Joe Flanagan Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 I discovered not long ago that my hubcaps move on the rims. When I installed them, I made sure the valve stems were centered in the holes in the hubcaps but after driving for a while, a couple of them have rotated to the point where they not just pinch the valve stems, but a couple of times have actually bent them over. I have removed the hubcaps, reinstalled them with the valve stems centered in their holes, and a while later, at least one of them will be pinched again. Yesterday was the last straw, when I found my left front tire flat and the valve stem is so damaged that air rushes out when you try to inflate the tire. I imagine there's some type of flexing going on between hubcap and rim as I drive, but are there any tricks to preventing this? The hubcaps fit very tightly and have to be thumped into place hard with the heel of my hand. I actually could use a rubber mallet. Quote
White Spyder Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 Joe, What type of tires are you running and are the wheels original? If you have the original wheels and are running modern radials you my be getting some flexing that is allowing the hubcaps to move over time. 1 Quote
Don Coatney Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 A Google search produced lots of information. I did not read everything. http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/archive/index.php/t-165284.html http://forums.aaca.org/f169/how-solve-hubcap-movement-valve-stem-320213.html https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=how+to+keep+hubcaps+from+moving Quote
40plyrod Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 I've seen this question asked elsewhere before. As I remember a lot of people suggested a couple of dabs of clear silicone on the rim where the hubcap attaches or running a layer of duct tape along the inside edge of the rim. Quote
58prostreet Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 I did what 40plyrod said. I put a layer of duct tape on the rim edge where cap tangs makes contact. I also use a rubber malet to mount caps. Bob Quote
Young Ed Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 I discovered not long ago that my hubcaps move on the rims. When I installed them, I made sure the valve stems were centered in the holes in the hubcaps but after driving for a while, a couple of them have rotated to the point where they not just pinch the valve stems, but a couple of times have actually bent them over. I have removed the hubcaps, reinstalled them with the valve stems centered in their holes, and a while later, at least one of them will be pinched again. Yesterday was the last straw, when I found my left front tire flat and the valve stem is so damaged that air rushes out when you try to inflate the tire. I imagine there's some type of flexing going on between hubcap and rim as I drive, but are there any tricks to preventing this? The hubcaps fit very tightly and have to be thumped into place hard with the heel of my hand. I actually could use a rubber mallet. You are missing pieces from your car. There is a little metal cap that goes over the valve stem and fills in the hole of the wheel cover. http://www.oldmoparts.com/parts-accessories.aspx see item called chrome valve stem cover Quote
Old School Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) I've seen this question asked elsewhere before. As I remember a lot of people suggested a couple of dabs of clear silicone on the rim where the hubcap attaches or running a layer of duct tape along the inside edge of the rim. Good topic of discussion. I use silicon (quite a bit more than a dab) on the rims of my front tires. The front driver's side hub cap was quite the problem -- silicon did fix it. The post from Young Ed about the little metal cap is interesting. I had always ascribed the problem to the additional flex in radial tires as mounted to original rims. Edited September 6, 2014 by Old School Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted September 6, 2014 Author Report Posted September 6, 2014 I have radials mounted on original rims. Ed, that little device will keep the rims from rotating? I was told by an older mechanic that, like silicon, a few dabs of that sealing putty used by AC installers and plumbers would work. It may be known to some of you as monkey $hi+. I just tried some of that. We'll see if it works. I believe it's only my fronts that are doing this. Quote
Young Ed Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 I have radials mounted on original rims. Ed, that little device will keep the rims from rotating? I was told by an older mechanic that, like silicon, a few dabs of that sealing putty used by AC installers and plumbers would work. It may be known to some of you as monkey $hi+. I just tried some of that. We'll see if it works. I believe it's only my fronts that are doing this. Joe it seems hokey but they work. They are tall enough that they sit against the rim and protrude into the opening of the hubcap. Quote
Don Coatney Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 Thing is the valve stem is designed to add air to the tire and nothing else. Not designed to prevent the hub cap from "walking" on the wheel. Got to be a better way to prevent the hubcap from walking. Quote
BigDaddyO Posted September 6, 2014 Report Posted September 6, 2014 If you were to drive in reverse the same distance you drive forward, it should keep the hubcap centered on the valve stem. 2 Quote
DonaldSmith Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 If you were to drive in reverse the same distance you drive forward, it should keep the hubcap centered on the valve stem. Or switch the left side wheels with the right side wheels every so often. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Joe, you wrote that " I believe it's only my fronts that are doing this". Simple; DON'T TURN CORNERS! Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Some pics of these anti-rotate hubcap cups. Watch out as there are different sizes because of valve stem diameter and hubcap hole size! Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) Well, if the putty stuff doesn't do the job, I'll get myself some of those caps or whatever they're called. It seems there's a lot of force at play here because one hubcap managed to dislodge the valve stem on one tire. So I'll be a bit surprised if the putty works. In fact, since Old School says he's had some success with silicon, I might try that, too. Edited September 7, 2014 by Joe Flanagan Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Run a bead of slopacone around the lip of the hubcap to the rim. Guaranteed to work! Just kidding. I used to lose hubcaps way too often on my 51 and 53 plymouths till I used these cups. The narrow weak plymouth rims flex quite a bit even with out radials. Bob Quote
JerseyHarold Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 FWIW, I had a couple of Cranbrooks with the valve-stem things and never had a wheelcover creeping issue. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Hub cap rotation on the rim must have been a common problem. The proof is in the production of these valve stem cups sold through the Mopar parts division. Quote
Andydodge Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Amazing what you learn on this forum........I have never heard mention of these little valve stem cups before but after seeing the pics they would be a no brainer and obvious solution to the problem......good to learn something, thanks guys....andyd Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Posted September 7, 2014 When you guys say "cups" are you talking about the same thing that Young Ed linked to in his post? The part sold by Bernbaum? Quote
Chester Brzostowski Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Joe, After reading this post, my two cents. I think that the caps Young Ed described and Dodgeb4u pictured., should do the trick. The caps would be pressed between the hub caps and the rim and unlike the valve stem would not bend as the hubcap tried to rotate. Instead it would be flexed between the hubcap and rim which would halt the movement of the hubcap. I agree with anydodge the things you pick up on this forum. Chet... Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) A factory bulletin on these MoPar wheel cover anti-rotate stainless steel cups dated June 1951.... The # 1323006 is for 3/4" hole hubcaps only! Bob Edited September 7, 2014 by Dodgeb4ya 1 Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Posted September 7, 2014 Great, thanks Bob. By the way, the insulating putty doesn't work. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) Gumbo goo,... magic putty is only good for holes in shoes, glazing old windows and car dealers! Scanming car dealers and cheap arses would use putty to seal a leaking muffler.... Do the repairs and fix problems properly! As for the spinning wheel covers get the sleeves (cups). Bob Edited September 7, 2014 by Dodgeb4ya Quote
Don Coatney Posted September 7, 2014 Report Posted September 7, 2014 Hum... I never glazed a car dealer. How does it taste? Quote
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