wheel center caps question

[Dave92270]

sorry might be a dumb question..but I want to ask anyway. Do the OEM plastic center caps sometimes just "fall off" the wheels? I drove to the store today, and when I got home I see my rear right cap is gone.

I just wonder if I should buy a whole replacement set of them if I see a good deal..sort of I'd like to know if this happens occasionally...

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

sorry might be a dumb question..but I want to ask anyway. Do the OEM plastic center caps sometimes just "fall off" the wheels? I drove to the store today, and when I got home I see my rear right cap is gone.

I just wonder if I should buy a whole replacement set of them if I see a good deal..sort of I'd like to know if this happens occasionally...


NO ! They don't JUST FALL OFF, but having some spares can't hurt...

curbs, boulders, thieves, stupidity steal them

[Dave92270]

NO ! They don't JUST FALL OFF, but having some spares can't hurt...

curbs, boulders, thieves, stupidity steal them

hmm..I'm not aware that I hit anything with the wheel, but maybe the cap got somehow loose during light off-roading some time ago and I didn't notice. I'll check the the fit of the remaining ones, and order a few spares...

[H3slate]

Did you recently have your tires rotated or worked on? People always lose their caps after someone has removed them and then not put them back on properly.

I usually remove my center caps when off-roading, I think it looks cool without them, and you don't have to worry about them falling off or getting damaged.

I would try Ebay or craigslist for a replacement, I have seen them on there quite frequently.

[3Hummer]

ya they can come off when offroading, i always take mine off when i head out also. If you plan on going offroading just take em off throw em in your trunk till your done. Also everynow and then if i havent taken em off in a while when i walk by i kinda push em in make sure there secure.

[tower]

Yes, they are held in place by a hoop spring which presses outward on 8 plastic teeth or fingers. the friction of these teeth against the inside of the wheel center contour is the only thing holding the center caps in, so yes, they DO have a tendency to fall out from time to time. The advice about pulling them for off-roading is good. I have not done it, but have lost caps spontaneously on the road. Checking each one to ascertain that it is properly seated is also a good idea. I have thought (but not yet tried) gluing a rubber shim (cut from an old bike tire) to the outside aspect of one or two teeth to maximize friction.

You might also inspect the caps and make certain that the hoop spring is seated properly between the large and small teeth.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

ya they can come off when offroading, i always take mine off when i head out also. If you plan on going offroading just take em off throw em in your trunk till your done. Also everynow and then if i havent taken em off in a while when i walk by i kinda push em in make sure there secure.

trunk ???

[justforfun]

ya they can come off when offroading, i always take mine off when i head out also. If you plan on going offroading just take em off throw em in your trunk till your done. Also everynow and then if i havent taken em off in a while when i walk by i kinda push em in make sure there secure.

:iagree:

Me too....

:beerchug:

[Agriv8r]

usually a result of not being properly put on...

[Dave92270]

OK, sounds like the cap got lost since it wasn't either attached properly, or someone took it as a souvenier while on the parking lot... so I understand that under normal circumstances there is very little chance that they fall-off on their own, although they're friction only. Well, I'll buy a few spares, and will probably remove them while off-roading (or when going to the grocery store :shhh:) Thanks guys for your responses.

[tower]

trunk ???You don't have one?
Think kosher pickle.http://www.v-flyer.com/vs_press/elephant.jpg

[O3H3]

I lost a cap once when I got my tires rotated.

[Dave92270]

I lost a cap once when I got my tires rotated.

sounds like that the cap was not pressed-in firmly enough after the rotation - thinking it may have been what happened to mine as well. I checked all my caps and they're snug fit so if I'll come back from the store without cap again I'll know what is possible cause.