So, after months of wondering what the hell was going on with my creeking rims (16.5x14 Weld Sidewinders), we finally found the problem and a fix. The problem is with the conehead center caps. With it being a metal to metal contact with the rim, when driving, the rim flexes and causes the clicking & creeking noise. What I did was went and bought a tube of silicon and put a bead of it around the edge of the conehead center caps. I allowed it to dry for 24 hours and put the caps back on and thus no metal to metal contact. Guess what happened...no noise!!! :7 If you are experienceing this or know someone who is, call this guy:

Brandon Lowery
Weld Wheel Industries
1-800-488-9353 ext279
BLowery@Weldracing.com

I told him a simple fix would be for the factory to put some sort of seal around the end of the conehead caps so there wouldn't be a metal to metal contact. He says that he is going to talk to the engineers about it and I think if he hears a few more voices, maybe they will do something about it sooner. For the amount of money we pay for Weld rims, I think that this problem shouldn't exist. He also keeps a database so maybe if he hears enough of us, they will fix this problem and give us the new caps

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-May-02 AT 00:59 AM (EST)]I hear ya!! i ve had my weld scorpio's 16.5x9.75 for a few years now. altho at first i went nutz trying to figure out what the hell that noise was. first i thought it was my cv axle, but then i noticed when i put my stock rims on (for winter) the noise when away. next i put the stock center caps on with my weld rims and NO noise. so believe me i spent some time hunting that down.. yeah they need to make a new design cap..other than that awesome rim!

97 f-150 4x4 flareside
4 rancho lift
33 bfg mud ta's
jba headers gibson cat-back
kn ftpk
4.10 gears
manik brush guard
grizzley side bars
b&m shift kit
& on & on
& 4 sell

 

Agreed. :7 It wouldn't cost them much to fix this problem.

 

I have a set of Alcoa 5 spoke wheels with the alcoa centercaps.The centers have a small rubber o-ring on the flange of the cap where it meets the rim.This design was proably made to take care of the same problem you guys are experienceing.So a easy fix at the factory for those wheels should not be any kind of problem.
ED








No big chicks,just big tires!

 

I've talked to one of the head engineers at Weld. His name is Mike Kent. If you have any problems with these conehead caps on your truck, give him a call at the Weld number above. I don't have an extension for him, but if you just ask for him, they will transfer you.

 

I'm hoping someone out there can help, I've contacted Weld Racing several times on the same question, and I don't get a consistent answer.

I have a 2000 F250 Lariat SuperDuty CrewCab. I'm in the process of ordering a set Typhoons from Weld Racing. The rear axle of the truck has a full-floating hub that sticks out just under 4 inches. Can anyone tell me if the optional "conehead" caps from Weld will fit over this hub? Weld Racing says yes, my tire shop says no, but I've seen photos on the web where folks have done this before.

Thanks.

 

Brainlowe,

I replyed to your other post. Check it out. They will work.