Monoblock and 3 Piece Wheels - What's the Difference?

In the wheel industry, forged wheels are regarded as being the premium rim type as they offer a number of performance, styling, and strength benefits. There are two main variants of custom forged wheels; monoblock and 3 piece. The fundamental difference between forged monoblock wheels and 3 piece units are the number of parts that make up each rim. This also leads to unique styling and performance advantages for each type.

The manufacturing process for both forged monoblock wheels and 3 piece wheels is very similar. Both types of custom forged wheels begin as blocks of pure aerospace-grade T6-6061 aluminum. The blocks of aluminum are placed inside a forging machine where it is compressed under colossal amounts of pressure to create the shape of a rim, or piece of a wheel. The intense pressure creates a dense grain structure without any microscopic imperfections, giving the wheel an incredibly high strength. This strong composition allows for manufactures to use less metal than other rim types, lending to a lighter overall weight.

Forged monoblock wheels are often referred to as "1 piece" rims because they are made of a single piece of T6-6061 aluminum. After the piece of metal is forged, it is taken to a CNC milling machine where metal is shaved off and the design is cut into the rim. Forged monoblock wheels are the lightest of any custom forged wheels due to their single piece construction and forged aluminum makeup. The low weight helps to reduce weight at the wheel hub of a vehicle, thus leading to faster acceleration, greater lateral grip, quicker braking, and improved fuel economy. Their forged construction also makes them durable and reliable, which is why they are often used for performance cars and at autocross, track, and racing events.

The other popular type of rim is the forged 3 piece wheel. The process of manufacturing this wheel type is very similar to a forged monoblock wheel except a 3 piece wheel begins as three separate pieces of T6-6061 aluminum blocks. These blocks are forged and milled into three different pieces: the wheel face, the outer hoop, and the inner hoop. The inner and outer hoops are fixed together by an airtight Silicone RTV seal, and then the wheel face is fastened to the inner and outer hoops by perimeter bolts. The construction of 3 piece rims makes them the most expensive custom forged wheels, but they are oftentimes the most inexpensive to repair due to the fact that only the damaged part needs to be replaced. 3 piece rims are also heavier than monoblock wheels because of the additional hardware required to construct the rim. Their three piece construction does allow for a wide variety of widths, color combinations, finishes, and offsets to be used to create a truly perfect fitment.

Forged monoblock wheels and 3 piece rims are the two main types of custom forged wheels. Monoblock wheels offer greater weight, strength, and performance advantages over other rim types, while 3 piece wheels provide greater customization options.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6130164