C4 Wheel Replacement Criteria

[George Warren 46042]

I recently bought a 1989 in mint condition with low mileage (27,000). To my horror when replacing the original tires due to a vibration at 60 and above, the service man showed me my right front wheel had a flatten side. A previous owner either hit a pot hole or ran up on a curb at a some serious miles per hour (at least that's all that comes to mind that would cause such damage. If you have any other ideas I'd like to hear them).

My question is this: since the car comes with low tire pressure sensors when I find a replacement wheel will it automatically come with the sensor or is this something that's removed from the old wheel beforehand and installed into the new one? Secondly, do I have to purchase specifically a right front wheel if the sensor is not part of the wheel assembly? Do I have to replace specifically the right front wheel if the sensor is part of the wheel assembly or can I replace it with any wheel I find? In other words are wheels interchangeable?

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Wheel Replacement Criteria

George-----

The wheel sensors are not a component of the wheel assembly. They are a separate part which can be removed and transferred to another wheel. The wheel sensors are specific to each of the 4 wheel positions. The one for your right front position should have a blue color code on it.

The wheels for an 89 Corvette are specific as to side. However, they are not specific as to front or rear. So, you need to find a right side wheel, but not necessarily a front wheel.

There are firms out there that do wheel repair. Whether yours is repairable I do not know, but it might be worth checking into. Do a search on "cast aluminum wheel repair" and see what you come up with.

The 1989 Corvette wheels were unique to the 1989 model year, so if you do need to find a used wheel, it will have to come from another 1989 Corvette if the wheels are to match. These wheels are no longer available from GM.