Just got my 08 limited and after close inspection the chrom 18's are like some bull**** plastic chrome cover over the 5 spoke wheel.

I'm sorry, but what the ****?!

 

sorry posted in wrong thread

 

I believe Ford refers to them as "Chrome Clad Wheels" because "some bull**** plastic chrome cover over the 5 spoke wheel" just wouldn't sell.

Had an 02 Expy with the same thing. Dodge does/did the same thing too. Cheaper to chrome plastic than aluminum.

Matt

 

This makes me sick on a 50k dollar truck

 

matt did your wheels at least look good for a while? last thing I need is the chrome coming off the plastic. Im thinking about getting some black/chrome 20's for it, but id like to make my first payment first! (and get weathertech mats, intake, exhaust, front tints, programmer, and god knows a whole lot more!)

 

Keep them washed. The brake dust loves to eat away at the paper thin chrome plating.

 

them chrome clad are so cheesy.. i felt cheated when i noticed them, you think ford would be ashamed.

 

+1 Berry

If you don't keep the brake dust of off of them, you'll start seeing stains on the "chrome" from the dust eating into them.

 

The orignial chrome clad 20s held up okay on my '07 Navigator. I got a friendly dealer to replace all 4 under warranty because after 3 years and 8 months, 40,000+ miles, the "chrome" was starting to peel.

My Navi lived in Long Island, NY before I bought it. I'm sure it saw lots of salt and wasn't really kept with kid glove care.

So, they don't completely suck. Mine still looked great from 5' away, but they should have held up better & longer. Still, not complete crap.

I was in the showroom the other day though and noticed the 2011 Navigators have polished aluminum wheels now... same wheel as before, but Ford seems to be stepping away from the plasti-chrome. They almost look chrome....

 

Problem with clear coated polished wheels is well the clear coat. After 3 years or so it starts to yellow and haze. Chrome-although no where what it used to be, is the best for durability. Still have to keep them clean and waxed.

 

The 9 year old wheels on my 2002 Super Duty are clear coat polished and they still look brand new when cleaned up. Even if they do yellow...they can be stripped re-polished and re-cleared. Can the plastic wheels be re-chromed? I really like the look of those wheels, but I'm not sure I could get over the plastic.

I also have a set up uncoated polished wheels for my truck. With a little aluminum polish they clean up like new. That said...brake dust left uncleaned will eventually start eating just about any wheel surface.

 

wonder if you can seperate that chrome plated tin from the rest the wheel and just spray the rest the wheel black and be done with it.

 

good point...it seems as though it is an aluminum rim, so it may look decent even without the cover. Anyone know what it looks like? Maybe i'll take them off and get them anodized black by my local shop!

 

mine looks steel under

 

My Expy is 6 mo old and the dealer just replaced one of the fake chrome wheels under warranty hat had copper-colored stains on the chrome that wold not come off. On another wheel it looks like the stains are appearing in the vicinity of where the wheel weights are located. I'm wondering if there is some reaction between the weight metal and the chrome cladding.