Hub Cap keeps falling off?

[Lazzman]

I have an Explrorer sport with the 3 spoke chrome plated wheels and the common hub cap that is found on many Ford Trucks.

http://www.centercaps.net/caps/details.php?stockNumber=343

Problem is that one of them will not stay on the lug nuts? Spent about an hour on this problem yesterday with no solution.

I am thinking that the lug nuts are too far in and the spring retainers on them cannot reach, but what is the solution to that?

Anybody ever have this happen before? Any way to fix it?, my Ex looks like S*** with one of the hubs missing.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Are they the correct factory lug nuts? I know some are too short, or do not have the proper taper to tighten the wheel against the hub without plunging too far into the lug holes...

Can you post a pic of your wheel and lugs?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

There are mtal clips inthe cap that hold them on. And as Joe mentioed they need to be factory lug nuts as there is a lip on them for the clips in the cap to grab to hold it on.

 

[Lazzman]

I think there in lies the problem.

They are factory lug nuts with factory wheels and they have over 190k mi on them.

On this particular rim I used my Milwaukee Impact wrench to tighten the lugz, maybe I tightend them to much so that they go further into the rim hole than they should, could happen, as the vehicle is 13 years old and has had the tires removed quite a bit to do repairs and such. Must be some wear on that metal rim around the lug holes.

No problem on the other three wheels.

How would I correct this problem? Wonder if new factory lug nuts would help?

Thanks for the info.

 

[patrick112390]

why dont you try putting another cap from another wheel on there, if it sticks, you can rule out the lug nuts....

 

[msilver]

my dads f-150 (practically the same center caps) had the same problem what had happened was put it on wrong and there was a piece on it that broke, i can't really remember where but i know that if you just took it off and looked at it looked fine until i compared it to the others. I was at the at the junk yard picking something up for work one day and asked if they had one, they did it was only $5 and it made a good father's day present. Yours might be the same?

 

[Lazzman]

Thanks for the info about the possible broken part, I will give it a closer look.

I did try to put the cap from the other side on but it will not fit either, guess it is the lug nuts not coming out far enough.

Wonder if new lug nuts will fix the issue.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, they have been very helpful .

 

[one chance]

If none of what they said works.. It's probably becasue the chrome clad is seperating from the wheel. Not allowing it to sit. How to fix it. One for sure way. <<<get a new wheel>>> or rip off the chrome ...(i don't recommand)

 

[Lazzman]

Hmmm that sucks, but i do agree that is what seems to be happening.

 

[jad2411]

Buy some of these:

and some of these:

Then look inside the hubcap, you'll note that each hole has some plastic inside (+) <---something like that break it off with some pliers and drill a small hole to the outside of the hub, then you can screw it in.

It will keep in in place and helps if someone tries to steal them

 

[Lazzman]

Nice idea, thanks for the tip

Though what are you screwing the cap into? Everything under the hub cap is metal.

 

[jad2411]

Sorry, forgot to add, the reason for buying those lugnuts, is that those don't have a hole on the top, that way you can drill a hole in them to screw the hub cap on. I had that setup in my 97 for 7 years and it still working (dad owns the truck now)

 

[firepop5]

I am having the same problem. Are the screws 1/4"? How long do they have to be? I assume you should use stainless too.

 

[jad2411]

I think I used 1.5" but not sure, try drilling a small hole and use a toothpick to measure the depth :
The hole will need to be according to the screw you find, so find a set of screws with a torx or any other unusual head and get the bit for them, then you can drill the hole larger if needed.

I live in the desert, so I haven't had any issues with the screws rusting, but yeah stainless would be good