Chrome clad wheels

[twodko]

Can the damaged chrome clad wheel covers on my 2009 Dodge Ram Big Horn truck be removed for new ones?

[War wagon]

 
Not sure how they are attached at the factory, may be some kind of permanent adhesive??
I don't think you can buy just the covers.
Just an FYI they did make some aluminum rims and forged aluminum rims depending on the trim level.
Not all trucks got those plastic covers...
Check the forums like ramforumz for good used ones, they turn up daily

BTW, congrats on the purchase 

[twodko]

We'll sir, I went over to the Ram Forum you suggested and registered. I'm awaiting a response to my question about chrome clad wheel covers. The first thing I noticed...........and DO NOT LIKE about that forum is its one huge commercial billboard! Ads.......ads.......ads. Nasty. 

[War wagon]

We'll sir, I went over to the Ram Forum you suggested and registered. I'm awaiting a response to my question about chrome clad wheel covers. The first thing I noticed...........and DO NOT LIKE about that forum is its one huge commercial billboard! Ads.......ads.......ads. Nasty. 

Couldn't agree More about those ads, apparently they go away if you "donate" to the site
Not sure how that works, I ignore them. Been an unpaid member since 09. Like here, there are some very knowledgeable folks on there along with trolls.
Hope you find the answer you seek as far as repairs to the rims

[twodko]

Copy all. Got to look for the wheat beyond the chaff.

[hatersaurusrex]

Yep nearly every other car forum I go to is either:

a) full of trolls
b) full of kids who post 100 pics of all the auto-zone parts they glued onto their ride
c) full of trolls who are kids who post 100 pics of all the auto-zone parts they glued onto their ride

Jeep-CJ.com seems to be the exception.  Lots of good, knowledgeable and helpful folks there.  Then again the average age of a CJ owner is probably pretty close to the average age here - more maturity and less teenage BS.

RamforumZ is not that bad, and there are a few Chrysler master mechanics who frequent the boards if things get really sticky for you.

[John L]

We'll sir, I went over to the Ram Forum you suggested and registered. I'm awaiting a response to my question about chrome clad wheel covers. The first thing I noticed...........and DO NOT LIKE about that forum is its one huge commercial billboard! Ads.......ads.......ads. Nasty. 

Download Adblock and it all goes away, free program and it works well.

[fy469rtse]

When you going to show us your new truck twodko , photos please

[twodko]

Working on it.........

[Indygenerallee]

It's like getting on a diesel forum.. about every other post is some kid asking "How do I get my ______ diesel to blow black smoke?" idiots...

[lukedukem]

It's like getting on a diesel forum.. about every other post is some kid asking "How do I get my ______ diesel to blow black smoke?" idiots...

I couldn't agree with you more. And I have a diesel. I try to steer clear of those forums.

Luke

[twodko]

I posted a couple pix of the truck on the "My new Ram" thread.

[Ponch ®]

Can the damaged chrome clad wheel covers on my 2009 Dodge Ram Big Horn truck be removed for new ones?

youre probably better off trying to find a used/take off replacement on craigslist or ebay.. Chrome clads are generally cheap enough to make it worth your while over trying to find someone to fix them, paying for the fix, etc.

[twodko]

True that Ponch. I've just begun looking around but maybe real wheels in that style are being made. 

[Ponch ®]

True that Ponch. I've just begun looking around but maybe real wheels in that style are being made.  

I think even if you can't find the exact same style (unless youre absolutely hung up on that), you can still find other wheels that will fit - from a different year Ram, for example - super cheap. Obviously youd need the whole set, but even that is pretty cheap. Also, if you go that route, make sure you have your TPMS's switched over to the new wheel(s)

[Ponch ®]

something like this (I know theyre far from you, but you get the idea):
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/pts/4290847376.html

asking price is actually a little high, but you can always haggle. stock chrome clads are not exactly in high demand. Been trying on an off to sell the 20's on Mrs.Ponch's Challenger and I can't seem to give them away (and no, unfortunately they wont fit your truck  )

[twodko]

Those are nice wheels......I'd go for those or similar. The search begins.

