C5 chrome wheel problem

[Beobachter]

04 C5 that has plating coming off all four wheels. Blistering under plating. GM says sorry about your luck. Anyone have this same problem? Please advise.

 

[mvarga]

04 C5 that has plating coming off all four wheels. Blistering under plating. GM says sorry about your luck. Anyone have this same problem? Please advise.

I'm surprised to hear that about an '04. My '98 has it a little in the tough to clean areas. I am the second owner and I don't think the original owner polished them or cleaned the brake dust off on a regular basis. Do you live near salt water???

 

[Mr. Lucky]

04 C5 that has plating coming off all four wheels. Blistering under plating. GM says sorry about your luck.

:confused GM did not offer chrome wheels as either standard or optional equipment on 2004 Corvettes (or any year C5 for that matter).

(Ref: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c5/2004/2004options.html)

 

[jrose7004]

Like Mr Lucky says since GM didn't ever have chrome wheels on C5's, someone had it done and therefore isn't thier problem.

 

[Hotwing]

I have after-market chrome C6 wheels on my 04 coupe no problems yet.

 

[BugMan]

Are you sure you have chrome wheels? I mean could the damage you see be that the coating placed on the polished aluminiun is wearing off and the aluminiun is being oxidixed?

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Part of the problem with chrome plating aluminum wheels is that when the wheels are in the plating bath, it is difficult to maintain adequate current density and electrolyte circulation in areas that are furthest away from the plating anodes. The areas furthest away are the corners of the spokes where they join to the rim. These areas consequently recieve less metal plated to them, or experience a weaker plating.
Since the plating process is a multiple stage process of electroplating copper, nickle, and chrome with pickeling steps in between to clean the previous surface, any amount of contamination caused by inadequate plating or cleaning can cause the surfaces to delaminate over time. And any pinholes in the final crome plating can and will cause the layers to oxidize between layers.
The result is peeling, flaking and pitting in the wheel.

Unfortunately, the process is irreversable. Since the etchants that are used to remove the plating to re-do the process eat up aluminum at a much faster rate than chrome, nickel, or copper. Once it's done, it's done.