How to Keep Hubcaps from Falling Off
- Date: 2007-01-17 - Word Count: 718
Share This!
Hubcaps should mount firmly onto your rims, with full contact all around the perimeter of the steel wheel. You should be able to remove them with your bare hands with great difficulty, or not at all. This is the case with over 99% of standard wheels. However, there is some minor variation in diameter between wheels made by different manufacturers. If your wheels are 'tight' you may have difficulty mounting hubcaps all the way on. If your wheels are "loose" they may make noises or they might come off when you hit bumps.
If your wheels are loose, or slightly oversized, your hubcaps may not mount firmly enough to stay on over bumps at highway speeds. Here are some tips to remedy this situation. These tips apply to standard modern push-on type hubcaps.
1. Make sure you have not applied any "lubricant" products to the surface of the steel wheel where the hubcaps mount, especially in the recess around the bead of the tire.
Products like ArmorAll or Tire Shine contain silicone and other lubricants that can increase the slickness of surfaces they are applied to. If this is the case, thoroughly clean the residue off the mounting surface where the hubcap struts come in contact with the wheel with alcohol or paint thinner. Also clean any residue off the hubcap mounting struts. Remount and test.
2. If your hubcaps have a second notch for the spring retention ring, to position it closer to the outer face of the hubcap, you can try moving the ring to that slot.
Note: The normal position for the spring ring is at the END of the mounting strut, moving it's position closer to the outer face of the hubcap will VASTLY increase the mounting pressure on a normal wheel, to the extent that the hubcap may crack before it mounts all the way. But if your wheel is oversize, it will increase the fit to 'snug.'
3. If your hubcaps have spring metal mounting clips on the ends of the struts, you can try bending every other one outward 1/4 inch, remount and test. If that is still not enough holding pressure, bend the rest of them outward. That usually does it.
4. If the above have not worked for you, you can try this: Wrap the outer contact point of every other strut with black electricians tape. The goal is to get 3 or 4 wraps of additional thickness on the mounting strut or clip, which will increase its holding power. Remount and test. If this is still not enough, go ahead and wrap the rest of them.
5. In some rare cases, the paint on steel wheels is glossy and slick, especially when painted to match the car. This can result in hubcap loss, even when the hubcaps seem to go on tight. In this case, you can use coarse 80 grit sandpaper to roughen the paint in the area where the hubcap struts contact the wheel. Make the scratches parallel to the circumference of the wheel. This can give the mounting struts enough extra grab to keep them in their place. Do not sand enough to remove all the paint, the hubcap mounting struts will grab the paint better than bare steel.
6. If your wheels have been deformed out of round by impact with curbs or road hazards, you may never be able to get hubcaps to stay on. This condition will also cause the tire wear pattern to be uneven, and may cause a shimmy as you drive. One way to diagnose this problem is to have a friend follow you in another car to observe if any of your wheels are wobbling. This would also show up on a spin-balancing machine. The only real fix for the problem is to replace the wheel.
7. If all else fails, you can try this trick, often used by police departments to reduce hubcap loss in high speed chases. Obtain a dozen nylon ties, the kind with one flat end that goes through the square hole at the other other end and you pull tight. They need to be 6-8 inches long, at least 2 per hubcap, 3 is better. Go through a couple of holes in your wheel and matching holes in the hubcap, and cinch them tight. Not as pretty, but it works.
If your wheels are loose, or slightly oversized, your hubcaps may not mount firmly enough to stay on over bumps at highway speeds. Here are some tips to remedy this situation. These tips apply to standard modern push-on type hubcaps.
1. Make sure you have not applied any "lubricant" products to the surface of the steel wheel where the hubcaps mount, especially in the recess around the bead of the tire.
Products like ArmorAll or Tire Shine contain silicone and other lubricants that can increase the slickness of surfaces they are applied to. If this is the case, thoroughly clean the residue off the mounting surface where the hubcap struts come in contact with the wheel with alcohol or paint thinner. Also clean any residue off the hubcap mounting struts. Remount and test.
2. If your hubcaps have a second notch for the spring retention ring, to position it closer to the outer face of the hubcap, you can try moving the ring to that slot.
Note: The normal position for the spring ring is at the END of the mounting strut, moving it's position closer to the outer face of the hubcap will VASTLY increase the mounting pressure on a normal wheel, to the extent that the hubcap may crack before it mounts all the way. But if your wheel is oversize, it will increase the fit to 'snug.'
