Flexible wheel covers are a great opportunity to add individuality to your car. Many drivers believe that these accessories have a purely decorative function. This is not entirely true. They also play an important protective role, preventing dirt and dust from seeping into the pads and other elements of the car's braking system.
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Car hubcaps lend themselves to a certain classification. By design, these parts can be open or closed.
Open-type accessories are much easier to install, but closed elements more reliably protect brake discs from moisture. Depending on the material from which the elements are made, you can find metal, plastic and rubber caps on the market.
White hubcap on wheels
Depending on the profile shape, there are convex and flat parts. An installed flat cap is considered more practical and durable. However, most modern motorists prefer convex accessories.
The parts also differ in their external characteristics. Depending on the design, the market offers colored, chrome-plated and decorative elements. Each of the design options has its fans. In any case, if you cannot find shiny silver accessories, you can chrome-plate any metal cap yourself by purchasing special paint. The parts also differ in the method of fastening. Thus, elements can be installed using bolts or special latches. In addition, you can install wheel caps using additional hinges or clamps.
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Like others, hubcaps may not always fit a particular car. Therefore, before installing hubcaps on a car, it is worth understanding the specifics of purchasing these elements. When choosing parts, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- accessories sizes;
- fastening method:
- protective cover material;
- profile shape.
Stylish mirror cap
The size of the part must correspond to the disk diameter. The second parameter is always specified in . The most popular sizes are 12-16 inches, although there are often exceptions. Make sure that the mounting holes match the holes on the disk. The method of fastening also plays an important role. The bolted connection is considered the most reliable. However, the driver will need more time to remove and install the accessory. In any case, you need to pay attention to the number of latches - the more there are, the more reliable the fastener will be.
The service life depends on what material the top cover of the part is made of. The main requirement is that the material must withstand temperature, mechanical and chemical influences. Oddly enough, the most durable ones are considered to be not metal, but plastic elements made in Poland and Germany. The last factor is the profile shape. Of course, convex caps on car wheels look very impressive. But do not forget that such accessories wear out several times faster than flat elements.
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Depending on the type of fastening, there are 2 ways to mount parts on the wheels of a car. If you purchased bolt-on hubcaps, they will be a little more difficult to install. Before removing the old hubcaps from the wheels, you will need to lift each side of the car, unscrew each of the bolts, and only then remove the worn part. Next, a new part is applied, pressed tightly against the disk, and at the end the mounting bolts are screwed in.
Unusual wheel styling cap
It is much easier to install accessories with presser feet. Before replacement, the disk is cleaned of dirt and dust. Near the wire rim there is always a small bend for the “nipple” of the wheel ramp. During installation, you need to make sure that the “nipple” is directly opposite the projection of the cap. Next, you need to attach the accessory to the disk and press it tightly. There should be no gaps between the disc and the cap. After this, if desired, you can attach the part to additional clamps. They will hold the hubcap on the wheel even if the main fastener is loosened.
Fastening hubcaps to discs
Installing and securing wheel covers
Car wheel covers are a fairly popular accessory. They perform not only a decorative function, but also protect the brake system from dirt and slush, especially in winter, when the car’s wheels have a hard time.
They are made mainly from elastic plastic with a high degree of viscosity. This material easily withstands low temperatures and does not crack from any impact. Although on sale you can also find non-original low-quality products made of durable but fragile plastic, which is unlikely to last long. Caps made of aluminum and even rubber are also sold, but they are practically not used due to the high price.
The caps are designed to imitate alloy wheels. If you have chosen beautiful and fashionable hubcaps, then it is almost impossible to distinguish them from alloy wheels from a distance.
Their configuration may be different - the number and shape of the spokes, but if you try to classify the types of caps, they can be divided into several groups:
- open and closed - open, obviously, are used only for decorative purposes, with their help you can hide disc defects;
- flat and convex - convex caps extend beyond the plane of the wheel and can be very easily lost on narrow city streets, while flat caps are easy to install and functional.
How to install hubcaps on wheels?
Installation of the cap is possible in several ways, depending on the type of fastening:
- using latches;
- bolted connection;
- on plastic clamps.
Craftsmen, of course, can offer a huge number of other methods, for example, placing the caps on instant glue, or using homemade rubber “mushrooms” that are placed on the wheel bolts, and then plastic clamps are threaded through them to secure the cap.
It is worth saying that if you take this accessory correctly, and at the same time it is original, and not some cheap fake, then it will fly off only under very strong external influence.
