Project Center Caps

[mholme]

Picked up some used RS4 DTM wheels earlier this week. I've heard too many stories about people losing the factory center caps from them becoming loose due to broken tabs, at the tune of 20-30 dollars a pop, so I set out to secure them, not in way that meant you had to apply adhesive or anything whenever you needed to remove and replace them, but in a way that they fit with just the factory retainer, plus a little extra security.

I picked up a long piece of metal from Home Depot, it's like 4ft long so there's plenty of room for trial and error. I don't even know what it's actual purpose is, but it was in the hardware section with all the nuts and bolts. I cut a piece off from a cardboard template measurement of the center ring on the wheel. Ends up looking like this:

After that, I drilled a hole to accomodate a nut and bolt set up. I also rounded the edges a bit too:

Also sourced at the Depot were a 5 pack of these guys:

So the plan was to epoxy the screw to the center cap and use it as a mounting stud. I used liberal amounts of epoxy...

And bolted in place:

And no outward appearance of anything else going on:


Wash, rinse, repeat 3 more times.

This was a quick afternoon job. I'm sure that someone with the proper tools and machining skill could make something a lot prettier. Doesn't really matter to me as this was an 8 dollar job and won't ever be seen. The only drawback is you obviously now have to remove the wheel if you need to break an axle bolt free for whatever reason. Again, not really an issue for me since I throw on a junk rim to remove the axle bolt. And I bring my wheels to tire shops loose to have new tires mounted, so none of the tire mounting "experts" will ever have an issue with it either.

[Greedo]

I am stealing this idea. I did a really dumb thing to get my center caps to stay in because I wasn't smart enough to think of this.

[mholme]

I am stealing this idea. I did a really dumb thing to get my center caps to stay in because I wasn't smart enough to think of this.

You can steal it. That's why I posted it.

[awdjunkies]

Wow, there are a lot of MacGuyver's on this site I love it!!!

[JackalS4]

Creative.

[ApeX-CrZn]

which way is the bolt spinning relative to the spin on the wheel??

i would suggest at the minimum two left hand threads, longer bolts and locking nuts(or lock washers).

It would be a shame to see a 2 inch chunk of steal flung around the inside of your brand new rims like a dryer

[mholme]

which way is the bolt spinning relative to the spin on the wheel??

i would suggest at the minimum two left hand threads, longer bolts and locking nuts(or lock washers).

It would be a shame to see a 2 inch chunk of steal flung around the inside of your brand new rims like a dryer

The picture that shows the install is not torqued all the way, there's more thread once it's in place. They will go on with blue loctite. They won't go anywhere.

[ApeX-CrZn]

I just mention this because i've seen right and threads on driver's side of the car result in losing bolts and a few loss of wheels

[mholme]

I just mention this because i've seen right and threads on driver's side of the car result in losing bolts and a few loss of wheels

Not really sure what you mean as far as losing a wheel goes. Even if for some reason the set up did fail, which it shouldn't, I lose a center cap. Everything holding it on is for cosmetic integrity only.

[ApeX-CrZn]

What i mean is the wheel is rotating the same direction that the bolt unbolts, which could potentially lead to the nut unbolting.

which could end up with losing the center cap.
But the bigger issue would be the 2 inch piece of steel bouncing around your brand new rims while driving a high speeds.

the reference to wheels coming lose is in regard to axle nuts/bolts, backing out because they were right hand threads on the drivers side. Not related to your situation

[NOTORIOUS VR]

What i mean is the wheel is rotating the same direction that the bolt unbolts, which could potentially lead to the nut unbolting.

That's not possible since there is nothing rotating against the nut in this case.

[fshowcars]

centrifugal force son! non-issue