New 18's....Center caps don't fit!!!! | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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New 18's....Center caps don't fit!!!!

TeamXPLO

Elite Explorer<br><img src="/forums/images/stars4.
Joined
November 15, 2001
Messages
109
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City, State
Chicago, IL
Year, Model & Trim Level
'99 Sport
Hey guys,
I just put on some 18" cobra r's with pirelli 255/40 tires, but the caps on the front wheels don't fit on! What I believe are the hubs (I'm an idiot) stick out too far and prevent the cap from staying on...Only in the front though. They don't rub at all...Do I need to put spacers on? If that is the case, will I still be able to see my rotors with the spacers on?

Thanks in advance
Lloyd
 



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i asked a guy a while back about that and he said i would need to drill the center caps, to make a hole big enough for the hubs to stcik through. the hubs are the things that say 4x4 on them.
as far as i know this is the only solution....
 






I wouldnt run spacers just to get the center caps on... Hell, I wouldnt run spacers for any reason. I had a set of 5/16" spacers on for about 15 minutes before my wheel almost fell off and then I found out that my lug nuts were stripped. My fronts rub at full lock but I plan on adjusting the steering stops for that. So, anyway, back to your issue, center caps. Find a way to mount them without spacers. Cut them, sand them, bend them, bite them, staple them, duct tape them... do whatever you have to do to keep from using spacers.
 






Actually, you dont have hubs that stick out like the 1st gens. on your 99. How close is the fit with the center caps? You have 18" 2000 cobra r's like these? I think FrankRizzo has them. Ask him what he did.
R189C.jpg
 






wait a min. Bates you said "a hole big enough for the hubs to stcik through. the hubs are the things that say 4x4 on them. " but if Team's profile is right then he's got a 99. Now i had a 93 4x4 and yes they had the "4x4 hubs" on them but i don't think that's the same for never models....correct me if i'm wrong...
 






you are right......the second gen explorers dont have hubs like that..... are you saying that your centercaps dont fit on, or the wheel at the center bore isnt big enough?
 






I think FrankRizzo has them. Ask him what he did. [/B]


Since I only bought one (it was a 17 X 8 Cobra), and it did not fit, I put it back in the box and tossed it in back of the storage shed....no return policy....

If it's a 2WD, it's the dust cap for the wheel bearing that is poking thru.
Option A: leave the wheel center caps off. Option B: send the rotors out to a machine shop and have longer hardened wheel studs pressed in, and put on spacers. (I don't recommend option B..see 98's post above)

Oh yeah - Option C: would be to return the wheels if you can.

Good luck
 






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