If you bought a set of caps in a company store, then most likely the fastening will be with latches - these are 6, 7 or 8 tabs on the inside, onto which a spacer ring is placed, the diameter of which matches the diameter of the disk. The spacer ring has a spacer that must align with the nipple.
The entire installation process boils down to the fact that you install this ring between the presser feet on the inside of the cap. Combine the recess on the ring with the nipple and with a little force press this entire structure to the wheel. The expansion ring will take its position in the groove of the wheel rim and securely fix the cap with the help of latches. For reliability, you can additionally use plastic clamps: pull them through the holes in the wheel rim and fasten them to the spoke of the hubcap, cut the ends of the clamp so that they are not noticeable.
You can then remove such a cap without any problems using a screwdriver or the ignition key - just pick up the release ring. But while driving, they can only get lost on a very bad road, or if you hit a curb.
If you bought caps with bolts, you will have to completely remove the wheel and then screw it together with the cap. There are also models that have grooves on the inside that fit the wheel bolts, you combine these grooves with the heads of the bolts and press on the cap, it fits firmly into place.
If none of these types of fastening suits you, then you can use plastic clamps. Such clamps are used almost everywhere - they are very convenient for fixing wiring in boxes or tightening oil pipe hoses. The caps also cling in the same way, although later, when you need to remove the wheel, you will have to cut them off completely, but this is a matter of five minutes.
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We welcome you, dear visitors, motorists, in the driving lessons section, we will talk to you about the hubcaps that are installed on the wheel rims of your cars. Of course, the caps do not in any way affect the movement of the car, but they have some protective functions for both the disc itself and the brake system. While driving, dust, dirt, and gravel get on the wheel disk, which can lead to contamination of the disk itself and the brake system. The author of the training video lesson will tell you how to correctly install the wheel covers, but also remove them.
In most cases, wheel covers are placed on car wheels as designer accessories. Depending on the manufacturer and the hubcaps themselves, you will be able to notice how your car has changed for the better. If you haven't installed it yet, you can look at the hubcaps for your wheels and choose based on the design.
Another feature of the cap protection is that it is located on the surface of the disk and is ready to take the entire blow. Let's say you accidentally hit a curb with your wheel, or perhaps during other impacts. In this case, the cap itself will be damaged, but the disc will remain untouched.
From all this we can draw the following conclusions:
- The hubcaps decorate the car very well - it's like additional tuning.
- They protect against dirt and dust.
- They help protect against flying pieces of stones from under the wheels of other cars.
- The caps are the first to absorb the entire side impact on the wheels, thereby protecting the main disk from damage.
- Also, caps for cars are not expensive and can be purchased by anyone.
The author of the video lesson will tell you how to properly remove and install hubcaps on your car. Find out what features of installation there are caps on the disk. Also, what are the possible consequences if you do not install and secure it correctly. But when removing the cap from the disk, you should also not forget that you need to remove it carefully, since there is a possibility of damaging the cap itself.
Watch the video tutorial “How to properly install wheel covers” at any time convenient for you.
Every person who has purchased a car wants their car to look good and have a great appearance. An indispensable part of the car are the wheels, which must be in good condition, so the question arises of how to decorate them with car hubcaps.
Car hubcaps perform several functions. This is an indispensable accessory for decorating a wheel. And most importantly, the caps protect the wheels from dust, stones and dirt. In this way they protect the entire brake system from rapid wear and premature aging.
It should be remembered that attaching the hubcaps is a labor-intensive job; you should treat it with special tolerance, since the appearance of the car will depend on it.
Every knowledgeable or even novice motorist will say that wheel caps are quite an important and necessary part in every car. And no wonder, because not only the appearance of the wheels themselves and the style of the car as a whole depend on them, but also the direct protection of stamped wheels. Indeed, such “caps” or, as they are also called, “linings” can very successfully hide all the existing disc defects, for example, scratches or chips. In addition, with hubcaps your car will acquire a respectable appearance and become more attractive and presentable.
Their protective functions cannot be overestimated, since they serve as good protection for stamped discs from the penetration of dirt and moisture, as well as from rust on the discs. Thanks to this, the rims retain their original appearance for a long time. The caps, among other things, prolong the performance of the braking system and also increase the service life of the wheels themselves.
Most cars are equipped with wheel covers, but sometimes motorists are faced with the problem of the linings quickly wearing out or the difficulty of installing them. In this article we will tell you how to choose the right quality drives and how, following the instructions, install them quickly and easily. Well, let's get started...
