Rosiesdad Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 I have been noticing that all my hubcaps move around on the wheels resulting in valve stems getting pushed severely sideways. Actually had one fail. Never heard of this but never had hubcaps like these before either. Tires are radials Buick is a '50 Super running original caps. Thx Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Phil, my front do the same. I just keep a close watch. I spread the "grippers" a bit and helped. Ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Yep...spread the grippers 😁 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I have used a small dab of clear silicone caulk when installing the cap. It only needs to be in one spot and keeps things from moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 On the ‘53 Special, my caps all stayed put EXCEPT for the front driver’s side. Tried swapping them around, playing with the grips, but that one would always shift. It only popped off twice in 7 years, but the second time was earlier this year when I was doing some spirited motoring on a busy 3 lane highway. Luckily - and weirdly - there were no other cars around me at all, and it rolled its merry way across all the lanes and came to rest on the side concrete barrier. It was even facing outward with the shield perfectly up, as if it were on display. No dents or road rash either. Had to take two off ramps to circle back and get it. I guess it just needed some “alone time” from the car. JFranklin: great idea about the silicone 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Did the cap always come off the left front even after rotating the tires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Funny -- I expected this to be a story about installing NOS hubcaps that spiraled into a full frame-off restoration! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 2 hours ago, RivNut said: Did the cap always come off the left front even after rotating the tires? Ed: Rotate the what? 😉 Yep. Not sure what it was, but no matter the wheel or cap, it was always that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Rotate the tires, like it states in your owners manual. As old as your car his the spare is probably included in the rotation. Just wondering if when that wheel went to a different corner, if the cap came off that wheel or did you still lose the left front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Was just yanking your chain; the tires were rotated with regularity. But always that front left position cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Did you ever move the cap to a different corner? Just curious. Or did you find a cap that would stay on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 (edited) 18 minutes ago, RivNut said: Did you ever move the cap to a different corner? Just curious. Or did you find a cap that would stay on? Yes, I swapped out caps, too. Nothing made a difference. Any cap on the front driver’s side position always shifted. Of course, the Golden Anniversary Buicks always gave their owners a little something extra 😉 Edited September 19, 2020 by JBP (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete O Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 On 9/19/2020 at 3:20 PM, JBP said: Yes, I swapped out caps, too. Nothing made a difference. Any cap on the front driver’s side position always shifted. Of course, the Golden Anniversary Buicks always gave their owners a little something extra 😉 If it's the left front all the time regardless of hubcap or wheel, I wonder if maybe you're front driver's brakes are dragging a little, causing the drum and wheel to heat up and expand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 I've heard all kinds of problems and solutions for hubcaps and I can't explain why this happens. When I install hubcaps, I put the car in the air and take all the weight off the wheels, THEN install the hubcaps. I honestly can't imagine the wheel is distorting sufficiently to make the hubcap fit poorly enough that it moves, but since I started doing it this way the problems with loose or wayward hubcaps and rotating hubcaps have vanished. I learned this trick from a fellow who was tired of losing hubcaps on his Continental Mark II, which are notorious for flinging hubcaps. Those are some HEAVY cars. I have no explanation for why this works, but there it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBP Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 12 hours ago, Pete O said: If it's the left front all the time regardless of hubcap or wheel, I wonder if maybe you're front driver's brakes are dragging a little, causing the drum and wheel to heat up and expand? Brakes were also checked and adjusted as per schedule, Pete; really not sure what the cause was or why. Just a quirk that I learned to live with - until I put the bolt-on ‘53 wire wheel covers on the car. A great engineering idea. If I should ever happen to lose one of those, then the wheel will be likely going with the cover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 (edited) If dragging brakes would cause the drum and wheel to heat up, wouldn't heat cause the drum and wheel to expand thus creating a tighter fit for the cap? Edited October 4, 2020 by RivNut (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanZverina Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 I've noticed the same thing on my '63 Riv with its OEM factory wheel covers. I spread the tangs (just a bit) and break out the rubber mallet to tap into place. It seems to help, but if you're checking tire pressures regularly, simply make that part of the routine. Most of us are used to fancy factory rims these days on our modern rides, which eliminate this issue. File under automotive engineering progress, I guess. I live in San Diego, and before that lived in Michigan (working at Chrysler HQ through various questionable mergers) so when BEVs are eventually declared mandatory in those colder climates, this will pale by comparison when one's range is sapped by heated seats, defrosters, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdmn852 Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 I noticed this on my 49 with repro hubcaps, thought it was my imagination had them line up with stem at 12 o’clock with “Buick “ could be read horizontally, most seem to shift slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 Radial tires on non-radial rims will cause this sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now