7 replies to this topic

[leeuk]

I have purchased a set of original hubcaps for my replica cooper s 4.5 x 10 wheels and although they fit onto the wheel the hubcaps are slightly loose by about 3-5mm and would rattle about and even fall off,

Has anyone had any experience with these stainless hubcaps ?

Is it a case of me reshaping the edge of them a little so as they clip onto the wheel more tightly or do they come in slightly different sizes ?

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[Rog46]

I've found this several times on hubcaps fitted to minis and to other cars. Often they are slightly out of round, and if you rotate them so the bits that were meeting the lugs are in the gaps and vica versa then they grip OK.

[A-Cell]

Or as the OP says tweak them a little to tighten up the fit.

[leeuk]

I've found this several times on hubcaps fitted to minis and to other cars. Often they are slightly out of round, and if you rotate them so the bits that were meeting the lugs are in the gaps and vica versa then they grip OK.

 

Thankyou for the reply.

They seemed to spin around on the wheel lugs without much resistance at all but I shall have a go at rotating and tweaking to see if this helps,

I was also thinking of maybe something on the inside of the hubcaps to help butt them tighter against the back of the lugs of the wheels

[grck1]

if there new caps and are clean and dry / grease free then maybe running a bead of silicone around the inside and leave to set, will be nice and elastic and take up the slack when you fit them. or could try running isulation tape around.

i think trying to reshape would mark them and would be annoying to do lol

[leeuk]

if there new caps and are clean and dry / grease free then maybe running a bead of silicone around the inside and leave to set, will be nice and elastic and take up the slack when you fit them. or could try running isulation tape around.

i think trying to reshape would mark them and would be annoying to do lol

Yes mate I think my first plan of action is to try like you say a bead of tape around the inside of the hubcap to hopefully take up the gap/slack which will in turn hold it tightly to the wheel

[Rog46]

I'm fairly sure there were never (intentionally) different sizes, but the hubcaps tend to stretch with use.

[leeuk]

I'm fairly sure there were never (intentionally) different sizes, but the hubcaps tend to stretch with use.

Ok thankyou cheers for that mate  

although they are in a good nick they are getting on a bit now as they are an original set taken from an early cooper.

It could be a very expensive game if it was a case of trial and error,

I didn't fancy having to buy 2 or 3 sets of used hubcaps to find a set that fits well and I didn't want to go to Minispares for a new set to find they too didn't fit right either but I should imagine as you have said they can stretch over time the ones from Minispares will fit nice and snug,

My best bet I think is to try and pack these hubcaps in some way, and if that fails then I shall have to stop being stingy and buy myself a new set.

I should of done this in the first place I think as I have a feeling that I shall have to run upto Minispares.

Thanks very much for your input