1. Selecting wheel caps
So, you entered the car market with a great desire to choose exactly those wheel covers that will suit your car and make its exterior unique. Do not rush to take the first caps you come across, even if they are very solid, think first of all about the quality. There are different types of caps, therefore, so that you do not get lost in such diversity, we will try to consider the typology of caps and highlight the most significant disadvantages and advantages of each type.
So, Wheel covers come in two main types: open And closed. They differ from each other in both appearance and functionality. Learn more about each type. As a rule, exposed rims are an excellent decorative detail for a car. At the same time, they also have many functional advantages. During fast driving, they provide fairly good ventilation of the discs and brakes, while being able to prevent severe overheating of the mechanisms. But such caps are not without their drawbacks.
The most significant disadvantage of this type of lining is the fact that they poorly hide even minor external damage or disc defects. Based on this, you should think carefully before you buy this option. If you want not only to purchase a good decoration for your car, but also to rid its appearance of existing shortcomings, you better take a closer look at a different type of disk hubcaps. If you just want to decorate your “swallow”, you can safely buy this option, because, as a rule, it is absolutely suitable for any passenger cars, and especially for sports cars, and will become their “trump card”.
But what about closed hoods? This type of cap has a minimum number of holes and is able to provide disk protection at the maximum level. Moreover, they perfectly protect, as well as other surfaces, from the harmful effects of many external irritants. They can also advantageously hide any other imperfections in the appearance of the disks. One of the rather significant advantages of this type of cap is the ability to conveniently wash and ensure proper care for them. The above-mentioned typology of disc caps was based generally on the functional features of these devices.
Now let's talk directly about the appearance of the wheel covers. Manufacturers offer customers a huge number of different discs with different style frames. Among them are chrome caps, which are the most common. As a rule, they are silver in color and are rightfully considered the most classic option. Such caps can improve the exterior of any car, giving it a prestigious look and elegance.
For lovers of bold decisions or simply people in a cheerful mood, you can choose caps of various colors that will not only highlight the color of the car, but also the bright personality of its owner.
Also, designer hubcaps have become very popular today, which are difficult to find on the car market; they need to be ordered. Many creative car enthusiasts order wheel covers with a unique ornament or design. As a rule, the appearance and design of the cap play an important role. The most important thing is not to make a mistake in choosing and purchase a reliable and high-quality product that will suit you as best as possible in terms of its functionality. We will tell you about some tricks, thanks to which you can purchase a really high-quality and practical model that will serve you for many years and will not cause much trouble.
Even if you have already decided on the appearance of the caps, do not rush to buy them. First, pay attention to the type of fastening. As a rule, there are two types of fastenings. IN first the entire body of the cap is equipped with a metal rim on which there are special latches. These latches are used to secure the cap to the disk. This type of fastening can be called quite simple, but in terms of reliability it is not inferior to the second type of fastening, because it is quite durable. In addition to the standard set of latches, such caps also have an additional loop that has the function of “tightening” the diameter of the rim when necessary. All this is done so that the cap can fit more tightly to the disk.
If speak about second type of fastening, we can say that it differs from the first in the presence of bolts. Bolted fastening involves fastening the disc caps to similar mounting parts as the discs themselves. As practice shows, both options are quite practical and durable fastenings. Although in practice there have also been incidents with caps falling off the fastenings while driving at high speeds, or during extreme operating conditions of motor vehicles.
Therefore, it is important to say that those motorists who are particularly concerned about the maximum level of protection, as well as the safety of these parts of their car, may consider the option of special additional fastenings for hubcaps.
There are several varieties, but the most popular and popular among buyers are bracket And clamp. The bracket is a special structure made of steel that has holes for bolts. As a rule, the bracket is able to provide the maximum level of insurance for the hubcaps of any vehicle. The clamp is made of nylon or plastic material. This device is very convenient, as it locks itself and fits perfectly into any car.
It is also very important to remember that when choosing wheel caps, the material from which the device is made is the most important factor by which you can determine how long a given wheel cap will last you and how quickly it will wear out. Therefore, make sure that the cap is made of durable and resistant material, which should have a decent level of resistance to mechanical damage and external irritants. Such materials include German or Polish plastic. Also quite durable and resistant are those devices that are made in South Korea or Taiwan.
Also, it would be a sin to forget about the covering of the caps, since one of the main functions of the caps remains decorative. Therefore, wheel caps should have the most presentable and stylish appearance. To do this, you should pay attention to the color of the disc. Today there are two types of painting: regular surface painting and varnish coating. In the first case, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the paint, make sure that it does not smudge or crumble. The advantage of this coating is its low cost. As for the varnish coating, it can provide a fairly attractive appearance to the car and, moreover, excellent protection from external damage. The disadvantage of caps with this coating is their fairly high price, so many people prefer standard painting.
