Chrome splitting on Limited wheels

[joesacamano]

I have a 2003 Limited with 38,000 miles. On three of the wheels the chrome is splitting at the lug nuts and going toward the spokes. Anyone heard of this happening on the chrome wheels?

 

[asimp]

I have an 04 Limited.....no problems with mine.....by the way, I live in Bardstown....not far from you

 

[hckynut]

I had the same problem with my 04. 3 of the wheels had the chrome cracking and chipping off around the ford center cap. Took it into the dealer and they replaced all four of them. They told me that water gets behind the plastic cap and sits there and then it start to corrode the chrome from the inside out. On my new wheels, I applied a rust spray inside of the wheels so it hopefully wont happen again.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Doesn't chrome resist rust?

-Drew

 

[joesacamano]

hckynut - Was your limited still under warranty?

 

[White97Jimmy]

I had the same problem. Dealer only replaced passenger side wheels. Drivers side is starting to do it now, only my warranty is up. I doubt they will replace them now.

 

[daveleeander]

Explorer DMB,

Chrome that has a nickel undercoat resists rust (the nickel does, the chrome doesn't). Chrome itself is porous, unless it is hard chrome, and I doubt that Ford would go that extra expense on the wheels. If there is water laying around on the chrome, and it is a cheaply done job, the water will soak through the chrome, get under it, and start peeling it up. Only when there is a good coat of nickel underneath will it stay where it supposed to. THere are other substrates that are used, but Nickel is the best.

Dave

 

[sadiesinatra]

Wheels

The same thing is happening to my 2003 Ford Explorer Limited AWD I have
38500 and three of my wheels are doing the same thing. I wonder if they
had a bad batch of wheels done. The Ford is kept in a garage and isn't
driven ever day. My wife drives this one around to do her errands and
such. She just asked me a month ago that she noticed her wheels where
splitting. I don't know if the dealer will cover this problem or not. I will
have to see if there is any more feedback on this subject.