The Ford Barn

Jim M · 06-19-2015, 10:34 AM

Just blasted and painted my rims and they look beautiful. I ordered a new set of hub caps and when I tried to put them on they are all a shade small for the rim hole. The clips on the new caps are all straight and do NOT have a bend in them to "snap" in to the rim like the old ones. I don't want to start trying to bend the clips with pliers as that seems like it might make it worse and uneven. Such a simple thing is now a chore. Any ideas on what to do?? Thanks, Jim PS did a search on hub caps an nothing came up.

Charlie Stephens · 06-19-2015, 10:51 AM

Put the tire and rim (with the hub caps on the bottom) on a blanket with the hub caps in place. Bend the tabs over with a screwdriver (not you only need to bend about half of the tabs, leave the rest for next time).

Charlie Stephens

JTW · 06-19-2015, 12:37 PM

Also you can use a little silicone on the inside edge, in the areas you don't bend the tabs over and they will be less prone to rattling. I have heard of one person that used a small "O" ring around the cap and I guess that worked, as another suggestion to try.

THEOZON · 06-19-2015, 01:09 PM

O ring big one

Charles Coe · 06-19-2015, 01:26 PM

Are your hubcaps for 21 inch wheels? The ones I've seen just snapped in and didn't need to have the tabs bent like those for 19 inch wheels.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 06-19-2015, 04:30 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"Someone" makes a tool, wen used in a press, will bend the tabs correctly, to make them into a pop on/pop off hubcap. Call some of the suppliers, for info on them.
Bill W.

CarlG · 06-19-2015, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

"Someone" makes a tool, wen used in a press, will bend the tabs correctly, to make them into a pop on/pop off hubcap. Call some of the suppliers, for info on them.
Bill W.

Like this:

Y-Blockhead · 06-19-2015, 05:39 PM

Mike's has them. I have one and it works great. I could never get the cap tight enough with just bending the tabs. Only works on '30-31.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 06-19-2015, 06:37 PM

What year & what size are your wheels. Your profile sez you have a '29??
Bill W.

Bruce Adams · 06-19-2015, 09:30 PM

A bead of clear silicone from inside the wheel is easy and does a great job. It tightens the hub cap and eliminates any movements and noises.

Mike V. Florida · 06-19-2015, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim M

The clips on the new caps are all straight and do NOT have a bend in them to "snap" in to the rim like the old ones.

That the way they were originally, you would bend only a couple of taps at a time allowing for the others to be used in the future.

Mikes also has a gasket kit. You bend the taps to get them as tight as you can the put on the o ring to take up the slack. Code: A1130GA $2.25.

06-19-2015, 10:34 AM	#1
Jim M Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sebastian, FL Posts: 479	Hub Caps Just blasted and painted my rims and they look beautiful. I ordered a new set of hub caps and when I tried to put them on they are all a shade small for the rim hole. The clips on the new caps are all straight and do NOT have a bend in them to "snap" in to the rim like the old ones. I don't want to start trying to bend the clips with pliers as that seems like it might make it worse and uneven. Such a simple thing is now a chore. Any ideas on what to do?? Thanks, Jim PS did a search on hub caps an nothing came up.

06-19-2015, 10:51 AM	#2
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,031	Re: Hub Caps Put the tire and rim (with the hub caps on the bottom) on a blanket with the hub caps in place. Bend the tabs over with a screwdriver (not you only need to bend about half of the tabs, leave the rest for next time). Charlie Stephens

06-19-2015, 12:37 PM	#3
JTW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Owls Head Posts: 257	Re: Hub Caps Also you can use a little silicone on the inside edge, in the areas you don't bend the tabs over and they will be less prone to rattling. I have heard of one person that used a small "O" ring around the cap and I guess that worked, as another suggestion to try. __________________ Driving old Fords since 1947

06-19-2015, 01:09 PM	#4
THEOZON Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 26	Re: Hub Caps O ring big one

06-19-2015, 01:26 PM	#5
Charles Coe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pace, FL near Pensacola Posts: 374	Re: Hub Caps Are your hubcaps for 21 inch wheels? The ones I've seen just snapped in and didn't need to have the tabs bent like those for 19 inch wheels.

06-19-2015, 04:30 PM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Hub Caps Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) "Someone" makes a tool, wen used in a press, will bend the tabs correctly, to make them into a pop on/pop off hubcap. Call some of the suppliers, for info on them. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

06-19-2015, 05:39 PM	#8
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Hub Caps Mike's has them. I have one and it works great. I could never get the cap tight enough with just bending the tabs. Only works on '30-31.

06-19-2015, 06:37 PM	#9
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Hub Caps What year & what size are your wheels. Your profile sez you have a '29?? Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

06-19-2015, 09:30 PM	#10
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Hub Caps A bead of clear silicone from inside the wheel is easy and does a great job. It tightens the hub cap and eliminates any movements and noises.