[Ponch ®]

Those are nice wheels......I'd go for those or similar. The search begins.

what exactly is wrong with the damaged wheel? is it broken or scraped? You can always try getting in on the Plasti-Dip craze if its the latter.

[twodko]

It's all four of the wheel's plastic chrome hub caps. The fronts are much worse than the rears because the front brakes do most of the braking. It's baked-on reddish disk brake dust. I asked the guy at a shop I use to confirm this.

I'm placing a "wanted" ad on the Bay Area CL right now.

[Ponch ®]

It's all four of the wheel's plastic chrome hub caps. The fronts are much worse than the rears because the front brakes do most of the braking. It's baked-on reddish disk brake dust. I asked the guy at a shop I use to confirm this.

I'm placing a "wanted" ad on the Bay Area CL right now.

ah. in that case...Plasti-Dip! if anything, itll make them look nicer til you find a good set and itll only cost you about $20 and a couple of hours to do.

[hatersaurusrex]

It would appear they're glued on per this thread:

http://www.ramforum.com/f41/crome_clad_covers_glue_removal-7343/

The steel wheels underneath don't look horrible, and could probably be painted or chromed, but for all that flipping hassle you're better off sourcing new wheels.

Honestly if you didn't live so far away I'd sell you my wheels.  I've been looking for an excuse to put a levelling kit and some 35's on my truck.

[Hard Charger]

I was told at the dealership that the chrome plastic cover is not removable.

[twodko]

Yep, thats what I have found out as well.

[War wagon]

oewheelsllc.com is where is bought the forged rims

OE supplier 

[twodko]

Thanks for that link, I looked it over and damn these wheels are expensive.

I found 2 sets on my local CL. Both looks great with factory looking tires on them. One is $800 the

Is $1400!

I'm still looking.

[Ponch ®]

Thanks for that link, I looked it over and damn these wheels are expensive.

I found 2 sets on my local CL. Both looks great with factory looking tires on them. One is $800 the

Is $1400!

I'm still looking.

$800 isn't bad if they come w the tires. At around the $1K mark, you're better off looking for some aftermarket wheels if you feel like customizing your truck a little. Something like this: http://www.factoryreproductions.com/factory/pc/DODGE-RAM-SRT10-GLOSS-BLACK-c287.htm

[twodko]

Thanks for that link as well. I'm a boring "If it's not stock, it don't rock" kinda guy.

I've got a PDR guy coming by tomorrow to pop a couple dings, then a detail guy on Wednesday for
a full-on exterior wax, buff and see if he can bring the wheels back to normal. If he can't then I'll  probably give that seller a called late Wednesday and maybe roll down to SJ early Thursday for them. It's a 2+ hour drive each way now from where I live. Bay Area is getting more crowded each year. 

[DadsCharger00]

Try this stuff.   In used it yesterday on my RAM wheels and with alittle elbow grease it'll work.  Works great on Chrome to.   Also works great to bring your black trim back to life

[twodko]

SITREP.......

A mobile detail business I've used in the past is coming over to give my Ram a full-on exterior detail.
Black vehicles need an occasional major detail because the paint shows everything. They are going to
try a bring these crap wheels back to normal. If they are still crap after their efforts I have a line on a set of these same wheels with OEM Goodyear tires on them. Rubber has 60% tread left which is more than whats on the truck now.

The pain is the guy wants $1400 for the set. I'll bring a grand and wave it in his face. The rest of the truck is in such mint condition that I feel justified in buying this set.......or stoopid.

[Ponch ®]

The pain is the guy wants $1400 for the set. I'll bring a grand and wave it in his face. The rest of the truck is in such mint condition that I feel justified in buying this set.......or stoopid.

that's still way too much. by like 100%. Shouldn't pay more than $700-800 and that's at the top of the price spectrum. At that point, since you want to keep the truck stock, just wait it out and keep scouring craigslist/ebay for the right set at the right price...even if you have to keep riding around in "crap wheels" for a while.

