VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1990-Current 2009 silverado aluminum wheels

My wheels are 17" aluminum and while I realize I am in an area of the country that uses a lot of salt I am disappointed in how they are corroding. Also seems to be more frame and suspension rust than there should be. It only has 43000 miles and being retired I don't venture out in the snow if I don't absolutely have to. That being said I also have another 2009 vehicle (Honda) with aluminum wheels and there is not a spot of corrosion on any of them and they have 35000 miles on them. Just wondering if anyone else in snow country has encountered a similar situation.

The guy down the steet from me has I guess 2009? Ford pick-up and the chrome is peeling off of his rims, almost looks like blisters. While your winters are harder we are surrounded by salt water where we are so what we don't get in the winter we make up for in the summer. I myself never had a problem, but I trade them in every 4 years and by a new one. I just traded in a 2009 Yukon and the rims were fine. I don't want the headache once the warranty runs out.
I do make it a habit of taking them to the car wash every week in the winter, maybe that helps?

I have seen that at the Chevrolet dealer I call on. If new enough Chevrolet took care of it.

I've never experienced a Chevy dealer that would pursue any factory help after the warranty period. Their usual answer is its time to trade as the "new" ones don't have that problem. I really like the truck, but I think GM still has some shortcomings in the customer service area. My daughter and grandson both had Toyota pickups with frame rust problems. They outright purchased my grandsons truck for full "book" market value and it was quite beat up and they replaced the frame on my daughters truck no charge with a free loaner. And the loaner was not bottom end-it was an equal pick up with lots of extras. Taking care of customers pays as my daughter liked the loaner so much she bought it.

I have a 2003 Chevrolet s10 extreme extended cab, just broke 60,000.
I have had the car sprayed for rust proofing from CROWN RUST CONTROL every fall and since I also started driving it as 2nd car in winter I get it in the spring too. Crown is an oily thin substance that creeps into everywhere rust can start. I believe its based on fish oil. Its rust free on all body panels and the frame.

If you do not have your car sprayed with non factory rust control systems , its going to rot out. Preventive maintenance is the secret to longevity .

Factory dealer installed rust proofing is a joke !!!!!


Now re the wheels, mine has aluminum wheels with some type of factory coating and all 4 are toast. Blisters all over the place. I can buy new ones off ebay or reconditioned for less money than it costs to get somebody here to refinish them.
Does anybody know what gm coats their aluminum wheels with ?????

mike lynch ------

It is my understanding the the aluminum wheels are coated with clear Urethane.

Just got back from the dealer who was no help. He did say the frame looked better than most as some rust out before the warranty is up. Also said the new warranty has been reduced-must be costing them too much!!!

Steve,
Here is a site you might want to check out. Sometimes GM reps will answer questions or assist with other information. I do know since at least 2002 the frame was coated in wax to use as a sealer. Seems more like something that could serve more as a trap for corrosives. I never had come across the problems with underside rust on my trucks as you have, but here on Long Island we (most winters) we will get a snow storm then will be followed by a few rain storms washing the salt away or at the least diluting a little. I was up your way in June picking a car up for a friend and was amazed at the amount of rust through on new vehicles regardless of make. Recently have been placing a lawn spinkler under my truck, weather permitting and rinsing the bottom off. Also have been spraying a coat of WD-40 over everything prior to winter.
Late Model Silverado/Sierra Site

Thanks John I'll check it out. There are places here doing underbody oiling and guaranteeing no rust out, but its a once a year repetitive program at $100.00 each year. My grandson had a Jeep Liberty 2004 with 260,000 miles and the frame looked better than mine. I hope to get a chance before salt season to remove/convert/seal the rust and repaint the frame as I plan on keeping it for another four years. Should have about 60,000 miles by then and should fetch top dollar with a decent frame. The lawn sprinkler is a good idea, but it does freeze over here in the winter and I don't have a drain in the garage.

Contact Chevrolet Customer Service at 800 222 1020.

