I bought some aluminum wheels to replace scratched front wheels. I put the old front wheels on the inside rear. I brought it to the dealer for leaking wheels on the inside rear (the stock fronts) I explained the situation to them and they agreed as the valve stems on those wheels had bee replaced several times, they would replace the wheels.

They mistakenly ordered steel wheels and are now claiming as the truck came with steel inner duals from the factory those wheels are not from ford. They also claim that all ford wheels have "ford" stamps and my inner duals (factory fronts) are missing tis stamp.

Could someone check their front wheels for a stamp?? I know it is a pain but I would appreciate it.

Scott

 

I did something similar with my 96 Ram, and I understand why dealers hate when owners put factory aluminum wheels on the inside of rear duals. My 96 was delivered with 6 steel rims and the chrome wheel covers. A low sewer and a high curb put a heck of a dent in the right front wheel cover, and I discovered the Mopar aluminum wheel was actually cheaper than the wheel cover, so I went that route. I bought 4 fronts and 2 rears, based on which side was polished. I waited until I needed tires and had the tire shop do the mounting. What I learned later was, the aluminum wheels have a thicker face than the steel wheels, and on the rear axle use up more of the hub and lug studs than the steel rims do - this makes the outer wheels harder to mount since they don't get to seat properly against the hub flange. Going in for brakes or an oil change/rotation at the Dodge dealer, they always mentioned not being able to properly seat the outer rear wheels because of that. The wheels, being Mopar accessory parts, all had the Chrysler pentastar stamp in them, so it wasn't a matter of them not being "Chrysler" wheels, but I think your dealer is just misstating the concern that the inner duals are delivered as steel and aluminums wouldn't come from the factory. It's really not that they're not Ford wheels, just that Ford doesn't install aluminums there.

 

There is plenty of wheel stud protruding.
They are just claiming that the wheels are aftermarket wheels, not from the ford factory.

 

Start scouring EBay and Facebook marketplace for wheels like yours for sale. Look through their pictures in the ad to see if you see any markings.

 

I have been looking, and haven't seen any stamps other than on the steel wheels. However they don't have close ups of every spot and rarely show the back of the wheel.

I am hoping someone can confirm there is no damn stamp or tell me where to look so I can prove my factory wheels are in fact factory wheels.

I' kinda stuck here as the only factory wheels I can use are... um... my factory wheels.

 

If I recall correctly, on the last couple generations of Ram DRWs with aluminum wheels, the wheels were made by Alcoa for Ram trucks. If Ford uses a 3rd party for their aluminum DRW wheels, you may not see a "Ford" stamp on them...

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is the case as my wheels are in fact ford wheels. But how to prove it???

 

I have a video about the stamping on our 19.5" wheels from our F450 here:


While that's a rear wheel, does that help you any?

I'm pretty sure the front had the same stamp (just on the opposite side).

 

Once upon a time Ford pickups came with real forged Alcoa's. Now Chinese cast aluminum? I would rather have the steel wheels.

 

That's fine, but if the wheel centers on the hub the outer might be too far out. Might not be exactly concentric.

 

That would be 1997 as the last year for Alcoa wheels.

 

I, personally, think the forged alloys are dead-sexy looking. I absolutely hate that our American manufacturers are being a trojan horse for more and more Chinese garbage in this 'global economy'.

I thought about buying real Alcoas but, could not be sure that they would be American made.

That being said, the steel wheels are crazy heavy. I don't know what that assembly weighs but, you better be an ox if you're going to be doing your own maintenance!

 

Wanna make sure I get this straight. The dealership is literally saying that you are lying and telling you to prove you are not?

 

Update:
As I thought, once they saw aluminum wheels for inners on the back so were absolutely sure they were aftermarket wheels. So they set out to prove it come hell or high water.
Here is an approximation of my conversation with the head technician. (who is not the jerk he seems from this conversation and, in my defence I was starting to get mad)

Tech " we just need to find out where these wheels came from."

Me " They came on the truck from the factory except they were on the front."

T "Well that truck came with steel rear inners and we found a part number on them. it is not a ford number."

Me " they came on the truck you should look for another number."

T " Where did you buy the wheels?"

Me "they came on the truck"

Me " As I told you I was given the new front wheels at x because the scratched the fronts so I had them put the scratched front on the inner rear. The fronts are ford wheel but did not actually come on the truck the rear inners did come on it.

T (calls X and asks them what company they get wheels from and gives them a part number X replies that number does not show up on their system)

Parts guy comes in " we found the number it it is off a 2015 350" (So they have been using the same style wheels for a while)

End result - they are getting me front wheels and putting them on the rear.


If you care, here is the thread when the wheels were scratched.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...s-scratch.html

 

Ford part number for aluminum dually wheels is on the dull side not the polished side.

there are plenty of Ford knock offs out there that do not have the part number.