[Ponch ®]

These it?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/4299548726.html

post a pic of the truck/wheels...ill keep an eye out. I spend most of my free time on cragslist looking for stuff i can't afford or don't need anyway.

[twodko]

Thanks for that link Ponch but those aren't the wheels.

Great news! The detail guys just finished the truck and they were able to bring the wheels back to their original shiny selves!!!!
And the wash, wax and buff polish they did made the "Graphite Mist" paint look fantastic.

Now I only have to buy one new wheel but I'll search eRape first.......maybe there's one to buy for reasonable money.

[DadsCharger00]

Thanks for that link Ponch but those aren't the wheels.

Great news! The detail guys just finished the truck and they were able to bring the wheels back to their original shiny selves!!!!
And the wash, wax and buff polish they did made the "Graphite Mist" paint look fantastic.

Now I only have to buy one new wheel but I'll search eRape first.......maybe there's one to buy for reasonable money.

What did they use on the wheels did you notice?

[twodko]

I'll have to call the guy but it was some type of mild "acidic" chrome wheel cleaning compound. They cleaned them, water rinsed them, applied paste wax and buffed them. I was a little concerned when he said acidic wheel cleaner but he told me its a routinely used product and said he'd buy me new wheels if there was a problem......he's true to his word. I trust this business AND I found/bought another wheel on eRape to replace the damaged one for $280 shipped. Been a good day.

[hatersaurusrex]

Yeah if you can find out and share here it'd be much appreciated.   Mine don't have this problem but they might in the future and it'd be good to know just in case.

That said, my wheels have HORRIBLE Wrangler-SR/A's on them - but they're brand new - and your post has me thinking in the very near future I'll put a levelling kit on the front and upgrade to new wheels and some 35" A/T tires of some sort.  If I can get decent coin for the wheels with good tires on them I could offset the cost of the upgrade quite a bit.

[twodko]

I've got an email out to the guy asking that very question. Will report back to the forum most riki tik.

[Ponch ®]

Thanks for that link Ponch but those aren't the wheels.

Great news! The detail guys just finished the truck and they were able to bring the wheels back to their original shiny selves!!!!
And the wash, wax and buff polish they did made the "Graphite Mist" paint look fantastic.

Now I only have to buy one new wheel but I'll search eRape first.......maybe there's one to buy for reasonable money.

good to hear man. my advise still stands as to the one wheel you need to buy: hang tight til you find one for a reasonable price...don't overpay.

[twodko]

Good morning Ponch,

I found a OEM wheel on eBay for $280 shipped and snatched it up. These wheels are part of the "Big Horn" appearance package that includes things like dual exhausts with the rear bumper cutouts for the exhaust tips, these specific wheels, console shift and other stuff I can't remember but I thought $280 was a fair price. The wheel looks super good. I contacted the seller to get a better feel for its overall quality. Not curb rash, dents scratches etc....the pictures he posted were very good.

I just got off the phone with the detail guy. He said this is the procedure and materials they used to bring back my wheels.

Wash, aluminum brightener, 0000 steel wool and Glare Knockout rubbing compound. All of which was used only in enough quantities to get the job done.

[bill440rt]

Good to hear they cleaned up, Tom.   

Try giving some of that Griot's wheel cleaner a try. It's mild enough on these clad wheels, but strong enough to clean good & remove brake dust. Use some spray wax on them also after a wash, it keeps brake dust from sticking so bad & makes cleaning next time much easier. 

[twodko]

I'm very relived they were revived too. Now that they are clean and shiny I plan on keeping them that way. I'm picking up some Griots cleaner tomorrow, they'll be kept clean and waxed fo sho'.

[twodko]

I'm very relived they were revived too. Now that they are clean and shiny I plan on keeping them that way. I'm picking up some Griots cleaner tomorrow, they'll be kept clean and waxed fo sho'.