Subie Rim Pits??

vrkSVX · #1 10-31-2007, 10:24 AM

Had a '95 Outback Wagon, tires had to be filled every week. Took it to a shop and they cleaned up the rims. Still had issue with one tire. Now have a Forester and one tire needs air weekly. Anyone else have issues with pits where the tire meets the rims on their Subies?

Crazy_pilot · #2 10-31-2007, 06:10 PM

I had to replace the valve in one wheel of my SVX because it was torn, but no rim leaks. My rims actually look excellent on the inside for a 15 year old car. Most rims I see at work are junk after 5 years or so.

vrkSVX · #3 11-01-2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

I had to replace the valve in one wheel of my SVX because it was torn, but no rim leaks. My rims actually look excellent on the inside for a 15 year old car. Most rims I see at work are junk after 5 years or so.

No leaks on the SVX but on the Outback and Forester. I guess I'm just the lucky (?) one.

dannmarr · #4 11-04-2007, 05:46 AM

Check for hair line cracks at the edges. That was my problem, then I had it welded. It only lasted a short time, then I bought another rim.

Turbone · #5 11-04-2007, 09:11 AM

Could be a few things causing it. The cracked rim, dirt on the rim, the valve core/stem, it could even be a bad bead on the tire. Sometimes when they are mounting the tire, the tool (this could mean the operator also) can rip the bead. Usually due to not using lube to get the bead over the rim of the wheel and it ends up tearing the bead.
Get a spray bottle with a little dish soap mixed with water and spray it around the rim on both sides of the tire. Do it to the valve stem also. Bubbles means a leak.

Hondasucks · #6 11-04-2007, 10:49 AM

I've heard that pitting on the bead sealing surface can be corrected with powdercoating, just have 'em coated to match the car...

Crazy_pilot · #7 11-04-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbone

Could be a few things causing it. The cracked rim, dirt on the rim, the valve core/stem, it could even be a bad bead on the tire. Sometimes when they are mounting the tire, the tool (this could mean the operator also) can rip the bead. Usually due to not using lube to get the bead over the rim of the wheel and it ends up tearing the bead.
Get a spray bottle with a little dish soap mixed with water and spray it around the rim on both sides of the tire. Do it to the valve stem also. Bubbles means a leak.

When checking the valve stem poke it around a bit. Bend it all the way around gently to see if that opens any holes. On mine it wasn't leaking in the normal position, but if I bent it toward the outsice of the wheel it leaked badly. So whenever I hit high speeds and the valve was pulled out by the rotation, it started leaking.

redsvx · #8 11-04-2007, 12:48 PM

This from a tire expert ... not me ...

'grind the pitted area a lot ... put bead sealer on it ... also if you grind the tire bead as well this helps .
You need to have a smart tire guy look at it ... and do a great job of grinding ... that's your best bet to save the rim.'

vrkSVX · #9 11-05-2007, 07:25 AM

Thanks all who posted suggestions. We will start to work at it on the weekend. It is really annoying, same problem, second Subie. This time it took 2 weeks to get down to 25psi in the front tire. Thanks again for the help