les schwab junk

[Special T]

Ok my guess was off according to Alcoa it's a 33.3 lb weight save per wheel but then again they are forged wheels not cast.

[thinkingman]

Rotational mass has a much higher value than static mass

[JDHasty]

Rotational mass has a much higher value than static mass

Much higher.  Not only in acceleration and deceleration, but in all other performance measures known collectively as "handling" as well. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Spoke with corp office guy today. He said an invoice is not required for a structural part failure and they will fix the situation. I explained I don't have any confidence in the quality of the product and asked they try to find me a used factory take off to replace the Fuel Off Road Wheels. He said he will work on it and will refund my money spent on a wheel and if they can't get factory rims for me, replace the Fuel wheel at no charge. Glad they did me right but, not happy I had to spend so much effort to get them to do the right thing when they already knew they can send anything back to the manufacturer a get their own refund.

[Happy Gilmore]

I thought Les Schwab sold beef.

Beef was free! Come on! Lol

[quadrafire]

Just to jump in on the thread. I've been a Les Schwab customer for 20+ years. No complaints here. Just outfitted 2 rigs in the last week. Two with new rubber and one with new struts.

[257 Wby Mag]

Les shwab is the easy " high schoolers lift/tire/wheel credit...

[JDHasty]

Spoke with corp office guy today. He said an invoice is not required for a structural part failure and they will fix the situation. I explained I don't have any confidence in the quality of the product and asked they try to find me a used factory take off to replace the Fuel Off Road Wheels. He said he will work on it and will refund my money spent on a wheel and if they can't get factory rims for me, replace the Fuel wheel at no charge. Glad they did me right but, not happy I had to spend so much effort to get them to do the right thing when they already knew they can send anything back to the manufacturer a get their own refund.

True story.  In the future do some independent research and see if you agree with me if you want to drive home at freeway speeds on cast alloy wheels you have subjected to off road usage where they are stressed to the max. 

Forged Alcoa wheels are something completely different in what you can expect in a wheel failure.  They deform, much like a steel wheel, and do not fail catastrophically when stressed beyond their load capacity.  A casting can end up with micro cracking but remain intact, yet be leaking air and... a low tire generates a HUGE amount of heat and then if the crack opens up at 70 mph a crack can open and you experience a blowout that wraps the tire around the axle and the wheel just flies to pieces at the same time leaving your vehicle, which if it is 4wd has a higher center of gravity anyway, and it pitches all the way down to the brake rotor or drum and that often results in roll over crash.

Yes, they have the look, and yes they are strong enough to carry heavy loads, but when they are compromised catastrophic failure as opposed to a deformed (bent) wheel is how they fail. 

I am not saying forged alloy wheels are stronger, cast wheels may or may not be, but when they fail they don't look and perform like an undamaged wheel.  They may look fine, but they have cracks that you may not be aware of until you make that sudden move to miss a deer or a broken down vehicle that stopped in front of you and making that turning or braking move may be all it takes for "all hell to break loose" at 70 mph. 

   

[thinkingman]

Same reason I'm not a fan of Ruger revolvers.
I'll take forging over casting every time.

[CAMPMEAT]

I buy wheels and tires from Purcell Tire only. I had the same problem with my new wheels cracking. They replaced all wheels with a different brand and even through in a new Michelin LTX tire so my spare was the same size as the rest. That's service..

[jackelope]

Being in the car fixing business, at this point in my career it would take me more than 1 hand to count the number of fracked aftermarket aluminum wheels i have seen. If you ask me, it's usually the wrong application that the wheels are being used in that causes it to happen. Probably, they shouldn't sell those inferior wheels to fit on these big heavy trucks. I see an F350 with a 10' camper in the bed towing a boat rolling on some a/m aluminum wheels at 70 on I-90 over the pass and all I can think about are the cracks.

[Happy Gilmore]

Well, I want to post a whole bunch of cuss words here. I had them order a bfg for the replacement wheel for a full size spare. Then he says, $600. Nope, they are only crediting one of the wheels that broke. Wanted me to pay for the second one that broke. I was going to pay their price for the tire, which was $60 more than dealer price just to be done with it all.

I'm so pissed off at these lying corporate guy and store manager. Thu said I would be credited for the first wheel, $212 and they will replace the second broken wheel. I said, "you do that my trailer needs new tires ill get it all at once" great, deal.

Well, today no deal. After a 2 hour wait to put on the wheel i dropped off a week ago. That's a total of 11 hours of squatting in a Schwab store and all they ever did was mount one tire.

Never ever again. The people are nice but, when a company manages their business like this they do not deserve anyone's business. Period. And they over price which is just taking advantage of every old grandma who trusted the real Les when he was alive.

[Widgeondeke]

sounds like you need to call that corporate guy again   

[Happy Gilmore]

sounds like you need to call that corporate guy again   

Apparently the store manager talked to him this am. I've left him two messages today.

[Duckslayer89]

Getting the shcwab brakes torn of and replaced today can't wait for the shutter to stop