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Hub caps keep popping off!!!

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danchuck disappointing disc brakes hubcaps
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Silver Sports Sedan

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I changed my front 14 x 6 wheels to Danchuk prefab in order to allow disc brakes for my 57 sports sedan . For two years my front hubcaps pop off going slow /fast. Etc... I have the original hubcaps and even purchased a new set of original ones thinking it might be a worn-out hubcap on my side. Nothing has worked. My mechanic said that this may be flexing do too newer wheels being a millimeter or so off. I've even tried an adhesive from a body shop thinking it will do the trick but still no go. Besides going back and replacing with new front wheels is there any other solution that you can enlighten me with? Are there any other 14 x 6 (disc specific )wheels made besides Danchuk?

Many thanks!!
 
#2 · (Edited)
Are the wheels right??

I wonder if the wheels are wrong. Check your wheels to see if they have the hubcap retainer nubs as shown in the attached photo. The photo is of a 56 wheel, but it is the clearest picture I could find of the correct bumps for hubcap retention. If they do have the bumps, see if the hubcap installs too easily on the new wheels, compared to the originals. Maybe the production tolerances of the new wheels make them just a little too loose. If all else fails, here is what another member did to retain the hupcaps on newer style wheels that do not have the factory hubcap retainer bumps.

http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73807

Driver.
 

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#3 ·
Exactly why I'm still running drum brakes. I understand early S10 pickup wheels will work just fine. I can't find any, but am still looking.
Gelata said:
I changed my front 14 x 6 wheels to Danchuk prefab in order to allow disc brakes for my 57 sports sedan . For two years my front hubcaps pop off going slow /fast. Etc... I have the original hubcaps and even purchased a new set of original ones thinking it might be a worn-out hubcap on my side. Nothing has worked. My mechanic said that this may be flexing do too newer wheels being a millimeter or so off. I've even tried an adhesive from a body shop thinking it will do the trick but still no go. Besides going back and replacing with new front wheels is there any other solution that you can enlighten me with? Are there any other 14 x 6 (disc specific )wheels made besides Danchuk?

Many thanks!!
Click to expand...
 
#5 ·
Gelata said:
Appreciate the info
Click to expand...
You can also make the wheel covers fit tighter on the nubs with a few blows from a hammer. No, it doesn't damage the hub cap. :) Open your vise so the jaws are 3 or 4" apart. Put the inside lip of the cap on the jaws so the area that goes over the nub is between the jaws. The slots in the edge go over the nubs closest to the valve stem and keep it from turning on the wheel. Hit the edge of the cap between the vise jaws and it will swell the rim out so it fits tighter on the nubs. I had one that was rattleing on my homemade nubs and that solved the rattle.
 
#6 ·
I've also heard of people with this problem, who had some extra nubs welded on the rim. You never saw them once the full wheel cover was on and I guess it worked quite well. Might be something I would try. Sounds like it would work.
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
I purchased those same wheels about a year ago to use the original wheel covers. The nubs were too big and the covers would not go on. I had to file all of them down to allow the covers to fit properly.

On a few I had to file so far down I went thru the metal. So I ended up taking all the wheels to a welder and had him fill all the nub indentations with welds.

After all the PIA work I got the covers to fit. Only one cover has come off twice and that was because I didn't have it fully mounted flush on the wheel. I use a rubber mallet to bang the covers on. I bought a tool from Lowe's that is made for removing wood trim to remove the covers. It has a very slim edge that will fit under the lip of the cover to get it off.
 
#10 ·
The four nubs should be plenty. I had one cap come off my vette 7 years ago and it passed me at a stop sign and up into heavy weeds. It took me 3 days to find it in 100*+ weather. I started using a rubber mallet and going all the way around the rim and none have come off since.
 
#13 ·
Canadian built hubcaps are different than US ones.
They have "claws" on them that are supposed to hold the hubcaps on better.
I have sold a few sets of them to people who told me this and have several
in stock if you are interested.
 
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