Have your V.I.N., current mileage and delivery date ( if known) available.

I have factually known C.C.S. to become involved and assist an owner in obtaining new wheels or refinish the customers existing wheels ....... BUT, it depends on how long the problem has been a problem, before making the initial contact with C.C.S.

For 2009, Chevrolet offered a 6 year/100,000 mile rust through warranty, "rust through" being the key words, however.

Thanks for the info, I may give them a call. I don't expect my frame will rust thru in the next year which will be in the sixth year, however it looks like crap. The wheels started corroding slightly a year ago but is now quite extensive.

Best of luck in getting those wheels redone or replaced.

I must say it's a crap shoot with Chevy's decisions and / or their willingness to assist, but it's worth the time on the phone.

I spent 35 years with Chevy and dealt with C.C.S. each and every day.

What I thought would never be covered by Chevy was covered, and what I truly expected to be covered wasn't.

If we were using a webcam to speak with Chevy, certainly we would see a roulette wheel in the background !

I spent 41 years working for heavy truck dealers and many times what wasn't covered by warranty was partially or completely adjusted by the factory under "policy" adjustments. I never had such luck with a GM product. It's ironic that the zone manager is now a member of our region, though I am sure he did not get to make the decisions. It seemed that the customer service reps were only concerned with protecting their dealers rather than the customers. I did try cleaning up a spot on one of the wheels and it looks like stripping and resealing will work, but I will wait until the end of March to do it. I want to have the tires off to do it and by then will probably be ready for new rubber.

Policy adjustments are alive and well at Chevrolet.

Policy adjustments are the core of C.C.S.

If all warranty work was performed under the basic parameters of Chevy warranty provisions, C.C.S. would have little to do.

If you choose not to contact Chevy with your complaint, you'll never know if there was a policy adjustment out there for you.

I'll let you know the results of my call.

Best of luck ......

I made the call and pleaded my case to two reps. Now waiting for a call back with their resolution.

What will you do if they offer you painted steel rims?

I don't expect much help. New wheels are $217.00 at retail and I'm sure I could purchase them at a better price as my former employer was a GMC dealer and I still have plenty of contacts. Other than a N/C replacement I will probably pass on any other offer such as buying at dealer net. I will need tires in the Spring so may use the purchase leverage of buying the tires from them at normal competitive retail plus new wheels at a "special" price. As far as steel rims , if N/C they may come in handy while I get my AL ones polished and coated. I could then use the steel in the Winter. No return call as of 5:48 PM Eastern.

They might even give you a coupon towards a purchase of a new vehicle, if they do make sure you can transfer it to a family member, and with no expiration! My Father-in-Law was given one for his exploding gas tank pick-up. He ended up transfering it to my wife and we used it about 5 years later

Thanks for the heads up John, thats good to know.

When you say "reps", you're speaking of the folks at C.C.S., correct ?

In Cleveland, Ohio, we handled these warranty funky looking, salt chewed rims with a subcontractor who refinished the wheels/rims.

They looked just great when stripped and refinished.

Yes-C.C.S. who said they would contact the dealer who sold me the truck. I did a test spot on one wheel and they will clean up nicely with some effort. I could do it myself but hope I don't have to. I will want the tires off so want to wait until replacing the tires which will probably be next Spring.

I hope you receive satisfaction from Chevy.

In my days with Chevy ..... living in the "rustbelt area of Ohio", the Cleveland Zone, aluminum wheels were addressed, as a "warranty repair", beyond normal parameters of warranty coverage, based on the (1)vehicles' physical location, (2)) time on the road since initial delivery date and (3)customer retention (satisfaction).

I am keeping my fingers crossed but did not get a return call yet. New Hampshire is also in the "rustbelt" part of the country as they use lots of salt in the winter and even a liquid deicer thats even worse. I only have 44000 miles in the 5-1/2 years that I have owned it and have been retired 4 of those. When its lousy driving I stay home unless I absolutely have to go out.