YJ8 wheel air leaks

[David C.]

[Chris D.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

Rim leaks on old aluminum wheels are common. My winter cars start to get grungy and oxidized behind the rim lip in 6 to 8 years and leak. 40 years of summers might get you to the same place. You can test assembly flat on the ground with soapy water. Watch for small bubble that grows oh so slowly.

When leakage speeds up, break down the tire, sand the grunge off the back side of the rim lip and hit it with clear coat.

[Michael H.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

Back in the day I thought one of the main reasons these wheels didn't go into production was because of porosity issues in the castings. If the wheels are not leaking around the rim then you have porosity issues in the casting. You may be able to spray the inside of the wheel with some type of sealer like a clear coat to seal the casting.

Mike

[Patrick B.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

I have been using some of these wheels (1976 or 77 vintage) on my 70 Corvette since the late 70's without any leak down issues. If there was a porosity problem 73 preproduction wheels, it must have been solved by 76. David are your wheels the actual preproduction 73 wheels or early production ones like mine?

[Dick W.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

Back in the day I thought one of the main reasons these wheels didn't go into production was because of porosity issues in the castings. If the wheels are not leaking around the rim then you have porosity issues in the casting. You may be able to spray the inside of the wheel with some type of sealer like a clear coat to seal the casting.

Mike

Epoxy paint works very good to seal the wheels. True magnesium wheels have a propensity to leak like a garden sprinkler. I have sealed them with epoxy.

[David C.]

[Steven B.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

I have a set on my '77 manufactured late '76 and a set on my B2Z '78 manufactured late '77 with never any wheel leaks since the cars were new. Like Dick I have sealed magnesium (Halibrands) with epoxy. The wheels originally planned for '73 did.

[Robert G.]

Re: YJ8 wheel air leaks

Being in the tire business for last 13 years. In my experience aluminum rims leak down on the bead because of oxidation. Which pushes the bead out from the rim. Take the wheels to a reputable tire shop explain the situation and have them clean off the beads and put bead sealer around the rim. Have done this 1000’s of times.