So, after months of wondering what the hell was going on with my clicking & creeking rims (16.5x14 Weld Sidewinders), we finally found the problem and a fix. The problem is with the conehead center caps. With it being a metal to metal contact with the rim, when driving, the rim flexes and causes the clicking & creeking noise. What I did was went and bought a tube of silicon and put a bead of it around the edge of the conehead center caps. I allowed it to dry for 24 hours and put the caps back on and thus no metal to metal contact. Guess what happened...no noise!!! If you are experienceing this or know someone who is, call this guy:
Brandon Lowery
Weld Wheel Industries
1-800-488-9353 ext279
BLowery@Weldracing.com

I told him a simple fix would be for the factory to put some sort of seal around the end of the conehead caps so there wouldn't be a metal to metal contact. He says that he is going to talk to the engineers about it and I think if he hears a few more voices, maybe they will do something about it sooner. For the amount of money we pay for Weld rims, I think that this problem shouldn't exist. He also keeps a database so maybe if he hears enough of us, they will fix this problem and give us the new caps

 

Chadrock, I sell a ton of Welds per month. A couple of months ago I had a problem with a set of StoneCrushers that were creaking exceptionally bad (most of them creak to some extent). The noise was originating from the point where the simulated beadlock meets the rim. The customer was pissed about it and wanted them replaced. So, I called Weld and told them about the problem. The tech support guy (maybe it was Brandon) told me that they were aware of the problem. So I asked him if they were going to warranty them. He then transferred me over to customer service. I told that guy about the problem and asked him what they were going to do about it. He told me that they would not replace the wheels and instead instructed me to spray lithium grease on them!

So let me get this straight, you are aware that you have a problem with your wheels and you won't do anything about it? Not much consideration for someone who give them a hell of a lot of business. :-X23

It's just too bad that they don't really have much competition. If they did maybe their customer service would improve.

I see the owner of Weld (who is a friend of a friend) at SEMA every year and plan on voicing my concern over this issue to him in person.
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Overkill, 2000 X 4x4 Limited,V10, Black Monochrome, The Edge 12.5" Lift, The Edge Adjustable Track Bar, The Edge Monster Truck Traction Bars, The Edge Dual Shock Hoops, Bilstein 7100 Shocks (Custom Valved), ORU 7100 Dress-up Kits, ORU CrossOver Steering & Hydraulic Assist, High Angle Drivelines, 18/39-16.5 M/T Baja Belteds, 16.5x14 Weld Mountain Crushers, Crystal Head Lights & Corners, Trenz Billet Grill, ORI PreRunner Bar, Hella 3000s, Billet Fuel Door, Kodiak Power Steps (4), Con-Fer Dif Covers, Go Rhino Trusses, 5.13 Gears, Superchip, Borla Exhaust, Volant Filter, BBK TB Spacer, Custom Dark Graphite Carpet & Headliner, Custom Black Leather Seats, Custom Molded Carbon Fiber Interior Trim, Trenz Billet Door Sills, Weathertech Mats & Liner, Eclipse 7301 Multi-Media, McIntosh MC4000M, Focal Utopia 165W3 (2), Illusion Audio nd12 (4), Stinger Caps & Wires, Q-Logic Kicks, Custom False Spare Tire/Sub Enclosure

 

Chadrock,
I too have popping problems with my 16x10 Typhoons. The shop I deal with also says its a known problem and Weld won't deal with it. After I talked to an engineer at Weld, I talked to Tom Cahill there and he said "Because we use "Aircraft Aluminum" These wheels will flex and return to their original shape. Because of this you can get some noise, this is not a warrantable condition." Blah, blah, blah.
I spoke with an engineer at Centerline and they use the same manufacturing method to produce their heavy duty wheels. I asked a bunch of poeple, none noted any noise from the Centerlines. I'm returning the Welds this week (not due to Weld, but because my dealer is willing) to get the Centerline Comets. Plus, I'm getting about $30 each back. Weld isn't THAT good, afterall...