Wheel center cap retention
#1
11-16-2012, 08:54 AM
Wheel center cap retention
Anyone have tips for more securely (re)installing stock wheel center caps?
Only ever lost one in the past 5 years.
Got home last night after going to a brushless car wash and not one but two were missing.
Went back this morning there they were on opposite sides of the bay.
Not confident on just popping them back on.
early on the dealer suggested dabs of superglue but this forum is a much smarter bunch.
Couldn't find anything about this searching the forum.
Only ever lost one in the past 5 years.
Got home last night after going to a brushless car wash and not one but two were missing.
Went back this morning there they were on opposite sides of the bay.
Not confident on just popping them back on.
early on the dealer suggested dabs of superglue but this forum is a much smarter bunch.
Couldn't find anything about this searching the forum.
#2
11-16-2012, 09:40 AM
You had a tire shop do rotations and put the caps back on? didn't you?
When you off road a 3 with OEM wheels, the first thing dang near everybody does is pull off the C Caps, so they do not get trashed, sucked off in the mud, or lost. So when you go for a rotation, pull the caps off before giving them the key to pull it in the bay. They stay on indefinitely when you, the owner, puts them back on, instead of the hungover tire monkey at the shop.
First inspect the inside of the C Cap. Note the position and presence of all the tabs and the all important spring wire. I noticed a bunch on ebay have missing tabs or missing spring wire, those are not gonna stay put. The spring wire has to be in position to keep pressure on the plastic tabs, and there is a groove in the tabs for the spring wire to keep it in place.
If all the tabs are not straight, you need to line them up against the wire. Most H3 caps have the clock hand "Hummer" thing sticking out to 3 O'Clock, line that up where it goes in the wheel, then push it into position and give it a swift tap to pop it on, without bending under any of the plastic tabs.
You can just ***** nilly pop them on, it will bend under a tab or two, and that is where the trouble starts. If you want it done right, do it yourself.
When you off road a 3 with OEM wheels, the first thing dang near everybody does is pull off the C Caps, so they do not get trashed, sucked off in the mud, or lost. So when you go for a rotation, pull the caps off before giving them the key to pull it in the bay. They stay on indefinitely when you, the owner, puts them back on, instead of the hungover tire monkey at the shop.
First inspect the inside of the C Cap. Note the position and presence of all the tabs and the all important spring wire. I noticed a bunch on ebay have missing tabs or missing spring wire, those are not gonna stay put. The spring wire has to be in position to keep pressure on the plastic tabs, and there is a groove in the tabs for the spring wire to keep it in place.
If all the tabs are not straight, you need to line them up against the wire. Most H3 caps have the clock hand "Hummer" thing sticking out to 3 O'Clock, line that up where it goes in the wheel, then push it into position and give it a swift tap to pop it on, without bending under any of the plastic tabs.
You can just ***** nilly pop them on, it will bend under a tab or two, and that is where the trouble starts. If you want it done right, do it yourself.
#3
11-16-2012, 09:53 AM
You had a tire shop do rotations and put the caps back on? didn't you?
When you off road a 3 with OEM wheels, the first thing dang near everybody does is pull off the C Caps, so they do not get trashed, sucked off in the mud, or lost. So when you go for a rotation, pull the caps off before giving them the key to pull it in the bay. They stay on indefinitely when you, the owner, puts them back on, instead of the hungover tire monkey at the shop.
First inspect the inside of the C Cap. Note the position and presence of all the tabs and the all important spring wire. I noticed a bunch on ebay have missing tabs or missing spring wire, those are not gonna stay put. The spring wire has to be in position to keep pressure on the plastic tabs, and there is a groove in the tabs for the spring wire to keep it in place.
If all the tabs are not straight, you need to line them up against the wire. Most H3 caps have the clock hand "Hummer" thing sticking out to 3 O'Clock, line that up where it goes in the wheel, then push it into position and give it a swift tap to pop it on, without bending under any of the plastic tabs.
You can just ***** nilly pop them on, it will bend under a tab or two, and that is where the trouble starts. If you want it done right, do it yourself.
When you off road a 3 with OEM wheels, the first thing dang near everybody does is pull off the C Caps, so they do not get trashed, sucked off in the mud, or lost. So when you go for a rotation, pull the caps off before giving them the key to pull it in the bay. They stay on indefinitely when you, the owner, puts them back on, instead of the hungover tire monkey at the shop.
First inspect the inside of the C Cap. Note the position and presence of all the tabs and the all important spring wire. I noticed a bunch on ebay have missing tabs or missing spring wire, those are not gonna stay put. The spring wire has to be in position to keep pressure on the plastic tabs, and there is a groove in the tabs for the spring wire to keep it in place.
If all the tabs are not straight, you need to line them up against the wire. Most H3 caps have the clock hand "Hummer" thing sticking out to 3 O'Clock, line that up where it goes in the wheel, then push it into position and give it a swift tap to pop it on, without bending under any of the plastic tabs.
You can just ***** nilly pop them on, it will bend under a tab or two, and that is where the trouble starts. If you want it done right, do it yourself.
How'd you know??
Awesome, thanks so much. This is very, very helpful!!!
#4
11-16-2012, 12:24 PM
I believe at some point during production, GM quit putting the spring wire in the center caps. Not sure when or why, but most of the newer H3s I've seen don't have springs in place.
My '08 didn't have them when I bought it used. I haven't lost a cap yet, but I'd sure like to find a set of just the spring wires.
Can anybody come up with a part number for just the spring hoops?
My '08 didn't have them when I bought it used. I haven't lost a cap yet, but I'd sure like to find a set of just the spring wires.
Can anybody come up with a part number for just the spring hoops?
#5
11-16-2012, 02:29 PM
I believe at some point during production, GM quit putting the spring wire in the center caps. Not sure when or why, but most of the newer H3s I've seen don't have springs in place.
My '08 didn't have them when I bought it used. I haven't lost a cap yet, but I'd sure like to find a set of just the spring wires.
Can anybody come up with a part number for just the spring hoops?
My '08 didn't have them when I bought it used. I haven't lost a cap yet, but I'd sure like to find a set of just the spring wires.
Can anybody come up with a part number for just the spring hoops?
#7
01-09-2013, 01:55 PM
Coming back around to this. Mine does not have the spring wire and they are base model wheels, '07.
I've subsequently lost another one in the past month. Starting to wonder if there's a fatigue age with the plastic tabs or something.
Any one have suggestions for a little additional help to keep them on?
I've subsequently lost another one in the past month. Starting to wonder if there's a fatigue age with the plastic tabs or something.
Any one have suggestions for a little additional help to keep them on?
