Re: Hate loosing hubcaps

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2015/9/29 15:55:52

There was a good article in the Cad-Lasalle club monthly a month ago about all the sources of losing hubcaps, including the radial vs bias myth, rim stock differences, etc. Unfortunately it's copyrighted.
My own take is, as you said, you hit a bad patch of road and whamo. Avoidance: #1 thing to do if you like your hubcaps!
That's what I remember how hubcaps flew off, because we used to hunt for them along the roads as kids and we had real bad roads after winter. They just came off back then and from all make cars.
The second best thing you can do is check your shock absorbers, springs, and suspension parts. They're what "cushions" those blows and limits/dampens travel and vibration when you hit a hole. Too stiff, mushy, or loose isn't good. If it "shudders" when you hit something it's not right.
I lost two before I ever got my car! They were in the trunk, but didn't show up on arrival??? I can also attest that 4 of 5 clips on the rim won't hold one on a decent road. I lost one in my own neighborhood test driving. It disappeared rapidly(kids or maybe some dog used it for a dish???) before I recognized it was gone, so you're lucky to have seen yours.
Perhaps a request how to fix damaged hubcaps is in order? These have a SS skin and a steel inner if I recall.
Some people use different sorts of techniques to keep them on as well, like strip magnets, velcro, wires, putty, etc. but have no recommendations there.
You can get new clips as well. I'd not trust oldies to have much spring and bending won't improve temper. According to the parts list, there were clip and non-clip rims vs the correct hubcap P/N. It's not real clear what cap goes with what P/N, but you can peruse the photos/sales info. My deluxe does not have the red center for instance.