Another important factor that needs to be taken into account when purchasing a hubcap for a disc is the radius of the hubcap itself. As a rule, it should match the rim dimensions of your vehicle. The most popular and generally accepted are caps R13, R14, R15. Therefore, be very careful and do not be too lazy to check the dimensions once again.
2. Installing the caps on the disk
After you, following our tips, have selected the hubcaps and wheels for your car, you will encounter another problem - installation difficulties. But “difficulties” is a strong word, because in fact, an experienced motorist knows that installing wheel covers is not so difficult, you just need to follow the instructions. Well, here are a few rules that will help you learn how to install new caps correctly. So, let's begin…
Before you begin to actually install the caps, you first need to very carefully but thoroughly clean the inner surface of the disk from dust and dirt formations. You should also carefully check the wheel rim for any deformations. If there are any, we eliminate them.
Then you should align the notches for the valve on the cap and the spacer ring. In this case, you need to make sure that the bend on the spacer ring is turned towards the wheel cover. After this, it is very important to secure the spacer ring well into the specially designed grooves, which are located on the inside of the wheel cover latches.
After the operations have been completed, you need to attach the wheel cap to the bottom of the rim and, holding it with your knee, you need to carefully insert the remaining fasteners into the rim. Next, we press the two upper latches with our fingers, directly towards the axis of the disk and at the same time press it inside the disk. This must be done by pressing the wheel cap along the entire circumference to the disk. To make this easier, you can support the lower part of the cap with your knee.
It is important to remember that just before installing the hubcaps on the wheels, you need to make sure that their size matches the size of the disk.
The rim size can be seen on the tire. If you notice that the cap fits tightly, you need to correct the diameter of the spacer ring by compressing it at the valve location, and if the cap fits loosely, stretch it in the same place. Finally, it is important to make sure that the cap is well attached to the disc along the entire perimeter of the surface. There are many other methods that came, as they say, “from the people.” For example, many virtuoso motorists “sit” the caps on instant glue, or use hand-made rubber “mushrooms”, which they put on the wheel bolts, and then thread plastic clamps through them to secure the cap.
If you purchased a set of hubcaps at some branded car store, most likely the fastening device will be just the same latches, namely 6, 7 or 8 tabs on the inside, onto which a spacer ring is placed, the diameter of which matches the diameter of the disk. Take a closer look: there should be an expansion space on the spacer ring, which should coincide with the nipple.
If you are a rather scrupulous motorist, for greater reliability you can additionally use clamps made of plastic. It will be enough to simply pull them through the holes in the wheel rim and secure them to the hub spoke. Then the ends of the clamp can be trimmed so that they are not noticeable.
You can remove such a cap quite easily using a screwdriver or the ignition key. You will just need to pick up the expansion ring. While driving, the hubcaps can only get lost when the car is driving on a very bad road, or if a wheel gets caught on a curb. If you purchased hubcaps that are attached with bolts, in order to install such a hubcap, you will have to remove the entire wheel, attach the hubcap to it, and only then screw it together.
There are also models that have grooves on the inside. These grooves fit the wheel bolts. To install these caps, you will need to align these grooves with the bolt heads and press down on the cap until it fits firmly into place. If you find that none of the above fastening methods work for you, as a last resort, you can use plastic clamps. It is interesting that such clamps are used almost everywhere - they are well suited for fixing wiring in boxes or tightening an oil pipe hose.
Using the same principle, you can hook up the hubcaps, although when you want to remove them, you will need to trim them, but in any case, this is a five-minute job. To summarize, we can say that wheel caps are a fairly popular accessory. The material from which the car hubcap is made is elastic plastic, which has a high degree of viscosity.
This material can easily withstand low temperatures and does not crack from any impact. As a rule, car hubcaps imitate well-known alloy wheels. If you purchased beautiful and modernized hubcaps, then you will not be able to immediately distinguish them from alloy wheels from a distance. It's practically impossible.
As we have already said, there are a huge number of varieties of disks. But still, they are usually divided into open and closed, flat and convex. As a rule, convex hubcaps are designed so that they extend beyond the plane of the wheel and can be quite easily lost on narrow city streets, while flat hubcaps are easy to install and highly functional.
Well, we hope that when you are faced with the problem of choosing hubcaps for your car, our advice will come in handy. Well, if you decide to install the caps on the wheels yourself, without resorting to special technical centers, following our instructions, you will do it easily and quickly.
