Mopar Challenge 2017 - Dust Caps!

[Bruzilla]

It's 2017, and we have Wilwood brakes, Edelbrock manifolds, 17" Rallye wheels... but we're still having to deal with those damn POS dust caps that stop fitting the second we have to pry them out to change wheel bearings! I have replaced the ones on my Roadrunner twice. I spent an hour getting the driver's side one to go in this weekend, and there I was going down Blanding Blvd sounding like I'm dragging a soda can because it came off again and was rattling around in the wheel center cap.

Why in this day and age hasn't someone come up with a plastic or silicone dust cap that doesn't bend or dimple and lose its fit, is easy to put on, and doesn't cost $12 a piece?

 

[Moparsmitty]

Agree, and it seems like the caps you get at the parts stores are poor quality compared to the originals. Maybe somebody here has some NOS caps stashed away they would be willing to part with.

 

[Bruzilla]

I would LOVE a soft rubber or silicone cap that would squeeze in, seal against the rotor, and not go anywhere, and cost about $3.

I have a nephew who is a rocket scientist for NASA. I need to get him on this problem.

 

[mmissile]

Why in this day and age hasn't someone come up with a plastic or silicone dust cap that doesn't bend or dimple and lose its fit, is easy to put on, and doesn't cost $12 a piece?

Tooling, materials, advertising, packaging, etc. Not enough volume to make them cheaply. Not needing to be replaced, it's not like everybody would be buying a dozen for future replacement. Then, people would bitch about shipping costs. This isn't some new idea. Hell, None of my cars even have factory hubs.

 

[Bruzilla]

Tooling, materials, advertising, packaging, etc. Not enough volume to make them cheaply. Then people would bitch about shipping costs. This isn't some new idea.

Well, the HELP folks think it's worth it. And I suspect if a soft replacement could be made, that works better and is disposable to you replace it once you adjust the bearings, it would be profitable.

 

[themechanic]

You could 3D print plastic ones or metal caps nowadays.

 

[mmissile]

There ya go.....get rich!

 

[Bruzilla]

Hmmm... a small 3D printer should be able to handle something that size I would think.

 

[themechanic]

**********SOLVED**********

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/finally-a-dust-cap-that-fits.104946/

 

[YY1]

I've never had an issue.

The trick is not to try to get it off with the first pull.

That's a sure recipe to warp it.

Two or three "rocks" with a large pair of channel locks.

BTW, all sorts of interchange. 1966 Coronet and 1988 5th Ave=same.

 

[themechanic]

Don't knock one off with a hammer, either.

 

[ws27]

Don't knock one off with a hammer, either.

Or put it on either,

If they don't want to stay on, I usually oval it a little to give it some friction. I usually pry them off with a screwdriver and tap them back on with my hand, then the screwdriver on the edges. I can't stand dimpled grease caps.

 

[Coronet 14]

I use a large 1 3/4 inch socket with a short extension to Install them. A few taps and it's on.

 

[Bruzilla]

**********SOLVED**********

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/finally-a-dust-cap-that-fits.104946/

NOT SOLVED! The problem is you spend $24 or so on a pair of these, and then the first time you have to pop them off to make an adjustment or check the bearings they are done! Seems like no matter how carefully you take them off, they just don't fit right when you try to put them back on.

That's why I would rather have a plastic or silicone solution that is cheap and disposable. I don't need a cap that's made to last until Christ returns if it stops being functional in six months.

 

[mmissile]

How often do you mess with your hubs...and why?

 

[YY1]

Actually I beat mine back on with the same pair of channel locks.



DUH, the reason my 66 is the same as a 5th Ave is because that's what they came off of!

Still same 73-late 80's and still in JY for OEM.

 

[Bruzilla]

How often do you mess with your hubs...and why?

I check mine usually once a year, and sometimes twice. At a minimum I have the brake pads and calipers off to check them, and I'll usually go ahead and pull the caps to check for any filings in the grease or to see if the bearings need repacked. I had a set go bad... like, really bad, on me a few years ago. It was one of those you're driving down the road fat, dumb, and happy, and all is right with the World, and then you feel something really odd happening with the front end as you go down the highway and you get that awful "awe ****" feelings. I don't want to feel that again, so I like to keep an eye on those bearings, especially with so many of them being crap these days.

That said, I'm thinking now I might just say screw the dust caps since I have Rallye wheels and the center acts as essentially its own dust cap.

 

[themechanic]

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with yours. The caps that came with my front brake set fit just fine. I've had them off once and they went back on fine. Front brake kit from DoctorDiff.

 

[Bruzilla]

I tried something a bit different. I pulled the wheels off, cut out two gaskets from some sheet gasket material, and attached them to the raised area of the inside of the Rallye wheel where it mates to the rotor. That should seal the bearing area thanks to the center cap of the wheel. I'll pull it off in a month or so and see if any contaminants are getting in.

 

[idrivemopar]

I use this, it fits nice on the lip and is concave so it snugs up to the dust cap, then use rubber mallet to pound it in, so no risk of denting the cap and since it sits on the lip all the force goes to the edge instead of the center of the cap and makes it easy to get them in place.