silicon for three piece rims?

[ti-enthuz]

Hey, Does anyone know if there is a specific silicone used to mend three piece wheels? Would silicone from Home Depot/ Lowe's suffice?
Thanks,
Brendon

[Minninips]

Brendon,

You'll want clear silicone, not sure on the brand/type. Make sure to fully clean all old silicone out of the wheel and rivet holes. Scrape all extra silicone making the surface smooth and flush with the wheel. Allow the silicone to cure for at least 24 hours.

If you're doing this yourself make sure to submerge the completed wheel and tire in water and slowly rotate the wheel to make sure you don't have a leak.

[pdxmotorhead]

Based on my experience with sprint car wheels,
The silicone does not go between the wheels sections, those are bare metal to metal, the silicone is usually applied with the wheels assembled you run a oversize bead around the wheel seams using a plastic body scraper to level (Concave just slightly) it on the wheel.

If your wheels dont have grooves at the junctions like "Weld" wheels you may need a different tactic. Its also an adhesive version not just a caulking, it has vary very high durometer compared to regular silicone. I'd check the 3m web page on their sealants and look for a high temperature material, or call their tech line they know a lot, surprised me many times....

Dave

[Minninips]

Attached is picture of what my installer uses.

[ti-enthuz]

Thank you for the informatin, I was looking into what GE offers as well. I want to be sure I will get a clean seal that will not wear in a few months time. Thanks again

Brendon

[ti-enthuz]

Dave, would you happen to know what 3m silicon you used in the past? I would imagine if the silicon withstood the abuse of sprint cars it would surely hold against a less aggresive application for street cars. Thanks again,

Brendon

[Minninips]

Brendon,

We've used this stuff on high end HRE's and other custom wheels without any problems.

[ti-enthuz]

Minni

Thanks for the information, Is this something I can pick up at a local hardware store? I will look into it. Thank you

Brendon

[Minninips]

Originally Posted by ti-enthuz

Minni

Thanks for the information, Is this something I can pick up at a local hardware store? I will look into it. Thank you

Brendon

Confirmed with my warehouse manager that we purchase it from Home Depot.

[ti-enthuz]

Minninips

May I have the exact name for this type of silicon? It seems GE makes many versions of silicon. Thanks a lot I appreciate your advise. If you trust this stuff on HRE's then it must be good stuff! FYI, I have Altstadt 4's. Had to replace the inner hubs and outer lips when speed star racing I believe, no longer distributed to North America.

Thanks

[ti-enthuz]

Cool, I would guess I need about a tube a wheel?

[ti-enthuz]

Nevermind, I think I can pull enough information from your pic. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

[pdxmotorhead]

http://www.bigwrenchracing.com/SILICONE.html

HV-350

I think this is the flavor we used, its VERY tough. Avoid any sealer that smells of vinigar when curing it will eat into AL.

Good Luck!
Dave

[cooljess76]

Windshield adhesive is some of the toughest stuff you'll find. Check out Dow BetaSeal and 3M Window Weld. These two products are very similar. Just make sure you spread it on top of the joint, if it gets in between, you'll never get it apart. Not only is it used to seal windshields onto cars, body shops use it to affix mirrors, moldings and panels that have lost or broken clips. It cures into a nice flexible rubber.

[ti-enthuz]

Thanks again Dave, I will look into it.