This is what I said to dave when he sent me the pics as the FedEX guy was waiting to either leave them or take them back…
"the one wheel looks like it had an object stuck in between the inside barrel of the wheel and the caliper or a suspension component while the wheel was still rotating. This carved a rather deep grove into the wheel and even distorted (cupped) the section of the wheel’s barrel a few MM’s. This picture with a credit cards’ dead flat edge used as a reference shows the damage to the wheel. The wheel is compromised and being such a high performance wheel for a high performance car this is unsafe. I have seen wheels sheer right in half on cars that had objects get caught in the wheel and cut into the wheel like this.”
This is what I said once I had the wheels in my hands.
“As you can see there are two crowns formed when the wheel distorted outwards on the barrel from whatever got wedged inside the wheel and the suspension or caliper. That will cause stress risers in the integrity of the rim and can focus driving pressure exerted into the rim to those point which could cause the wheel to fail. Also the gouge cut into the wheel while it isn’t extremely deep, it actually stretched the metal on the opposite side of the impact point and moved metal on the outside barrel surface too. That also creates a very unsafe weak point. This wheel is not fit for the road, especially supporting a $75K Dodge Viper.”
Thats what was sent to the seller, and what I told dave my opinion was of them. I put a straight edge on the wheel and can see about 1.5mm of a crown NEXT to the gouge, about .5mm of a raise from the gouge on the outside of the wheel from the outward pressure it saw when the bolt backed out and the caliper hit or a rock was wedged in there. The gouge is about 2mm deep, LESS whatever material was take off when the seller DA sanded and probably filed material off to hide it. My honest opinion is the pics look FAR worse than the wheel is. YES its damaged, I think I gave a very good detailed discription on to what extent. I dont have an engineering or physics degree, and as far as I know Adam (who I said RIGHT FROM SECOND ONE and we he tried to call, is the first person I could think to ask their opinion from) and Mike (Mafdark) are the only ones here with said creds. My opinion doesnt hold a grain of salt to theirs, I know that… but he didnt answer/chime in.
I told dave standing at the front of my day job building when he in hast came over to get my opinion with them in my hand becasue he was under the gun to take action with the seller.
My opinion, taking in account for dave’s driving, the car and the outstanding strength of that wheel, and seeing cheeper wheels WAY more mangled up bashing through city streets and still rolling they will be ok if hes carefull and smart about them. Without a doubt, the FIRST thing and I said MANY times to dave, it needs a new barrel, and I explained how driving stress will react (with my limited knowledge) and put pressures on the slight crown and the gouge on the rim and what could happen. I was by NO MEANS as lack luster as the Kost tire people who dont know even what car they are going on were by putting my “ok” seal of approval on it. I explained EVERYTHING in my power about them, ball is in his court.
the wheel is not that bad in person… end of story. Structurally the wheel is fine, no bends either.
its funny that half of you guys own cars that cant even pass inspection or do 150 down the highway in a honda civic but your all of a sudden safety gods.
I have an inspection ticket to deal with actually, more so becasue I am lazy and YOU MUTHA FUCKERS TAKE ALL MY TIME AWAY SO I CANT GET MY OWN SHIT DONNNNEEE! lol
But Sbardy has a point. Put the wheel in your own hands and back it up with some crediablity for your opinion. Last I checked NOBODY here, 150 bomb cars or uninspected Saabs, has a magic 8 ball configured for BBS LM wheels and can say what will or wont happen… its daves car, daves wheel and daves money.
I say dave straps that bitch to the car, trailers it straight to Lime Rock, and runs 50 laps, then drives it right home if the wheel doesnt come off. BUT, knowing dave is alot like me… when that fucker splits in two and hes in the kitty litter on turn 1 he has the BALLS to say “yep you were right, I was wrong”.
Dave Brown is a fuckin’ honey badger. Even if the wheel breaks in 2 pieces, he’ll come out of it unscathed and will undoubtedly make money on the accident. How? I have no fuckin’ idea… it’s just Dave.
yea dave will split the viper in two make a video out of it make bank on youtube with it then sell the viper for mnore then waht he paid for because… dave… that is all haha
I’m lost? You wanted opinions then got mad that the majority agrees that it is unsafe?
Why can’t a barrel be ordered?? Are these discontinued BBS wheels or something that I’m missing? Have you consulted BBS on their recommended repair? Can the gouge be welded?
Good luck with sourcing body panels and fighting off the ATOADASOs that you get when something happens. I just hope nobody gets hurt.
are you retarded?? read the thread, im not mad or complaining about anything lol… I asked for advice, got advice from people who saw it in person and decided to run it… Only thing that slightly made me angry was madwabbit sayin you cant ball on a budget which seemed like it was directed towards me… Seems like hed rather see me in a rusted d15 civic with a 6" fart can then a viper with bbs wheels… Find me a single barrel for sale thats not the price I paid for all 4 and ill grab it.
Nick is the wheel god… if its not done right he feels like a kitten just got its head chopped off or something. lol He meant these are some SERIOUS ASS WHEELS, if you are to do anything other than chance it as it is now, the right way is to pony up and get a new or used but mint barrel. thats all.