Chinese carbon wheels - delamination after 1K miles? Trash?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

applebaconator
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:48 am

by applebaconator

After logging ~1K miles (road), my 38mm matte 3K carbon fiber clincher with Novatec hub has developed serious delamination on the front wheel brake track - despite of using the provided Ashima cork brake pads, and no excessive drag braking. The delamination is so severe that the clincher wheels definitely is not safe for any descending any hill (especially if brakes need to be used). Rear wheel appear to be fine.

Question is - what should I do with the carbon wheel? Throw the front wheel to trash?

Definitely learned my lesson - I will be sticking with big reputable brands with proven brake track in the future. Currently using Shimano Dura Ace clincher. Also hope to upgrade to some ENVE SES 3.4 soon.

Update: photos of the 2 delaminations (both are around 3 to 4 inches in length) can be seen below (look at the right side in the photo).
Image
Image
Last edited by applebaconator on Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:44 am, edited 4 times in total.

jockalldrick
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 11:49 pm

by jockalldrick

Sorry to hear that
It doesn't sound like it can be saved in my opinion

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



toride
Posts: 153
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:19 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

by toride

surely you'll send it back to them, seems a loss to just skip it.
They might send you a replacement that has no issues.

odin99
Posts: 157
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:46 pm

by odin99

def get in touch with the seller. how long did you have them?
that sucks!

jockalldrick
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 11:49 pm

by jockalldrick

These things have such a hit or miss history in terms of returns though
Some have got issues sorted
But many others not so much
Once you factor in postage
It can kinda seem pointless.

Valbrona
Posts: 1629
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:25 am
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

by Valbrona

I would be interested to know where you ride. Meaning ... what type of descents have you been doing on those rims? But heat and carbon fibre do not mix very well, as you know. Seems strange that the front has been damaged when braking stresses would have been similar on both front and rear.

applebaconator
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:48 am

by applebaconator

No need to quote above

Been riding on paved California concreete roads. Never gone off road (into the dirt) with the chinese carbon wheels.

Depending the steepness of the hills, my bike route allows me to descend 30 miles per hour on them over fairly straight routes and slow without needing brakes). By the time I reach parts of my route where i have to use the brakes, usually traveling at 20 miles per hour speed.

It's definitely possible that the rear wheel has delamination or cracks too. I haven't seen anything yet. May be hard to see and possibly under the surface, but definitely not as noticeable as the 2 serious delaminations on the front wheel.

Dammit
Posts: 437
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:16 pm

by Dammit

Use it as a bling turbo wheel?

Voye
Posts: 148
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:12 pm

by Voye

What kind of rim tape or what type of finish is there on the inside of the rim/wheels? Not related to the problem here but curious about the what I'm seeing.

Thanks

User avatar
stella-azzurra
Posts: 5066
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:35 am
Location: New York

by stella-azzurra

I'd contact the seller and ask to get another wheel.
If this happens again then I would ask for my money back.
I never took drugs to improve my performance at any time. I will be willing to stick my finger into a polygraph test if anyone with big media pull wants to take issue. If you buy a signed poster now it will not be tarnished later. --Graeme Obree

eric
Posts: 2196
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:47 pm
Location: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Contact:

by eric

Were the pads what the rim manufacturer recommends? The other chinese carbon rims I have seen (and the ones I have bought) all use rubber based pads rather than cork.

I would not get random rims off a random ebay seller. There are chinese rim makers (or more often, tradign houses that sell them) that have a reputation to uphold. Their prices are about the same as the unknown ebay sellers. They're not perfect either but then neither are major manufacturers.

bm0p700f
in the industry
Posts: 5777
Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 7:25 pm
Location: Glermsford, Suffolk U.K
Contact:

by bm0p700f

There are good chinese rims and there are bad. You may have been unliky with a good manufacturer and a bad rim or just have picked a bad manufacturer. The rims ( I refuse to let someone else build wheels for me) that are in the post to me I believe are coming from a factory or should I say the sales office/trading house of that factory I would not trust so much an randon ebay seller as you do not know who has made them. Buy from a known company.

Valbrona
Posts: 1629
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:25 am
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

by Valbrona

Just goes to show which brake does most of the stopping.

tharmor
Posts: 423
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 6:20 am

by tharmor

You haven't mentioned the manufacturer/brand. I feel like that would be helpful.

applebaconator
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:48 am

by applebaconator

Rim tape - not sure which brand, but I will admit, it's pretty cool. Without the rim tape, it's pretty rough inside and tubes won't last inside them without tape.

I've only had the carbon wheels for a couple of months. Rode for 1K miles.

On the brake pads, yes I was using the brake pads recommended and provided. They are Ashima branded, cork~rubber mixed. Most of the chinese carbon wheels I have seen on Ebay are providing the same brake pads for their carbon wheels. Definitely not 100% rubber like the standard SRAM Red Swisstop ones or Shimano 105.

In case if you were wondering, my front brake levers are very well tuned and very lever. I too am little shocked that 2 areas, on the same side of the wheel, have serious delamination.

As for brand/manufacturer, I don't know the exact name. I bought them from Ebay seller onlycarbonwheel. I suspect they came out of the same Chinese factories that makes many other generic Chinese carbon wheels that are found on Aliexpress, Ebay.

eBay links are not permitted, please refrain from including them

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply