. I guess it's possible that these marks were there before and I never noticed (they do look quite a bit worse in the photo than they do in person). I believe the wheels are clear-coated so the marks probably can't be easily polished out.

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunter

You say that this is on all 4 wheels/stems?

It is, but this is the worst of the bunch.

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

Clear-coat explains it.

Water/detergent creeps under the clear-coat over time; have a little of it on my Honda wheels.

Sounds like the shop is innocent,

john walker's workshop · 10-02-2009, 08:16 AM

most ruf wheels that are clear coated get that all over them.

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 08:30 AM

Bummer. I've been using P21S wheel cleaner to clean my wheels. I clean them probably once ever 2-3 weeks (I don't drive the car daily). Are certain detergents worse than others for this, or is this just a fact of life with clear-coated wheels?

tcar · 10-02-2009, 08:44 AM

The clear coat 'edge' at the valvestem hole gets moisture under the clear coat over time.

2 piece wheels?

Are those socket (?) marks around those bolts? Is that rust? That would worry me more, but it's hard to tell from the pic.

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

Are those socket (?) marks around those bolts? Is that rust? That would worry me more, but it's hard to tell from the pic.

Negative on the socket marks and rust. Just some dirt that appears like rust in the photo.

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunter

Sounds like the shop is innocent,

Yes, I'm happy to say, because they did a great job. I guess it was just a coincidence that I was looking very closely at the wheels after the work was done and happened to notice this issue. And since I thought they had replaced the valve stems, it stood to reason that these things were related. It doesn't appear that they were.

GeorgeK · 10-02-2009, 10:06 AM

This is corrosion under the clearcoat. Typical of the Speedline for Porsche whels (which these are).
No going around that, even with perfectly maintained wheels.
Solution is strip and polish, and then keep polished without clearcoat.

logan2z · 10-02-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeK

This is corrosion under the clearcoat. Typical of the Speedline for Porsche whels (which these are).
No going around that, even with perfectly maintained wheels.
Solution is strip and polish, and then keep polished without clearcoat.

Yup, these are Speedline for Porsche wheels. I guess at some point I will have to strip and polish these.

mpetry · mpetry's Garage

So I have these gizmos on my wheels - are they just to support the valve stems at high speeds ? Never seen them before.

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA
81 SC

GeorgeK · 10-02-2009, 11:06 AM

Yes they are. Valve supports, that is.