Stupid center caps
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Stupid center caps
Fortunately the 2nd problem with my 7600 mile Cream Puff '98 isn't as big a deal as the miserable squealing belt. My Dad lost a front 'hub cap' during a gentle drive across the back lawn, found it, but was afraid to put it back on b/c he believed it was missing 2 of the spring 'clamps' that hold it onto the 5 lug nuts. I made a quick check & confirmed the other 'hub caps' all had just 3 of these springs. Then to assure the one that fell of would stay on, took the time to bend each prong on all 3 springs in, so that they might grip better & soundly pushed it into position. Today, after a gentle 10 mile trip to town, I discovered the same 'hub cap' was gone for good! A quick stop at my local junkyard confirmed that the design is a notorious PITA.
Has anyone come up with a good way to keep these silly OEM 'hub caps' from flying off at the slightest provocation? FORD advertizes & promotes rough offroad use that would surely send all 4 'hub caps' whizzing off into the void.
Has anyone come up with a good way to keep these silly OEM 'hub caps' from flying off at the slightest provocation? FORD advertizes & promotes rough offroad use that would surely send all 4 'hub caps' whizzing off into the void.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 562
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From: YYC
buy some rims!!...haha you can get a cheap set of 4 chrome steel rims...or aluminum ones at a not bad price these days....i think one guy had a set for sale on here with center caps for $100...they were the machined aluminum ones!(16")
THNX
Duggy
THNX
Duggy
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Southern Louisiana
I have no idea how to get them to stay on. I have over 220,000 miles and mine never fell off, and I never done anything special to them either. Maybe quit driving it gently? I never drove my truck gently and they stayed on.
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This XLT has nice looking 16" aluminum wheels that I have no intention of replacing-"buy some rims!!" is not an option or an answer to the problem. Hard to believe nobody else has had trouble with this design shortcoming. Junkyard says that the 3 stupid springs are also famous for rusting out & dropping the caps. I'd like to find some extra spring clips & install the caps with 5 instead of the original 3. Imagine asking the Stealership for those? Perhaps I can find some extra OEM caps, anybody got some? Would like to avoid gluing them on, they should snap on, stay on & be able to be snapped off as intended.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Louisville, Kentucky
I had one of my flying W caps leave one day shortly after getting new tires on my truck. Went back to the tire store and brought it to their attention. The guy behind the counter was very aware of the problem clips. He made a phone call or two and then sent me to a hub cap shop a few miles away. They had several take offs from wrecks I guess. They gave me another one. The tire shop guys are much more careful with them now. Good luck! 
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I've lost two of these dam things in the span of 4 years of owning this truck. Lost them both on logging roads. Ford wanted $50+ for them, managed to find them at a junker for $20, but still. I tried buying more that ONE last time I was in, but they just had the one. I feel its going to happen again.
I like the loc-tite idea, ill throw some of that on next time i rotate the tires...
I like the loc-tite idea, ill throw some of that on next time i rotate the tires...
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Losing 4 "Stupid center caps" bites! Think my Dad had his fall off in the back yard soon after the dealership did the lug nut recall. Great recoup though, finding 4 for $30, my local junkyard wanted $25 each! Will wait to find a good deal. Anyone got any broken, ugly, cosmetically damaged center caps that I can pirate some extra spring clips from-presume several styles had the same clips?
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,340
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From: SW VA
Hmm...I've never lost one either, and I do A LOT of off-road driving with my truck. It's been sunk in the mud to the frame, driven through creeks, and been down hundreds of miles of rutted out logging roads...
Good luck with it!
Good luck with it!
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Southeast FLA
Mine stay on, but I'd bet my "gentle" bending-in of the tabs was done a bit more than the rest of you guys. You've got to bend them in good, but keep them at an angle they won't crush in on themselves (I found two tabs this way, and I'm sure it was the 'mechanics' (that's a stretch) at the place I had my new tires put on less than a year ago).
Save for the one I lost when I bought the truck - the one that taught me the lesson of taking care of them - I haven't lost another in three years, 'knock on wood.'
Bend them so you know they'll stay on, be careful about getting the angles right when putting them on after the better-bent tabs, and don't keep taking them off to clean the wheels.
Save for the one I lost when I bought the truck - the one that taught me the lesson of taking care of them - I haven't lost another in three years, 'knock on wood.'
Bend them so you know they'll stay on, be careful about getting the angles right when putting them on after the better-bent tabs, and don't keep taking them off to clean the wheels.
Last edited by GammaDriver; Oct 9, 2007 at 05:10 AM.
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From: Southeast FLA
Originally Posted by fdrf150
I've got a 2003 4x4 and have never lost mine either but I see them all the time on ebay at pretty good prices and also have seen "aftermarket" ones that look just like the OEM.
Some time after I had lost mine I started sating this young gal who was a bit artsy. One day, over at her apartment, I happened to start looking at the wall decorations and - lo and behold - there one was! I had never noticed it before because it really did mix in with the ecletic, but not trashy, decorations.
Even as we were taking notice of each other on the couch, I have to admit that in the back of my head I was trying to decide whether or not asking her for the center-cap would be appropriate...
I decided to not ask.
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