3. If your hubcaps have spring metal mounting clips on the ends of the struts, you can try bending every other one outward 1/4 inch, remount and test. If that is still not enough holding pressure, bend the rest of them outward. That usually does it.
4. If the above have not worked for you, you can try this: Wrap the outer contact point of every other strut with black electricians tape. The goal is to get 3 or 4 wraps of additional thickness on the mounting strut or clip, which will increase its holding power. Remount and test. If this is still not enough, go ahead and wrap the rest of them.
5. In some rare cases, the paint on steel wheels is glossy and slick, especially when painted to match the car. This can result in hubcap loss, even when the hubcaps seem to go on tight. In this case, you can use coarse 80 grit sandpaper to roughen the paint in the area where the hubcap struts contact the wheel. Make the scratches parallel to the circumference of the wheel. This can give the mounting struts enough extra grab to keep them in their place. Do not sand enough to remove all the paint, the hubcap mounting struts will grab the paint better than bare steel.
6. If your wheels have been deformed out of round by impact with curbs or road hazards, you may never be able to get hubcaps to stay on. This condition will also cause the tire wear pattern to be uneven, and may cause a shimmy as you drive. One way to diagnose this problem is to have a friend follow you in another car to observe if any of your wheels are wobbling. This would also show up on a spin-balancing machine. The only real fix for the problem is to replace the wheel.
7. If all else fails, you can try this trick, often used by police departments to reduce hubcap loss in high speed chases. Obtain a dozen nylon ties, the kind with one flat end that goes through the square hole at the other other end and you pull tight. They need to be 6-8 inches long, at least 2 per hubcap, 3 is better. Go through a couple of holes in your wheel and matching holes in the hubcap, and cinch them tight. Not as pretty, but it works.
Related Tags: car, auto, lose, truck, installation, tighten, hubcaps, wheel covers, retain, mounting clips, fall off
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Improve the Value of Your Truck With a Truck Bed Cover
If you are a truck owner and are looking for a way to increase the value and also protect your inves - An Overview of Emergency Road Services
Anyone that owns a vehicle definitely understands that there are truly countless facets of driving a - Buying From Car and Truck Auctions in Canada
Buying a vehicle from an auction can be a good way to pick up a bargain as long as you know what you - 2011 Green Car Of The Year- Who's In It To Win It!
The Green Car of the Year award is a program designed by Green Car Jouranl to recognize and honor ve - Honda's 2010 Odyssey is Efficient, Practical and Convenient
If you are looking for a minivan that has a seating capacity of up to eight persons and handles almo - Greener Trucks For Delivery Work
Green' is a word you'll hear a lot when it comes to transportation, from bicycles to buses - but you - The Courier and Haute Couture
Some jobs just ooze opportunity to flaunt yourself and show off your latest togs but sadly that's ra - All-New 2011 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has been a continuous leader for years in the family midsize sedan class by being a - The Various Benefits Of Summer Tires
As you probably know , different tires are optimized for different conditions. Not only that, someth - A Couple of Tips on Buying a Used Cars in Toronto
If your old car has finally kicked the bucket and you need to get yourself a new mode of transport t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Remove Window Tint
Applying tinting film to car or household windows may be fun, but removing it can be tricky if yo - Transporting Your Car
If you are relocating to another state or another country for employment or family reasons, you may - Choosing The Right Sticker For The Motorcycle Helmet
When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because s - Suzuki's 2007 Xl7, “wave” Grand Vitara Debuts at the 2007 Scias
In the news: American Suzuki Motor Corporation has presented its array of cars and SUVs at the 2007 - Nissan Skyline GTR: A Racer That Is Affordable
If you've ever eyed a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari Testarossa, but thought the price was too steep, the - How To Buy Cheap Cars
There are a number of seized car auctions held in various places every month or at least quarterly. - Federal Agencies Expands Hybrid Fleet
Three federal agencies in Kansas recently added hybrid vehicles to their fleet. The hybrid vehicles - New Cars, New Gadgets Presented at the 2007 Naias
The 2007 North American International Auto Show has become an event of glamour, fashion and technolo - Aura Green Line Added to 3 Federal Fleets in Kansas
Three Kansas City area federal agencies added Monday the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid vehi - Top Vehicles by Autoweek Editors Honored at 2007 Naias
Everybody has favorites. Bill may like Ford cars. Susan may be attracted much by the power of pi