Front rims leak 3 piece

west coast · 06-21-2021, 11:31 AM

At the divisional I had both fronts leak, bad enough to get out of the lanes and go back to my trailer and fill one up. I took them off put them in water and found the rim to be leaking between the halfs. These are a 3 piece rims american racing wheels. I had taken them apart and had them hydra dipped. I put them back together and used a clear silcone between the halfs and ran a bead of silcone where they 2 halfs meet and smoothed it out with my finger. Is there there something better to use than silcone? could I put something over the silcone to stop the leak? Or am I starting to remove the silcone and start from scatch?

garyc · 06-21-2021, 02:58 PM

"as seen on TV" arresol gutter seal

Mike Pearson · 06-21-2021, 03:26 PM

Typically once you use silicone sealant on something you are stuck with it. Its almost impossible to remove all of the residue from silicone sealer. There are some different grades of silicone sealant. You might look for an acid cure sealant. You wont find that at your local home depot or hardware store. You would have to look at a commercial sealant supplier. I know Dow Corning makes it. reseal the wheels and let it cure for about a week before you put pressure on it.

Tom Goldman · 06-21-2021, 04:14 PM

I've had good luck with urethane windshield sealer .
You have to get all the old sealer off and use the primer ,but I've not had any that I've done leak.

Jeff Stout · 06-21-2021, 06:30 PM

So far I tightened the bolts on my 3 piece Weld as they were leaking. Checked and tires are still up. Will watch others opinions in case I need to take them apart.

SSDiv6 · 06-21-2021, 06:54 PM

The best sealant for 3 piece wheels is Dow Corning 832 sealant
Also as suggested: Urethane Windshield Sealer or Permatex Ultra Grey.

Clean the halves very wheel, torque the bolts in a sequence and then apply the sealant to the joint.

RTV Silicones that are acetoxy catalyzed, release Acetic Acid while curing and not good for Aluminum or Magnesium wheels.

As Mike Pearson stated, you need to use a light acid based cleaner to remove the residue and clean thoroughly with Acetone or MEK..

Arnold Greene · 06-21-2021, 03:23 PM

Ultra gray gasket sealer. Clean well, apply, bolt together, clean up excess, let dry for 2 to 3 days. They will be extremely hard to take apart the next time.

06-21-2021, 11:31 AM	#1
west coast Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rainy Washington Posts: 577 Likes: 4 Liked 129 Times in 49 Posts	Front rims leak 3 piece At the divisional I had both fronts leak, bad enough to get out of the lanes and go back to my trailer and fill one up. I took them off put them in water and found the rim to be leaking between the halfs. These are a 3 piece rims american racing wheels. I had taken them apart and had them hydra dipped. I put them back together and used a clear silcone between the halfs and ran a bead of silcone where they 2 halfs meet and smoothed it out with my finger. Is there there something better to use than silcone? could I put something over the silcone to stop the leak? Or am I starting to remove the silcone and start from scatch? __________________ James Boyce 6052 K/SA Stock National record holder 2015,2018,2 times in 2022,2023

06-21-2021, 02:58 PM	#2
garyc Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 124 Likes: 0 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece "as seen on TV" arresol gutter seal

06-21-2021, 03:26 PM	#3
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,323 Likes: 546 Liked 1,643 Times in 503 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece Typically once you use silicone sealant on something you are stuck with it. Its almost impossible to remove all of the residue from silicone sealer. There are some different grades of silicone sealant. You might look for an acid cure sealant. You wont find that at your local home depot or hardware store. You would have to look at a commercial sealant supplier. I know Dow Corning makes it. reseal the wheels and let it cure for about a week before you put pressure on it. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

06-21-2021, 04:14 PM	#4
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,436 Likes: 776 Liked 700 Times in 204 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece I've had good luck with urethane windshield sealer . You have to get all the old sealer off and use the primer ,but I've not had any that I've done leak. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

06-21-2021, 06:30 PM	#5
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,410 Likes: 53 Liked 656 Times in 256 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece So far I tightened the bolts on my 3 piece Weld as they were leaking. Checked and tires are still up. Will watch others opinions in case I need to take them apart.

06-21-2021, 06:54 PM	#6
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 2,991 Likes: 693 Liked 1,457 Times in 543 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece The best sealant for 3 piece wheels is Dow Corning 832 sealant Also as suggested: Urethane Windshield Sealer or Permatex Ultra Grey. Clean the halves very wheel, torque the bolts in a sequence and then apply the sealant to the joint. RTV Silicones that are acetoxy catalyzed, release Acetic Acid while curing and not good for Aluminum or Magnesium wheels. As Mike Pearson stated, you need to use a light acid based cleaner to remove the residue and clean thoroughly with Acetone or MEK..

06-21-2021, 03:23 PM	#7
Arnold Greene Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Front rims leak 3 piece Ultra gray gasket sealer. Clean well, apply, bolt together, clean up excess, let dry for 2 to 3 days. They will be extremely hard to take apart the next time. __________________ Arnold Greene IHRA/NHRA 2420 A/S, B/S